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.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
UW-Stout is one of only a few schools in the U.S. (and the only school among the Universities of Wisconsin) that offers a B.S. 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.
Career-Defining Curriculum
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging leads to interesting, challenging and rewarding careers opportunities ranging from research, development and sales to packaging design, printing and manufacturing. Stout graduates are among the industry's most sought after talent pools in the nation.
Program Overview
Program Areas of Emphasis
- Package Graphics Design
- Manufacturing/Quality
- Foods/Packaging
- Business/Sales
- Package Printing
- Package Design, Research & Development
- Packaging Machinery
- Plastics
- Sustainability
Program Highlights
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 & High Starting Salaries
- Dedicated Scholarships & Design Competitions
- Cutting-Edge Labs & Equipment
- Required Co-op/Internship Experiences
- Active Industry Advisory Board & Industry-Sponsored Projects
Discover More Degrees in Engineering.
STEM OPT Extension Advantage for International Students.
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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Related Polytechnic Labs & Learning Spaces
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
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
Advisory Committee Members
| Larry | Anderson | VP Operations | TEN-E Packaging |
| Evan | Arnold | President | Glenroy Inc. |
| Tony | Baker | Engineering Manager | Johnson Controls |
| Brian | Barts | Director-Career Services | UW-Stout |
| Chris | Bendel | STEMM College Assoc. Dean | UW-Stout |
| Tom | Blanck | Packaging Solutions Group | |
| Min Liu | Degruson | Packaging Program Faculty | UW-Stout |
| David | Ding | Director, SOE and Associate Dean | UW-Stout |
| Dan | Dressel | Packaging Engineer II | Johnsonville Sausage |
| Michelle | Duda | Project Packaging Engineer | FedEx |
| Matt | Ellwanger | Project Engineer | Syntegon |
| Daniel | Freedman | Dean, College of STEMM | UW-Stout |
| Garrett | Griswold | Lead Packaging Engineer - Personal Care | Kimberly-Clark Corp. |
| Vanessa | Hinrichs | Sr. Supply Chain Manager | Polaris Industries |
| Jon | Hunter | VP of Operations | Team Packaging Company |
| Greg | Johnson | Sales Manager | FoamCraft Packaging |
| Rob | Kaszubowski | Principal, Packaging Optimization | Chainalytics |
| Kyle | Kozlowski | R & D Package Engineer | Johnsonville Sausage LLC |
| Xiaojing | Liu | Packaging Program Faculty | UW-Stout |
| Lubs | Tony | Director II, Global Packaging Engineering | Ecolab |
| Jake | Meicher | Packaging Project Engineer | Kohler Company |
| Matt | Murphy | Technical Sales Manager | Green Bay Packaging |
| Zach | Schmidtknecht | VP, General Manager | Great Northern Corporation |
| Eric | Sinz | Director of Packaging | Target |
| Bodin | Stovern | Packaging Engineer/Sourcing Analyst | H.B. Fuller |
| Brett | Sweeney | Commercial Optimization Manager | International Paper |
| Claire | Thurbush | R & D Manager | General Mills |
| Jason | Vande Loo | Director of Strategic Business Development | Belmark |
| Jenny | Weidman | Packaging Engineer | Ariens Co |
| Tom | Wetsch | Chief Innovation Officer | Pregis LLC |
