B.S. Packaging

Use your creativity and develop the technical knowledge to solve practical problems!
Degree Type Bachelor of Science
Careers & Salaries Career Outcomes
Delivery On Campus

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.

Thumbnail

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.

Your Packaging degree can lead to positions with local, national or international companies. / UW-Stout

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. 

icon

Program Overview

View the B.S. Packaging program plan, which includes credit requirements and course descriptions.

Loading...

Accelerated Degree (UG + GR) Option

Students can also elect to pursue an accelerated B.S. Packaging + M.S. Operations & Supply Management program that reduces the cost and time it takes to earn a master's degree through shared credits.

Loading...

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

STEM OPT Extension Advantage for International Students.

International students STEM Opt Qualifying program.

Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging.

Request Information










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 Peterson
B.S. Packaging

Graphic Media & Print Management Minor

Build on your current creative, technical, business and management course skills to solve problems, analyze needs, and plan graphic projects.
Learn More
Preparing for 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.

Career Opportunities

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
Program Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Members

Larry AndersonVP OperationsTEN-E Packaging
EvanArnoldPresidentGlenroy Inc.
Tony BakerEngineering ManagerJohnson Controls
BrianBartsDirector-Career ServicesUW-Stout
ChrisBendelSTEMM College Assoc. DeanUW-Stout
TomBlanck Packaging Solutions Group
Min LiuDegrusonPackaging Program FacultyUW-Stout
DavidDingDirector, SOE and Associate DeanUW-Stout
DanDresselPackaging Engineer IIJohnsonville Sausage
MichelleDudaProject Packaging EngineerFedEx
MattEllwangerProject EngineerSyntegon
DanielFreedmanDean, College of STEMMUW-Stout
GarrettGriswoldLead Packaging Engineer - Personal CareKimberly-Clark Corp.
VanessaHinrichsSr. Supply Chain ManagerPolaris Industries
JonHunterVP of OperationsTeam Packaging Company
Greg JohnsonSales ManagerFoamCraft Packaging 
RobKaszubowskiPrincipal, Packaging OptimizationChainalytics
KyleKozlowskiR & D Package EngineerJohnsonville Sausage LLC
XiaojingLiuPackaging Program FacultyUW-Stout
LubsTonyDirector II, Global Packaging EngineeringEcolab
JakeMeicherPackaging Project EngineerKohler Company
MattMurphyTechnical Sales ManagerGreen Bay Packaging
Zach SchmidtknechtVP, General ManagerGreat Northern Corporation
EricSinzDirector of PackagingTarget
BodinStovernPackaging Engineer/Sourcing AnalystH.B. Fuller
BrettSweeneyCommercial Optimization ManagerInternational Paper
ClaireThurbushR & D ManagerGeneral Mills
Jason Vande LooDirector of Strategic Business DevelopmentBelmark
JennyWeidmanPackaging Engineer   Ariens Co
TomWetschChief Innovation OfficerPregis LLC

Packaging

All Packaging News
Uncanny results: Students win international challenge to imagine new packaging for Pringles Featured Image

Uncanny results: Students win international challenge to imagine new packaging for Pringles

Imagine creating a new package for a product that has been on store shelves around the world for more than 50 years. How would you make the package better?
It’s More than a Package: UW-Stout packaging program to host international student-led conference Featured Image

It’s More than a Package: UW-Stout packaging program to host international student-led conference

Pack Jam invites industry, alumni, community to see fresh ideas April 7-9
Total package: Students earn two firsts, third in international sustainability challenges Featured Image

Total package: Students earn two firsts, third in international sustainability challenges

Two questions were at top of mind when three teams of UW-Stout students entered two international, industry-sponsored packaging competitions,