Packaging Science
Packaging science involves application of science and engineering principles to develop solutions to ever changing, real-world packaging problems.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Minor: Yes
- Website: www.pkg.ufl.edu
Overview
The packaging industry is actually a collection of related industries. Raw material production companies provide paper, glass, plastics and metals. Converters refine raw materials into forms useful for packaging such as film laminates, rigid bottles, corrugated boxes, etc. End-user companies design new packaging for foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals. Distribution and logistics companies use specialized material handling and tracking technologies that are tightly integrated with packaging. Finally, end-of-life-cycle processing companies handle packaging waste through recycling, composting, reuse, waste-to-energy and landfilling.
The packaging science curriculum combines a solid foundation in math, science and engineering with specific packaging courses designed to train students to critically analyze packaging problems and to develop innovative and practical solutions.
Students work with state-of-the-art equipment, including computerized 3-D package design to improve conceptualization and speed to market. In addition, students explore current trends such as application of bio-based and biodegradable plastics, nano-technology enhanced gas barriers to increase product shelf life and modern package-tracking technologies, such as 2D barcodes and radio frequency identification.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
- Complete 2 of 8 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2007,
CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313,
PHY 2048/2048L, PHY 2049/2049L
Semester 2
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H, N) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (GE-S) | 3 |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L Analytic General Chemistry 2 (3) and Analytic General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H, D) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| ABE 2012C Introduction to Agricultural and Biological Engineering | 3 |
| MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2048 and 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 (3) and Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| BSC 2007 Biological Sciences: Cells, Organisms and Genetics (GE-B) | 3 |
| EML 3007 Elements of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHY 2049 and 2049L Physics with Calculus 2 (3) and Physics with Calculus 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| ABE 3612C Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems | 4 |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication or SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| EGM 2511 Engineering Mechanics – Statics | 3 |
| ENV 3040C Computer Methods in Environmental Engineering | 4 |
| PKG 3001 Principles of Packaging | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| ABE 3652C Physical and Rheological Properties of Biological Materials | 3 |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
| EMA 3010 Materials | 3 |
| PKG 3009 Consumer Products Packaging or PKG 4204C Package Decoration | 3 |
| PKG 4101C Computer Tools for Packaging | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| ABE 3042C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 1 | 2 |
| ABE 4812 Food and Bioprocess Engineering Unit Operations | 4 |
| CHM 2200 and 2200L Basic Organic Chemistry (3) and Basic Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| EGM 3400 Elements of Dynamics | 2 |
| PKG 3103 Food Packaging | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| ABE 4043C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 2 | 2 |
| ABE 4931 Professional Issues | 1 |
| EMA 3066 Introduction to Organic Materials | 3 |
| PKG 4008 Transport and Distribution Packaging | 3 |
| PKG 4932 Circuits and Instrumentation in Packaging | 3 |
| Technical elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |