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.
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
2022-23 Packaging Advisory Committee
| Larry | Anderson | VP Operations | TEN-E Packaging |
| Tony | Baker | Engineering Manager | Johnson Controls |
| Brian | Barts | Director-Career Services | UW-Stout |
| Chris | Bendel | STEMM College Assoc. Dean | UW-Stout |
| Tom | Blanck | VP Sales & Marketing | Shippers Supply Inc. |
| Gary | Borges | Packaging Program Adjunct | UW-Stout |
| Andy | Busteed | Packaging Engineer | 3M |
| Min Liu | Degruson | Packaging Program Faculty | UW-Stout |
| David | Ding | Director, SOE and Associate Dean | UW-Stout |
| Michelle | Dingwall | Senior Gift officer - Foundation | UW-Stout |
| Dan | Dressel | Packaging Engineer II | Johnsonville Sausage |
| Michelle | Duda | Project Packaging Engineer | FedEx |
| Matt | Ellwanger | Project Engineer | Syntegon |
| Garrett | Griswold | Lead Packaging Engineer - Personal Care | Kimberly-Clark Corp. |
| Josh | Haen | Director Research & Development, Quality | Wright Packaging Consulting |
| Don | Handrow | VP of Product Development | Prent Corporation |
| Vanessa | Hinrichs | Sr. Supply Chain Manager | Polaris Industries |
| Jon | Hunter | VP of Operations | Team Packaging Company |
| Greg | Johnson | Sales Manager | FoamCraft Packaging |
| Anna | Kent | Student Packaging Association- Membership Chair | UW-Stout |
| Kyle | Kozlowski | R & D Package Engineer | Johnsonville Sausage LLC |
| Tom | Lacksonen | Engineering & Technology Dept. Chair | UW-Stout |
| Xiaojing | Liu | Packaging Program Faculty | UW-Stout |
| Lubs | Tony | Director II, Global Packaging Engineering | Ecolab |
| Rick | Luftman | Vice President | Green Bay Packaging |
| Ian | McClaire | Supply Chain Manager | Schreiber Foods |
| Jake | Meicher | Packaging Project Engineer | Kohler Company |
| Robert | Meisner | Packaging Program Director | UW-Stout |
| Tim | Mlsna | Global Packaging & Labeling Director | Boston Scientific Corporation |
| Gindy | Neidermyer | STEMM College Interim Dean | UW-Stout |
| Mark | Ralph | Director of Commercial NPI | Phillips |
| Zach | Schmidtknecht | VP, General Manager | Great Northern Corporation |
| Eric | Sinz | Director of Packaging | Target |
| Brett | Sweeney | General Manager | Packaging Corporation of America |
| Claire | Thurbush | R & D Manager | General Mills |
| Jason | Vande Loo | Director of Strategic Business Development | Belmark |
| Tom | Wetsch | Chief Innovation Officer | Pregis LLC |
