Our vision is to be a recognized national leader in the preparation of skilled professionals in: civil engineering technology; environmental, health and safety management; safety technology, facility management and construction management. We envision our graduates as prepared and committed to moving us toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future.

The CETEMS mission is to achieve its vision by creating and maintaining an optimal teaching and learning environment in which staff and faculty grow professionally and students receive unsurpassed knowledge, skills, insights and the tools for lifelong learning in their respective disciplines.

Adapting and combining the musings on education of several great philosophers, CETEMS views education as the key to creating and sustaining civilization (Plato); recognizes that human nature, routines of behavior, and social reality are important influences in the process of education (Aristotle); and seeks to cultivate curiosity in students as a primary behavioral manifestation of human education (Rousseau). 

Values

We recognize and value that:

• Our academic programs are all about designing, building and maintaining the infrastructure of civilization;
• Human beings and the places that we live, work and play are indeed part of the environment; and
• Having a safe and healthy environment is requisite to a prosperous civilization. 

Strategies

• Work effectively with industry to provide cooperative education experience and applied research opportunities for our students.
• Deliver academic programs in multiple formats to meet the needs of full-time and part-time students and the needs of distant as well as local students.
• Provide state-of-the-art facilities that encourage learning, student project work and applied research.
• Incorporate continuous improvement into the work plans of faculty and staff, as well as into maintain and upgrading curriculum and facilities.

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Established in 1972, the BS degree in Civil Engineering Technology prepares students to enter careers in construction management, civil design, structural design, or environmental controls. The curriculum uses a combination of challenging academics, hands-on laboratory experiences, and practical cooperative work education to cultivate students who are grounded in applications-oriented approaches to solving the world's problems. 

In 1991, in response to a growing demand for environmental professionals, RIT created the nation's first BS degree in Environmental Management, which has now evolved into Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety.

The first MS degree in Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Management was launched in 1997 to further address the educational needs of EHS professionals and their employers. The EHS Management MS degree program may be almost completed entirely online with only one required three-day executive leader event held on campus.  In addition, the program may be completed through a combination of online and traditional means for those students who want to attend the RIT campus. 

2006 was a busy year for CETEMS.  In 2006, the department created:

• A minor in Construction Management
• A minor in Structural Design
• A dual BS/MS degree in Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety Management that combines the two degree programs.  Students who successfully complete this dual degree are awarded both the BS degree in Environmental Technology and Management and the MS degree in Environmental Health and Safety Management
• A new MS degree in Facility Management.  This degree may be completed entirely through online learning.

There are a number of other certificates and distance learning options available, so please continue into our site to read more about them. Welcome to CETEMS!

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