In the late 70's up to the early 90's, the Department of Agricultural Economics (DAE) and the Department of Rural Development Studies (DRDS) were directly under the Office of Higher Education (OHE).

Through the Board of Trustees' Resolution No. 3, series of 1996, dated June 10, 1996, the organization structure of DSAC was amended in preparation for its conversion into a University. Aside from the creation of two new positions for vice president, namely: Vice President for Research and Development and Vice President for External and Business Affairs, the SA was expanded into School of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Natural Resources (SAFENR) and the School of Economics, Management and Development Studies (SEMDS) was created.

However, because of its agricultural economics program and inadequacy of physical resources, SEMDS was subsumed under the SAFENR and operated as a department, later known as the Department of Economics, Management and Development Studies.

After the elevation of DSAC into a State University on January 22, 1998 and has become the Cavite State University (CvSU), the four existing schools, i.e. School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Arts and Sciences and SAFENR were elevated into colleges. The College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation was created while the DEMDS was finally elevated into a college and become known as the College of Economics, Management and Development Studies.

Since then, CEMDS has continuously strengthened its programs and resource capability to meet the increasing demands of an industrializing service area. It has dedicated all its efforts to achieve excellence in the fields of economics, management and studies.

Its first dean is Dr. Alice T. Valerio and the three departments were chaired by Dr. Luzviminda A. Rodrin, Prof. Angelo P. Olo and Dr. Antonio G. Papa, respectively. In 2000, Prof. Gilchor P. Cubillo assumed the chairmanship of the Department of Management when Prof.Olo went on study leave.

Four undergraduate programs were offered under the deanship of Dr. Valerio. These are the bachelor degrees in Economics, Management, Development Management and Entrepreneurship. She set the pace for the accreditation of the first three undergraduate programs and passed the AACCUP Preliminary Survey visit last November 2000.

In 2001, Dr. Luzviminda A. Rodrin assumed the deanship of the College. She was ably helped by three chairs namely: Dr. Maria A. Ersando, Dr. Nelia C. Cresino and Prof. Nelia E. Feranil. Dean Rodrin later chaired the Department of Development Studies vice Prof. Feranil when the latter was designated head of the University's Admission and Registration Unit.

In September 2002, the Bachelor of Science in Economics, Bachelor of Science in Business Management and the Bachelor of Science in Development Management passes the Level II accreditation by the AACCUP, Inc.

In 2003, the curricular offerings of the College were reviewed and revised to comply with the minimum requirements set by CHED and the recommendations of the AACCUP Accreditors during the Formal Survey Visit held last September 2003.

Additional three courses were offered by the College during the first semester of AY 2004-2005. These were the Master in Management and Master in Professional Studies for the graduate program and BS in International Studies for the undergraduate program. Two significant events of the College in 2004 included the awarding of Doctor of Science in International Business and Entrepreneurship honoris causa to Dr. Lucio C. Tan and the passing of the MBA program in the evaluation conducted by CHED last March 2004.

In 2005, the College started to offer the BS Accountancy program. The College also awarded the Doctor of Science in Public Administration, honoris causa, to Senator Bong Revilla, Jr. on April 2005.