The objective of this program is to enhance educational and professional opportunities of Miami students into the discipline of paper science and engineering. The minor provides an understanding of the fundamental engineering principles including economics and its applications to serving the needs of the paper and allied industries. The educational component provides for integration of theory with laboratory experience, and substantial design experience. The learning experience will prepare the students for a career as project/process engineers.

The department of Paper and Chemical Engineering offers a major in paper science and engineering. The department also offers majors in Chemical Engineering and Engineering Management with emphasis in Paper Science and Engineering.

The proposed minor is aimed towards those students who would like to pursue a career in paper industry. It is envisaged that students who could benefit most from this minor are the ones enrolled in engineering and sciences.

There is a demand in the paper industry for those professionals whose academic portfolio and training is supplemented by coursework in paper science and engineering. In consultation and with the support of the Academic Committee of the Paper Science and Engineering Foundation and the paper industry leaders, the department faculty lent unanimous support to establishing a minor in paper engineering.

Over the last few years the demand for paper engineers has been relatively robust while the number of majors has fallen off considerably. Most of our students who graduate from paper science and engineering and engineering management with paper science concentration find jobs prior to graduation with starting salaries ranging between $50,000 -$60,000. One measure of assessing the job market for paper science and engineering majors is to survey the starting salaries of chemical engineering majors because the paper industry is a niche area within the overall chemical and allied industries. In an article dated February 15, 2006, CNNMoney.com reports survey results indicating chemical engineers topped the list of highest-paid majors.