Packaging Science, BS

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Science prepares students for careers in industries producing and utilizing packages for all types of products. Packaging is an essential part of industrialized economies, protecting, preserving, and helping to market products. The field of packaging is highly competitive and highly innovative, requiring an ever-increasing number of professional positions.

Opportunities for employment include a wide variety of career paths such as manufacturing, marketing, sales, design, purchasing, quality assurance, and customer services. Most career opportunities are in positions requiring technical knowledge combined with marketing and management skills.

The core curriculum assures graduates of having the skills and knowledge required by most entry-level packaging positions. Emphasis area choices or minors allow students to select courses to improve career preparation for specific industry segments, including: Distribution, Transportation and Engineering Technology; Food and Health Care Packaging; Materials; and Package Design and Graphics. Alternatively, any University-approved minor may be completed.

Students changing majors into Packaging Science must:

1. have an overall minimum GPA of 2.0; and
2. have completed four of the following courses with an average GPA of 2.7: BIOL 1030 , BIOL 1040 , CH 1010 , CH 1020 , MATH 1060 , PHYS 1220 , PHYS 2070 , PHYS 2080 , PHYS 2210 ; or both MATH 1040  and MATH 1070 ; and
3. have completed PKSC 1020  with a grade of B or higher.

Academic Program Fee

Please visit http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/fnps/students/program_fee.html for detailed information about the departmental Academic Program Fee.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Degree Program

The Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences also offers an accelerated five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s program that allows students to count up to twelve hours of graduate credit toward both the BS degree in Packaging Science and the MS degree in Packaging Science. Details are available from the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences or at www.clemson.edu/fnps.

Total Semester Hours: 124

¹ Packaging Science majors are required to:

1. Complete PKSC 1020 , PKSC 2020 , PKSC 2040 , and PKSC 2060  with a grade of C or better before being allowed to register for PKSC 4010 , PKSC 4040 , PKSC 4160 , PKSC 4300 , PKSC 4400 , PKSC 4540 , PKSC 4640 .
2. Earn a C or better in all PKSC courses in order to graduate

² See General Education Requirements . Three of these credit hours must also satisfy the Cross-Cultural Awareness Requirement. Note: Social Science Requirement must be in an area other than economics or applied economics. A 2000-level or higher modern language course is recommended to satisfy the Arts and Humanities (Non-Literature) Requirement.

³ Students interested in minors or emphasis areas should take any prerequisites in the sophomore year.

⁴ At least one 15-week period of 40 hour weeks of Cooperative Education is required. A six-month period is preferred. Two 10-week summer periods of 40 hour weeks with the same company is an option.

⁵ PKSC 4040  and PKSC 4540  must be taken concurrently.

⁶ Completion of any emphasis area or university approved minor is required. Emphasis areas consist of 15 credits selected from one of the following areas (additional emphasis area courses may be approved by emphasis area coordinator):

• Distribution, Transportation and Engineering Technology Emphasis Area: 15 Credits selected from AGM 2050 , AGM 4060 , AGM 4600 , CE 2550 , CE 3110 , CE 4100 , CE 4110 , CE 4120 , CRP 4120 , ENGR 2090 , ME 4170 , MGT 3050 , MGT 3170 , MGT 4230 , MGT 4240  
• Food and Health Care Packaging Emphasis Area: 15 Credits selected from BCHM 3050 , BIOE 3020 , BIOE 3200 , BIOE 4010 , BIOL 2220 , FDSC 2140 , FDSC 4010 , FDSC 4020 , FDSC 4040 , HLTH 2400 , HLTH 4010 , MGT 2010 , MICR 3050 , MICR 4070 , MKT 3010 , NUTR 4010 , PKSC 4990  
• Package Design and Graphics Emphasis Area: 15 Credits selected from GC 3460 , GC 4060 , GC 4070 , GC 4400 , MKT 3010 , MKT 3020 , MKT 4310 , PKSC 4220 , PKSC 4990  
• Materials Emphasis Area: 15 Credits selected from ACCT 2010 , AGM 2050 , BIOE 2010 , BIOE 3020 , CHE 3190 , ECON 3140 , ECON 3190 , ENR 3120 , ENR 4290 , EES 2010 , EES 2020 , ENSP 2000 , ENSP 4000 , ENSP 4720 , ETOX 4210 , FOR 4410 , FOR 4420 , GC 3460 , GC 4060 , GC 4070 , GC 4510 , LAW 3220 , MGT 2010 , MKT 3010 , MSE 2100 , MSE 2410 , MSE 2500 , MSE 3190 , MSE 3420 , PKSC 4210 , PKSC 4220 , PKSC 4990