Packaging is a dynamic, multibillion-dollar industry in need of well-educated people. The projected demand for packaging professionals significantly exceeds the number of future graduates. Our specialized staff has developed a curriculum to prepare graduates to work with both traditional and emerging materials, manufacturing processes and technologies.
UW-Stout is one of only a few schools in the United States (and the only school in the UW System) that offer a B.S. degree in Packaging. The program combines general education with technical and professional studies. You will have an opportunity to apply theory to real problems. Through laboratory and co-op work experiences, you will apply the principles of science, mathematics and communications skills.
Program Overview
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging leads to interesting, challenging and rewarding careers in:
- Package design
- Business and sales
- Package printing
- Manufacturing and quality management
- Food packaging
- Research and development
Our packaging program has been developed to meet the needs of business and industry, and focuses on applying technical knowledge to solve practical problems. We offer:
- Excellent employment rate and starting salaries
- Required co-op experience
- An active industry advisory board
- Scholarships and design competitions
Areas of Emphasis:
- Package Graphics Design
- Manufacturing/Quality
- Foods/Packaging
- Business/Sales
- Package Printing
- Package Design, Research, and Development
- Packaging Machinery
- Plastics
- Sustainability
98% of Our Graduates are Employed or Continuing Education
Our program includes a highly successful cooperative education program and the Stout Technology Transfer Institute, a nationally recognized center that assists industry in solving problems. As you progress toward graduation, both will provide opportunities for you to gain on-the-job experiences while still enrolled at the university.
"The opportunities are endless here at UW-Stout. If you are consistent, work hard, and keep your priorities, you can achieve anything you want and have a blast at the same time."
-- Garrett PetersonB.S. Packaging
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging.
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Industry's packaging problems are not only technical in nature. They are also social and economic. Packaging professionals must, therefore, have a broad education.
The first two years of the program includes English composition, speech communications, and other general education offerings as well as calculus, chemistry, physics, computer applications and foundation packaging courses.
As You Progress
The trend in the packaging industry is to hire employees who can function in more than one area at career entry. UW-Stout's Packaging program recognizes this trend by offering the student the opportunity to select an "emphasis" which includes course and lab work beyond the technical core of the program. Students can select from several emphasis areas; package graphic design, package printing, manufacturing/quality, business/sales, foods/packaging, or package design, research and development.
An off-campus co-op experience in the packaging industry of at least six months is strongly encouraged. Today's employers show a preference for the graduate who has completed at least one co-op.
Student professional organizations offer another opportunity to learn outside the classroom setting. The UW-Stout student chapter of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) helps packaging program students begin "networking" with their professional colleagues.
New First-Year Students
For the 2022-2023 academic year, there will be no additional admissions requirements.
Transfer Students
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.6 or higher from the last institution attended;
and - completed CHEM 135 (algebra-based chemistry) or higher with a grade of "C" or higher;
and - completed MATH 153 Calculus I equivalent or higher with a grade of "C" or higher;
If you do not meet all of the academic requirements above, but do meet the requirements for general admission to the university, you will be admitted as Pre-Packaging. You may then qualify for the Packaging major by completing the appropriate courses at UW-Stout.
Entry Positions
The packaging industry seeks qualified professionals with a broad-based career entry education. A B.S. degree in Packaging can lead to positions with local, national or international firms. Entry level is determined by several variables, including the emphasis selected, work experience, personal contacts, grade point average and economic cycles.
Typical Job Titles
- Senior Packaging Engineer
- Distribution Sales Manager
- Sales Engineer
- Design Department Manager
- Structural Designer
- Packaging Specialties Buyer
- Package Cushioning Designer
- Product Development Manager
- Package Testing and Development Engineer
- Technical Services
- Customer Service/Package Engineer
Where Graduates Work
- General Mills
- International Paper
- Snap-On Tools
- Abbott Laboratories
- Digital Computer
- Medtronic
- Bristol Meyers
- Kell Container
- Kohler
- Helene Curtis
- Hormel
- Federal Express
- Georgia-Pacific
- IBM
- H.B. Fuller
- Baxter
- GM-Delco
- FRITO-LAY
- 3M
2020 Packaging Advisory Committee
| Larry | Anderson | VP Operations | TEN-E Packaging |
| Tony | Baker | Lead Packaging Engineer | Harley-Davidson Motor Co. |
| Tom | Blanck | President | Shippers Supply Inc. |
| Andy | Busteed | Packaging Engineer | 3M |
| Tom | Danniger | Director – Package Development | Marathon Cheese Corporation |
| Dan | Dressel | Packaging Engineer | Johnsonville Sausage |
| Michelle | Duda | Project Packaging Engineer | FedEx |
| Matt | Ellwanger | Syntegon | |
| Jeremy | Gauger | R&E Technical Leader | Kimberly-Clark |
| Josh | Haen | Senior Technology Manager | Sonoco Plastics |
| Don | Handrow | VP of Product Development | Prent Corporation |
| Vanessa | Hinrichs | Sonoco Products Company | |
| Greg | Johnson | Sales Manager | FoamCraft Packaging |
| Kris | Johnson | Design Manager | Great Northern Corporation |
| Kyle | Kozlowski | R & D Package Engineer | Johnsonville Sausage LLC |
| Chad | Kreye | Senior Project Manager | Target |
| Rick | Luftman | Green Bay Packaging | |
| Ian | McClaire | Schreiber Foods | |
| Jake | Meicher | Packaging Project Engineer | Kohler Company |
| Robert | Meisner | Program Director | CSTEMM, Engineering and Technology Dept. |
| Tim | Mlsna | Global Packaging & Labeling Director | Boston Scientific Corporation |
| Jeff | Peterson | Director- Gloabal Packaging Engineering | Ecolab |
| Mark | Ralph | Director of Commercial NPI | Phillips |
| Zach | Renk | Packaging Engineer II | General Mills |
| Brett | Sweeney | General Manager | Packaging Corporation of America |
| Claire | Thurbush | R & D Manager | General Mills |
| Jason | Vande Loo | Director of Technical and Research Development | Belmark |
| Tom | Wetsch | Chief Innovation Officer | Pregis LLC |
