The need for emphasis on teaching the content of certain subject areas and teaching concepts related to certain packaging industry job titles as perceived by packaging professionals in Indiana and the surrounding states

The study investigates the opinions of packaging professionals about an appropriate curriculum for a Bachelor of Science degree program in packaging. The study was conducted by surveying packaging professionals randomly selected from the Central Indiana Institute of Packaging Professionals mailing list. This list was made up mostly of Indiana residents but included a few residents from the four surrounding states.;The study was initiated as a first step in the process of developing appropriate improvements to the curriculum for the Bachelor of Science degree in packaging at Indiana State University. Six packaging job titles and twenty-three subject areas were chosen for the survey instrument to see if there was consensus across the demographic groups regarding emphasizing the associated skills and tasks.;The survey pointed out some basics to include in an appropriate program of study. Those basics include packaging design, package development, packaging materials, introduction to packaging principles, and co-op/internship in industry. Eighteen other job titles and subject areas were also deemed important, but not to the same degree as the five above.;One job title---technical sales/marketing---and five subject areas---fluid power, mechanical power systems, introduction to electricity/electronics, marketing, and foreign language---did not draw support for their inclusion in a Packaging Technology Bachelor of Science degree program. The information gathered from this survey should be of help in revising the Packaging Technology Bachelor of Science degree program at Indiana State University.