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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2025-2026

Sustainable Materials and Technology (BS): Sustainable Packaging Concentration

The Sustainable Packaging Concentration focuses on the rapid transformation of e-commerce and a heightened awareness of sustainability to create new opportunities within the packaging industry. Our main initiative will center around enhancing sustainability practices, innovative design, efficient processing, and comprehensive packaging solutions at all primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. We strive to create eco-friendly packaging that protects products and aligns with current design aesthetics, providing a minimal environmental footprint throughout the entire packaging operation. The Forest Biomaterials department stands out in this evolving landscape due to its exceptional strengths in developing innovative biomaterials. We aim to bridge the Sustainable Materials and Technology (SMT) and Paper Science & Engineering (PSE) programs to create an exciting concentration.Ìý It will combine the best assets from both programs, affording a favorable position to grow and lead in driving advancements in sustainable packaging solutions.

Contact

Rico Ruffino
rbruffin@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Departmental Requirements
Select one of the following:3
Student Success in Environmental First Year
and Exploring the Environment
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý200Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology3
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý203Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials4
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý207Principles of Sustainable Product Development Lecture2
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý210Sustainable Materials Internship1
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý217Principles of Sustainable Product Development Laboratory1
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý301Chemistry of Sustainable Materials3
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý302Processing of Biomaterials4
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý307Product Visualization3
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý320Industrial Chemical Pollutants2
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý441Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials4
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý444Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers3
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý483Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý476Environmental Life Cycle Analysis3
²Ñ±õ·¡Ìý201Introduction to Business3
·¡°äÌý205Fundamentals of Economics3
±õ³§·¡Ìý311Engineering Economic Analysis3
Select one of the following:3
U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
Global Environmental Politics
Environmental Law & Economic Policy
±õ¶Ù³§Ìý201Environmental Ethics3
Mathematics & Natural Sciences
Select one of the following Calculus courses:3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
³§°ÕÌý311Introduction to Statistics3
°ä±áÌý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
°ä±áÌý220
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý222
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
Select one of the following Physics courses:4
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
College Physics I
µþ±õ°¿Ìý181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
Concentration Requirements
Technical Electives 16
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý109Introduction to Sustainable Packaging 3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý201Pulping and Papermaking Technology3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý212Paper Properties4
Students can select 2 courses for a total of 6 credits.
Project Management for Sustainability (3 cr)
Introduction to Industrial Ecology (3 cr)
Recycling to Create a Sustainable Environment (2 cr)
Process Engineering (3 cr)
Pulp and Paper Products and Markets (3 cr)
Advised Electives 213
General Education Program (GEP) Courses
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic Writing and Research 34
GEP Humanities6
GEP Elective3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement)
GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement)
Total Hours120
1

Student is encouraged to selectÌýtwo of the following courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.

2

Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.

3

A grade of C- or better is required.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý200 Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology 3
Select one of the following: 3
Student Success in Environmental First Year
and Exploring the Environment
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
Select one of the following Calculus courses 3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
GEP Humanities 3
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý207 Principles of Sustainable Product Development Lecture 2
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý217 Principles of Sustainable Product Development Laboratory 1
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
°ä±áÌý101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 3
°ä±áÌý102 General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1
Select one of the following Physics electives: 4
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
College Physics I
ÌýHours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý203 Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials (CP) 4
°ä±áÌý220 Introductory Organic Chemistry (CP) 3
°ä±áÌý222 Organic Chemistry I Lab (CP) 1
²Ñ±õ·¡Ìý201 Introduction to Business 3
Technical Elective 2 3
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý301 Chemistry of Sustainable Materials (CP) 3
·¡°äÌý205 Fundamentals of Economics 3
±õ¶Ù³§Ìý201 Environmental Ethics 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý109 Introduction to Sustainable Packaging 3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý201 Pulping and Papermaking Technology 3
ÌýHours16
Summer
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý210 Sustainable Materials Internship 1
ÌýHours1
Third Year
Fall Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý307 Product Visualization 3
±õ³§·¡Ìý311 Engineering Economic Analysis 3
³§°ÕÌý311 Introduction to Statistics 3
Advised Elective 3 3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý212 Paper Properties 4
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý302 Processing of Biomaterials 4
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý320 Industrial Chemical Pollutants 2
GEP Elective 3
Technical Elective 2 3
Advised Elective 3 3
ÌýHours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý441 Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials 4
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý444 Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers 3
±Ê³§·¡Ìý476 Environmental Life Cycle Analysis 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Advised Elective 3 3
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
³§²Ñ°ÕÌý483 Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology 3
GEP Humanities 3
Select one of the following 3
U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
Global Environmental Politics
Environmental Law & Economic Policy
Technical Elective 2 3
Advised Elective 3 1
ÌýHours13
ÌýTotal Hours120
1

A grade of C- or better is required

2

Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.Ìý

3

Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology curriculum have many and varied job opportunities upon graduation with most receiving more than one job offer. Graduates enter the industry as management trainees, sales trainees, process engineers, quality assurance specialist, research & development associates and many others.

Career Titles

  • Director of New Products
  • Certification Specialist
  • Sustainability Manager
  • Plant Manager
  • Quality Control Manager
  • Project Engineer
  • Material Scientist
  • Market Analyst

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