College of Applied Science and Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology

Established in 1829, the Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, coeducational university located in Rochester, New York in the northeastern region of the United States. 

A leader in preparing students for careers in the dynamic global environment, the university has a diverse range of programs from engineering, science, and technology to the arts, business, education, humanities, and social sciences. It consists of 9 colleges that provide career-oriented programs and experiential learning. 

"U.S. News & World Report” has ranked RIT 104th among national universities and is again included in "Princeton Review's" list of Best Graduate Business Schools and is home to the #1 Student Innovation Center in the nation as ranked by "Best Colleges Online."

College of Engineering Technology Overview

The College of Engineering Technology (CET) is one of nine colleges within Rochester Institute of Technology. Enrolling more than 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students, the College of Engineering Technology offers 10 undergraduate majors and seven graduate programs, in a full spectrum of engineering disciplines. CET has the largest number of engineering technology graduates among private universities in the nation.

From design to production, to operation, the College of Engineering Technology consists of five academic departments dedicated to the sustainable, technical, and professional interests of students.

School of Media Sciences

The School of Media Sciences prepares to address real-world problems within the industry. Students graduate with skills in all areas that encompass graphic communications, from design production to digital content management to typography. Students learn how to design, distribute, and manage content to reach audiences on various platforms.

Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

The Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) is comprised of three distinct disciplines that offer intense experiential education in manufacturing, mechanical, or electrical mechanical engineering technology. As the second largest mechanical engineering technology program in the U.S., MMET offers focus areas in the fields of robotics, aerospace, industrial automation, and manufacturing.

Packaging Science

Rochester Institute of Technology’s Packaging Science program provides students a mix of laboratory experience and real-life problem solving. RIT is the only program in the country to require packaging science students a full-time co-op with a company. Possible focus areas include sustainable packaging, packaging design, biopolymers, shock and vibration, pharmaceutical, medical products, and food packaging

Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Science

The Department of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Technology (ECTET) provides students a laboratory and project-intensive curriculum. Co-op, study abroad, research opportunities, industrial connections, and modern facilities provide a hands-on, engaging experience. ECTET offers two BS degrees: computer engineering technology and electrical engineering technology. Specializations are offered in audio, telecommunications, and power and energy.

Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety

The programs offered by Rochester Institute of Technology’s Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety (CETEMS) represent the professions central to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the built environment. From designing new bridges, buildings, or the vast array of public works; to helping manage construction projects, CETEMS programs are about designing, building and maintaining the infrastructure of civilization.

Faculty and Research from the College of Engineering Technology

College of Engineering Technology faculty and students have access to extensive robotics, electronics, materials (both metals and plastics), and metrology facilities. Researchers investigate topics varying from improving food safety and distribution to weapons deployment to telecommunications to drone testing. Industry partners include Alstom Signaling, Alstom Transport, Rotork Controls, Carestream Health, JMA Wireless, and AIM Photonics.

Many faculty in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety are actively engaged in research related to sustainable civil infrastructure and environmental, health and safety systems. Several faculty also engage in research related to the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative teaching methods and tools for active learning, project-based learning, and field laboratory settings.

Experiential Learning at Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology has one of the largest cooperative education programs in the world, annually placing more than 4,500 students in more than 6,200 co-op assignments with more than 2,200 employing organizations. A co-op gives students real-world job experience to help inform future career decisions. Students do not pay tuition while on co-op.

RIT’s Study Abroad program allows students to study full time in RIT-affiliated programs in 20 countries around the world.

College of Engineering Technology students have a unique opportunity to study at RIT exchange partner university, Technological University Dublin. Engineering technology students can take a full semester of core technical classes at TUD and earn credit toward their RIT degree without increasing their time to graduation. 

Future employment for College of Engineering Technology graduates

Full time placements upon graduating from the College of Engineering Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology have ranged from 95% to 98%.

College of Engineering Technology alumni at Rochester Institute of Technology

College of Engineering Technology graduates are part of a dynamic network of nearly 135,000 RIT alumni that are making an impact around the globe. Notable alumni include:

Jordan Darling ’15  (mechanical engineering technology)

As vice president of Nikola Powersport, Darling oversees the divisions of both land and sea vehicles, and with his team, will bring several new off highway vehicles and personal watercraft to market this year. Prior to Nikola Powersports, Darling founded Free Form Factory, Inc., creating the manufacturing technology for personal watercraft, designing and building the first mainstream electric personal watercraft, until being acquired by Nikola Corp. in 2017. He holds several patents in powersports and manufacturing technologies.

Lucas Magnant ’11 (packaging science)

Magnant has been at Keurig for four years. As engineering manager, Packaging Engineering for the international company, Magnant leads a six-member supply chain packaging engineering team, as well as design and dynamics labs. The group is responsible for all design and performance validation for secondary/tertiary packaging, plus primary bottles and cans, as well as productivity pipeline development and delivering company-wide pack productivity targets.

Stephanie Fallon ’12, ’14  (new media publishing, print media)

As associate manager of Prepress and Digital Production for ESPN The Magazine, Fallon oversees image editing, print production and digital edition output. During her nearly four years on the team, ESPN The Magazine has won multiple GAA Golden Cylinder awards for print quality, as well as the prestigious ASME Ellie award for general excellence.