Civil Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree
Civil Technology
Associate in Applied Science Degree
- RIT /
- Rochester Institute of Technology /
- Academics /
- Civil Technology AAS
Build the foundation for a successful career in civil technology with an AAS program. Construct the future.
Overview for Civil Technology AAS
The associate in applied science (AAS) in civil technology is an Associate+Bachelor’s degree program that prepares students to enter and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering technology in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology. The program offers you unparalleled academic support and students strengthen their skills by taking courses taught by NTID faculty. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.
Students receive a comprehensive foundation in civil engineering fundamentals: engineering graphics, computer aided design applications, construction materials and methods, surveying, statics, strength of materials, and elements of building construction.
You’ll start with an AAS degree in civil technology in RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which provides you with the courses and credit you need to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.
Upon completion of your AAS program with a 2.5 or higher grade point average in the program, you will enroll in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology, where you can major in civil engineering technology.
Students must graduate in good standing to enroll in the College of Engineering Technology. Transfer credit will be awarded for courses completed with a grade of B or better for courses coded “NCAD” and “NMTH” and a grade of C or better for other courses.
Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program.
Meet us on campus
Learn about academics, co-op and internships, financial aid, and more.
Apply for Fall 2025
Early Decision I and Early Action deadlines are November 1.
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Civil Technology AAS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Civil Technology, AAS degree, typical course sequence
Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
---|---|---|
First Year | ||
MATH-171 | Calculus A This is the first course in a three-course sequence (COS-MATH-171, -172, -173). This course includes a study of precalculus, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, continuity, and differentiability. Limits of functions are used to study continuity and differentiability. The study of the derivative includes the definition, basic rules, and implicit differentiation. Applications of the derivative include optimization and related-rates problems. (Prerequisites: Completion of the math placement exam or C- or better in MATH-111 or C- or better in ((NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) and NMTH-220) or equivalent course.) Lecture 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
NCAD-150 | Engineering Graphics in AEC The objective of this course is to introduce students to engineering graphics as a means of communication in the technical fields of architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C). The course is laboratory oriented and provides the student with basic skills to create professional 2D drawings with this comprehensive first course in the use of AutoCAD software for mechanical, architectural and civil drawings. The course assumes no prior knowledge of engineering drawing or CAD. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall). |
3 |
NCAD-180 | Civil Technology Graphics The objective of this course is to develop an understanding of drawings and practices used in the civil drafting field. Students engage in sketching exercises as well as use computer aided drafting tools to create plans and drawings for civil engineering projects. Students are introduced to mapping, surveying, GIS, plot plans, contour lines, highway layout, profiles and earthwork drawings. Students develop an understanding of the technical and legal purpose of these drawings and how to assemble them. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NCAD-150 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 5 (Spring). |
3 |
NCAD-255 | Construction Materials and Methods I Students study soil, aggregate, Portland cement concrete, asphalt cement concrete and wood products used for construction. Laboratory work focuses on testing soil, aggregates and Portland cement concrete. ASTM standards are used in all testing. Students also test mortar using ASTM standards and follow building codes for framing construction. Students will engage in hands-on lab activities. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NCAD-108 and NCAD-170 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall). |
3 |
NCAR-010 | Freshman Seminar The course provides incoming deaf and hard-of-hearing students admitted to NTID undergraduate programs with opportunities to develop/enhance academic skills, personal awareness, and community involvement in order to maximize their college experience. Students will have opportunities to explore and navigate the college environment, develop/reinforce academic skills, and participate in experiential learning opportunities while establishing meaningful connections with faculty, staff and peers. The course promotes the development of plans for ongoing growth and involvement in class and in the RIT/NTID and/or broader community. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 2 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
NMTH-275 | Advanced Mathematics (General Education) Topics from precalculus mathematics are studied with an emphasis on functions and graphs. Topics include the algebra of functions and the study of inverse functions. Rational, exponential, logarithmic and piecewise-defined functions are among those studied. Students, who earn credit for NMTH-275, cannot take NMTH-260 or NMTH-272. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students that have completed NMTH-212 or equivalent course with a grade of C- or better or have a math placement score greater than or equal to 40.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
PHYS-111 | College Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings. Attendance at the scheduled evening sessions of this class is required for exams. There will be 2 or 3 of these evening exams during the semester. Competency in algebra, geometry and trigonometry is required. Lab 4, Lecture 2 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
