Packaging, BS + Nutritional Science, MS

Admissions Requirements
Graduate Standing Requirements
Program Requirements (144 units)
Advising Roadmap

The Packaging and Nutriotional Science Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program provides students the opportunity to earn their Packaging, BS and Nutritional Science, MS degrees simultaneously, completing both degrees in five years, rather than the usual six years when completing them individually.The SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator works closely with the students to ensure a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate status, without students having to file a formal application for admission to the graduate program. The program is intended to prepare candidates to assume leadership roles in their profession and industry and to provide the opportunity to acquire a foundation for doctoral study in packaging or related fields.

Total SAGE Program Units (BS + MS) 144

For more information, contact the SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator: Dr. Xi Feng.

Admissions Requirements

Be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (100W/GWAR ) prior to admission into the SAGE Scholars program;
Successfully completed a minimum of 60 Packaging, BS applicable units and not more than 120 undergraduate degree applicable units at the time of admission in the program;
Completed PKG 141A and NUFS 100W with grades of “B” or better;
Minimum 3.0 cumulative SJSU GPA at time of admission;

Students who have reached up to their first semester as classified seniors will remain eligible for entry into the SAGE program. Second semester, senior-level students enrolled in the term they expect to graduate from their baccalaureate degree are not eligible to enter into the SAGE program as these students will not gain the accelerated graduate-level benefit offered through the SAGE blended program option.

Graduate Standing Requirements

Requirements for program continuation and advancement to candidacy in the graduate program, include:

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students in the first four years of the program who do not maintain these standards will be withdrawn from the SAGE Scholars program and returned to the non-SAGE BS in Packaging program.
Students are converted to graduate status when they have completed 120 SAGE program-applicable units. The following University Requirements are satisfied with required courses in the major: GE Area 5A and 2, and GE UD Area 2/5. Alternate courses that may satisfy these requirements are not counted in the calculation of the 120 SAGE program-applicable units.
Students may opt out of the SAGE program and apply for the standalone master’s degree program at any point like other non-SAGE applicants, in case they decide to complete a thesis or change the packaging objective.
Completed all lower-division work (including lower-division general education courses and American Institutions courses).

Culminating Experience

Plan A (Thesis)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 6 units of NUFS 299 . The student is required to complete a research project under advisement of a Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging faculty. The research must result in the generation of a thesis that meets the University Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. The student must pass an oral examination defending the research to a departmental faculty committee. The student must prepare an oral presentation or poster presentation for the public.

Plan B (Project)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 3 units of NUFS 298 and submit a written project in publication format. The student must pass an oral examination defending the research to a departmental faculty committee. The student must prepare an oral presentation or poster presentation for the public, community partner, or industry.

Plan B (Comprehensive Exam)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 3 units of NUFS 298 . All graduate students opting for the courses-only option must pass the Comprehensive Exam (given once a semester) to earn the MS in Nutritional Science degree. The Comprehensive Exam is the student’s opportunity to demonstrate mastery and integration of the knowledge and skills of the MS in Nutritional Science curriculum. The comprehensive exam is an oral and a written exam administered on campus.

Program Requirements (144 units)

Packaging, BS (114 units)

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

University Requirements (32 units)

The Lower and Upper Division General Education requirements may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. To satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) , students must pass NUFS 100W or PH 100W with a grade of “C” or better (“C-” not accepted).

GE Areas 1, 3, 4/American Institutions, 5B and 6 (24 units)
GE UD Area 3 and 4 (6 units)
Physical Education (2 units)

Major Preparation (26 units)

CHEM 30A - Introductory Chemistry 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3) (Students may substitute CHEM 1A for CHEM 30A)
CHEM 30B - Introductory Chemistry 3 unit(s) (Students may substitute CHEM 8 for CHEM 30B)
NUFS 100W - Writing Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID) OR PH 100W - Writing Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID)
MATH 70 - Mathematics for Business 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 71 - Calculus for Business and Aviation 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PSYC 1 - Introduction to Psychology 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) OR PH 67 - Introductory Health Statistics 3 unit(s) (Both GE Area 2)

Major Requirements (46 units)

Core Courses (13 units)

NUFS 8 - Nutrition for the Health Professions 3 unit(s)
NUFS 31 - Professionalism in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 1 unit(s)
NUFS 151 - Food Microbiology 2 unit(s)
NUFS 192 - Field Experience in Nutrition and Food Science and Packaging Technology 1-6 unit(s) (4 units required)
PKG 107 - Principles of Packaging 3 unit(s)

Packaging Requirements (33 units)

NUFS 103 - Food Processing and Packaging I 2 unit(s)
NUFS 103L - Food Processing Laboratory 1 unit(s)
NUFS 139 - Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)
PKG 120 - Artios CAD For Packaging 3 unit(s)
PKG 121 - Solidworks For Packaging 3 unit(s) *
PKG 141A - Packaging Materials I, Paper, Metal, and Wood Based 3 unit(s)
PKG 141B - Packaging Materials II, Plastics, Composites, and Glass 3 unit(s)
PKG 146 - Packaging for Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals 3 unit(s)
PKG 156 - Packaging Machinery Systems 3 unit(s)
PKG 159 - Packaging Material Handling and Distribution 3 unit(s)
PKG 169 - Food Packaging and Preservation 3 unit(s)
PKG 170 - Packaging Development and Management 3 unit(s)

University Electives (10 units)

Nutritional Science, MS (30 units)

Core Courses (15 units)

NUFS 201 - Colloquium in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 3 unit(s)
NUFS 217 - Issues in Nutrition, Food and Packaging 3 unit(s) (GWAR)
NUFS 257 - Biostatistics in Research 3 unit(s)
NUFS 295A - Research Methodology 3 unit(s)
PKG 270 - Package Design for End Use 3 unit(s)

Specialization Area (9-12 units)

Complete two courses (6 units). These six units are shared between the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
- PKG 158 Protective Package Design and Testing 3 unit(s)
- PKG 160 Hazardous Materials Packaging 3 unit(s)
Complete 3-6 units of electives selected in consultation with the graduate coordinator.
[Note: Students choosing Culminating Experience Plan A (Thesis) will complete 3 units of electives. Students choosing Culminating Experience Plan B (Project or Comprehensive Exam) will complete 6 units of electives.]
- PKG 268 Advanced Laboratory Testing and Analysis (3 units required)

Culminating Experience (3-6 units)

Program departments are required to certify when Plan A or Plan B has been completed satisfactorily via the Verification of Culminating Experience form.

Complete One Option:

Plan A (Thesis) (6 units)
- NUFS 299 Master’s Thesis 1-6 unit(s)
Plan B (Project) (3 units)
- NUFS 298 Special Studies in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging (3 units required)
- An additional 3-unit elective selected in consultation with the graduate advisor 3 unit(s)
Plan B (Comprehensive Exam) (3 units)
- NUFS 298 Special Studies in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging (3 units required)
- An additional 3-unit elective selected in consultation with the graduate advisor 3 unit(s)

Total Units Required (144 units)

Note: The standalone Nutritional Science, MS program requires 3-6 units of courses in graduate electives. Students satisfy this requirement in this SAGE Scholars Program by completing 6 units from PKG 158 and PKG 160 in the Packaging, BS program. These 6 units are considered to count toward both the graduate and undergraduate degrees, thus allowing SAGE students to meet the minimum unit requirements for both degrees.