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WELCOME TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S 

SCHOOL OF PACKAGING

WE ARE PACKAGING!

For more than 50 years Michigan State University has been a leader in teaching, research and outreach focused on packaging containers, materials, their functionality and improvement. Established in 1952 (first as a discipline within the MSU Department of Forest Products, then, in 1957, as an independent school), the MSU School of Packaging (SoP) is the pioneer and leader in its field. As the first program of its kind, the SoP has a substantial track record of providing high quality undergraduate, graduate and continuing education and conducting research that advances the science and technology of packaging. Key to the future success of the MSU School of Packaging is an overriding commitment to innovation, sustainability and stewardship.

School of Packaging Expertise

Research: Throughout more than five decades of dynamic development, the MSU School of Packaging has built significant research expertise and earned national and international recognition in physical distribution and protective packaging. We continue to enjoy a worldwide reputation for leadership in this area, with computer applications in cushion design, fragility assessment, distribution dynamics and modeling of the physical environment. The school is also known as a leader in the areas of permeability and migration, shelf life, food packaging, product/package compatibility, tamper evidence and legibility. Among our new research areas are bio-based polymers, nanocomposites, radio frequency identification, automotive packaging, pharmaceutical packaging and packaging solutions for food quality and safety.

Collaboration & Industry Outreach: The MSU School of Packaging is uniquely positioned to create and disseminate valuable knowledge in packaging science and technology that empowers people around the world to make more informed decisions and enjoy improved quality of life. We maintain close ties to the packaging industry numerous ways, including the School of Packaging Industry Advisory Council, the Packaging Alumni Association, Packaging Executive forums, company visits, etc. A great majority of our students interact with industry partners through their participation in paid internships as part of their studies. They are also exposed to the international packaging industry through MSU’s nation-leading study abroad program, with packaging links to the UK, Japan, Sweden, Spain and other parts of the world. The School of Packaging also operates two industry consortia, which fund non-proprietary research on a joint sponsorship basis: the Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research, and the Consortium for Distribution Packaging. In addition, our faculty members work in close collaboration with faculty members from related disciplines at MSU and with their industry counterparts in food science (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition), food safety (National Food Safety and Toxicology Center), engineering (College of Engineering), supply chain (Broad College of Business) and numerous other disciplines.

Academic Strength: More than half of all packaging graduates employed in the U.S. come from Michigan State. Our academic offerings include bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in packaging, as well as certificate programs and an on-line master’s degree aimed at mid-career professionals. We have conferred more than 7,000 academic degrees – the School of Packaging currently houses approximately 550 undergraduate and 100 graduate students and is known worldwide as the leading resource for developing package professionals.

 

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