COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Packaging at San José State University is a 120-unit degree program designed to prepare students for technical and professional careers in packaging design, materials engineering, product protection, and packaging systems management across industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and consumer goods. The program includes 18 units of Core Lower Division General Education, with some requirements potentially satisfied through major coursework in areas such as life sciences, social sciences, mathematics, and communication, along with 6 units of American Institutions requirements. Upper Division General Education includes 6 units, with up to 3 units potentially fulfilled through major coursework. Students also complete 2 units of Physical Education and satisfy the Written Communication requirement (GWAR/WID) through NUFS 100W or PH 100W.Major preparation consists of 26 units and provides foundational training in chemistry (CHEM 30A and CHEM 30B or approved substitutions), mathematics for business and applied analysis (MATH 70 and MATH 71), physics (PHYS 2A), psychology (PSYC 1), and statistics or health statistics (STAT 95 or PH 67). These courses build the scientific, mathematical, and analytical foundation needed for advanced packaging studies. The major requirements total 52 units and include a 13-unit core and a 39-unit packaging specialization. Core coursework includes nutrition fundamentals, food microbiology, professionalism in food science and packaging, field experience, and principles of packaging. The packaging curriculum focuses on both scientific and technical aspects of the field, including food processing and preservation, packaging materials (paper, metal, wood, plastics, composites, and glass), CAD and design software (Artios CAD and SolidWorks), packaging machinery systems, material handling and distribution, and protective package design and testing.Students also study specialized areas such as packaging for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials packaging, and packaging development and management, providing knowledge of both industry applications and regulatory requirements. A required field experience course offers hands-on professional exposure in real-world packaging environments. The program also includes 10 units of university electives, allowing students to broaden their education. Overall, the degree provides a strong combination of science, engineering, design, and industry practice, preparing graduates for careers in packaging innovation, product development, quality assurance, and supply chain systems across multiple global industries.