UWRT-150 | FYW: Writing Seminar (WI) (General Education – First Year Writing) Writing Seminar is a three-credit course limited to 19 students per section. The course is designed to develop first-year students’ proficiency in analytical and rhetorical reading and writing, and critical thinking. Students will read, understand, and interpret a variety of non-fiction texts representing different cultural perspectives and/or academic disciplines. These texts are designed to challenge students intellectually and to stimulate their writing for a variety of contexts and purposes. Through inquiry-based assignment sequences, students will develop academic research and literacy practices that will be further strengthened throughout their academic careers. Particular attention will be given to the writing process, including an emphasis on teacher-student conferencing, critical self-assessment, class discussion, peer review, formal and informal writing, research, and revision. Small class size promotes frequent student-instructor and student-student interaction. The course also emphasizes the principles of intellectual property and academic integrity for both current academic and future professional writing. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
Program Elective |
3 | |
General Education – Elective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
Second Year | ||
CHMG-141 | General & Analytical Chemistry I This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
CHMG-145 | General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
CVET-160 | Surveying Introduction to fundamentals of surveying. Topics include note taking; differential leveling; vertical and horizontal measurement; traversing; topographic mapping; horizontal, vertical, compound and reverse curves; and earthwork. (Co-requisites: CVET-161 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
CVET-161 | Surveying Laboratory Students apply the fundamentals of surveying to field exercises using modern surveying equipment. Field exercises include differential leveling, cross sections, traversing, topographic mapping, horizontal curve layout, vertical curve design, and earthwork estimation. (Co-requisites: CVET-160 or equivalent course.) Lab 2 (Fall). |
1 |
CVET-170 | Elements of Building Construction Elements and details of building construction, both residential and commercial, are explored. The course does not focus on design, but rather on specific building components, and on how these components work together to create a functional building. Some of the topics include foundations, wood light frame, heavy timber frame, steel, concrete, masonry, glass, roofing, cladding systems, and interior finishes. The role of building codes in design and construction is introduced. Sustainable building materials and systems are also introduced. (This course is restricted to CVET-BS or CONMGT-MN students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
MATH-172 | Calculus B This is the second course in three-course sequence (COS-MATH-171, -172, -173). The course includes Riemann sums, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, techniques of integration, and applications of the definite integral. The techniques of integration include substitution and integration by parts. The applications of the definite integral include areas between curves, and the calculation of volume. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-171 or 1016-171T or 1016-281 or 1016-231 or equivalent course.) Lecture 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
MCET-220 | Principles of Statics This course provides an introduction to the analysis and design of structures and machines. Students learn to calculate unknown forces using the concept of equilibrium and free body diagrams and to calculate simple stresses and deflections for axially loaded members. Topics include forces, moments, free body diagrams, equilibrium, friction, stress, strain, and deflection. Examples are drawn from mechanical, manufacturing, and civil engineering technology. Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
MCET-221 | Strength of Materials This course provides an introduction to the analysis and design of structures and machines. Students learn to calculate stresses and deflections in axially loaded members, beams, shafts, and columns. Topics include statically indeterminate problems, thermal stress, stress concentration, combined stress by superposition, and stress transformation equations. Students also gain experience with teamwork, project management, and communications as they complete recitation and project assignments. This course provides an introduction to the analysis and design of structures and machines. Students learn to calculate stresses and deflections in axially loaded members, beams, shafts, and columns. Topics include statically indeterminate problems, thermal stress, stress concentration, combined stress by superposition, and stress transformation equations. Students also gain experience with teamwork, project management, and communications as they complete recitation and project assignments. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MCET-220 or MECE-103 or CVET-210 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: MCET-110 or NETS-110 or MECE-305 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
PHYS-112 | College Physics II This course is an introduction to algebra-based physics focusing on thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and elementary topics in modern physics. Topics include heat and temperature, laws of thermodynamics, electric and magnetic forces and fields, DC and AC electrical circuits, electromagnetic induction, the concept of the photon, and the Bohr model of the atom. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings. Attendance at the scheduled evening sessions of this class is required for exams. There will be 2 or 3 of these evening exams during the semester. (Prerequisites: PHYS-111 or PHYS-211 or equivalent course.) Lab 4, Lecture 2 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
Total Semester Credit Hours | 64 |
Please see the NTID General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing associate degrees are required to complete one Wellness course.
Admissions and Financial Aid
For the AAS Degree Leading to Bachelor’s Degree (Associate+Bachelor’s Program)
- 2 years of math required; students interested in engineering, math and science transfer programs should have three or more years of math.
- 1 year of science required; students interested in engineering, math and science transfer programs should have two or more years of science.
- Physics is recommended for students interested in engineering.
- English language skills, as evidenced by application materials, determine associate degree options.
Specific English, Mathematics and Science Requirements and other Recommendations
- English: Placement into a First Year Writing course, such as FYW: Writing Seminar (UWRT-150) or Critical Reading and Writing (UWRT-100).
- Mathematics: Placement into NTID’s Advanced Math (NMTH-275) course or higher
- Science: Readiness after a single NTID science course, Concepts of College Physics (NSCI-270), for entry into RIT's College of Science Physics I (PHYS-111) course.
- ACT (optional): The ACT middle 50% composite score is 18-21 (20 Math, 16 Reading).
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
Contact
Department of Engineering Studies