2026-2028 Catalog

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

Packaging has evolved from being solely a logistical or materials concern into a strategic business function with a central focus on value creation. The Packaging Minor delves into the complete packaging value chain, seamlessly integrating aspects of business, design, engineering, material science, and technology.

Our students cultivate a profound comprehension of pressing packaging concerns such as sustainability, inclusivity, and globalization and their far-reaching implications within the industry. We inspire our students to channel their individual passions, enabling them to explore diverse industry sectors such as food and beverage, cosmetics and personal care, consumer goods, automotive, healthcare, and electronics.

Graduates from this sought-after program gain access to a wide spectrum of roles, encompassing packaging engineering, research and development, procurement, manufacturing, sales, and management. This array of opportunities reflects the versatility and value of the Packaging Minor.

Program Learning Objectives

  1. Apply knowledge and skills to identify opportunities and solve problems related to packaging systems and supply chain and operations management.
  2. Use appropriate methods and current technology to analyze data and drive decisions related to packaging systems and supply chain and operations management.
  3. Evaluate the implications of business, design, science, and technology decisions on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
  4. Recognize the ethical consequences of business, design, science, and technology decisions.
  5. Apply sustainability principles to packaging systems and supply chain and operations management.

Minor Requirements and Curriculum

The minor must be completed prior to, or at the same time as, the requirements for the bachelor's degree. A major and a minor may not be taken in the same degree program, and a minor is not required for a degree. Requirements for the minor include:
  • At least half of the units must be from upper-division courses (3000-4000 level).
  • At least half of the units must be taken at Cal Poly (in residence).
  • No more than one-third of the units will be taken with credit-no credit grading (CR/NC), not counting courses with mandatory CR/NC. Departments may further limit CR/NC grading if desired.
  • A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all units counted for completion of the minor.
REQUIRED COURSES
CHEM 1120Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties4
Select from the following: 13
FSN 3319
The Science of Food for the Consumer
GRC 2070
Consumer Packaging
ITP 2234
Packaging Design Fundamentals
ITP 3330Packaging Fundamentals (Upper Division GE 2/5)3
PHYS 1121College Physics I4
Approved Electives
Select from the following:9
FSN 3319
The Science of Food for the Consumer 1
ITP 2234
Packaging Design Fundamentals 1
ITP 2241
Industrial and Packaging Materials
ITP 3304
International Supply Chains
ITP 3334
Structural Packaging Design
ITP 3341
Packaging Polymers and Processing
ITP 4400
Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates
ITP 4408
Fiber-Based Packaging
ITP 4409
Packaging Machinery and Processes
ITP 4411
Packaging Sustainability
ITP 4412
Instrumental Analysis of Packaging Polymers
ITP 4413
Quality Evaluation of Packaged Products
ITP 4430
Healthcare Packaging
ITP 4475
Distribution Packaging Dynamics
Total Units23
1

Course may be taken if not used to satisfy a requirement listed above.