Business AS | National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Navigate the business world with an AS program in Business. Develop the skills to thrive in the corporate arena.

Overview for Business AS

The associate in science (AS) degree in business is an Associate+Bachelor’s degree program designed to prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing students to enter and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree program in RIT’s Saunders College of Business. The program offers you unparalleled academic support and students strengthen their skills by taking courses taught by faculty in RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). Admission to this major is available during the fall semester only. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.

You’ll start with an AS degree in business, which provides you with the courses and credits you need to enroll in an RIT bachelor's degree program.

Upon completion of your AS program, provided you have earned a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average in the program, you will enroll into RIT’s Saunders College of Business in one of the following bachelor’s degree programs: accounting, finance, hospitality and tourism management, international business, global business management, management information systems, marketing, or supply chain management.

Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program.

Microsoft Certification

NTID's business studies department operates an authorized testing center for Microsoft Office Specialist. Preparatory courses are offered for several exams each semester.

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Apply for Fall 2025

First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.

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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Business AS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Business, AS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
MGIS-101	Computer-based Analysis This course provides students with hands-on experience with the analytical software tools and techniques that are used in today's businesses. Emphasis will be placed on the application of spreadsheet models for supporting management decision-making. A variety of spreadsheet-based cases in market research, financial analysis, accounting applications and other business domains will be utilized to show how to effectively analyze and solve business problems using the spreadsheet tool. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking undergraduate students.) Lecture 1 (Fall).	1
NBUS-211	World of Business & Innovation This course is an overview of the functions and processes of business organizations. Topics include the roles and responsibilities of the manager, managing business ethics and social responsibility, competing in a global environment, organizational structure and authority, and managing diversity, change, communication and innovation. (NTID Supported Students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
NBUS-225	Introduction to Entrepreneurship This course introduces the role of the entrepreneur in identifying opportunities, seeking funding and other resources, and managing the formation and sustainability of the new venture. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the development process from idea generation to realization of a product or service by creating a business plan. (NTID Supported Students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
NBUS-227	Principles of Marketing This course introduces the field of marketing and its focus on how consumer purchasing behavior impacts the marketplace (domestically and internationally). Emphasis will be placed on understanding the customers' needs and wants, marketing mix and its impact on the external market environment. Students will demonstrate the marketing concepts, principles and strategies through the development of a marketing plan. (NTID Supported Students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	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
STAT-145	Introduction to Statistics I (General Education) This course introduces statistical methods of extracting meaning from data, and basic inferential statistics. Topics covered include data and data integrity, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, numeric summary measures, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. The emphasis of the course is on statistical thinking rather than computation. Statistical software is used. (Prerequisites: Any 100 level MATH course, or NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275 or (NMTH-250 with a C- or better) or a Math Placement Exam score of at least 35.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
STAT-146	Introduction to Statistics II (General Education) This course is an elementary introduction to the topics of regression and analysis of variance. The statistical software package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on business applications. This is a general introductory statistics course and is intended for a broad range of programs. (Prerequisites: STAT-145 or equivalent course.) Lecture 6 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	4
	General Education – First Year Writing (WI)	3
	General Education – Ethical Perspective	3
	General Education – Artistic Perspective	3
	General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective*	3
	General Education – Elective	3
Second Year
COMM-253	Communication An introduction to communication contexts and processes emphasizing both conceptual and practical dimensions. Participants engage in public speaking, small group problem solving and leadership, and writing exercises while acquiring theoretical background appropriate to understanding these skills. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
ECON-101	Principles of Microeconomics Microeconomics studies the workings of individual markets. That is, it examines the interaction of the demanders of goods and services with the suppliers of those goods and services. It explores how the behavior of consumers (demanders), the behavior of producers (suppliers), and the level of market competition influence market outcomes. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
ECON-201	Principles of Macroeconomics Macroeconomics studies aggregate economic behavior. The course begins by presenting the production possibilities model. This is followed by a discussion of basic macroeconomic concepts including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth and fluctuations. The next topic is national income accounting, which is the measurement of macroeconomic variables. The latter part of the course focuses on the development of one or more macroeconomic models, a discussion of the role of money in the macroeconomy, the aggregate supply-aggregate demand framework, and other topics the individual instructor may choose. (Prerequisites: ECON-101 or completion of one (1) 400 or 500 level ECON course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
INTB-225	Global Business Environment Being an informed global citizen requires an understanding of the global business environment. Organizations critical to the development of the global business environment include for-profit businesses, non-profits, governmental, non-governmental, and supranational agencies. This course introduces students to the interdependent relationships between organizations and the global business environment. A holistic approach is used to examine the diverse economic, political, legal, cultural, and financial systems that influence both organizations and the global business environment. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking undergraduate students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
MATH-161	Applied Calculus (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of differential and integral calculus, including the study of functions and graphs, limits, continuity, the derivative, derivative formulas, applications of derivatives, the definite integral, the fundamental theorem of calculus, basic techniques of integral approximation, exponential and logarithmic functions, basic techniques of integration, an introduction to differential equations, and geometric series. Applications in business, management sciences, and life sciences will be included with an emphasis on manipulative skills. (Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH-101, MATH-111, MATH-131, NMTH-260, NMTH-272 or NMTH-275 or Math Placement Exam score greater than or equal to 45.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring).	4
MGMT-215	Organizational Behavior As an introductory course in managing and leading organizations, this course provides an overview of human behavior in organizations at the individual, group, and organizational level with an emphasis on enhancing organizational effectiveness. Topics include: individual differences, work teams, motivation, communication, leadership, conflict resolution, organizational culture, and organizational change. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
NACC-205	Financial Accounting Introduction to accounting principles for both accounting and non-accounting students. Both service and merchandising (retail/wholesale) businesses are introduced. Areas covered include: analyzing and recording of business transactions using the double-entry accounting system; adjusting and closing entries and financial statement preparation. Generally accepted accounting principles, accounting ethics and analytical tools help students become informed users of financial statements. (NTID Supported Students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
NACC-206	Managerial Accounting Introduction to the use of cost accounting information by managers within a business. This course includes development of manufacturing statements, cost theory, integration of materials, labor and overhead, job order and process costing, flexible budgeting and evaluating the performance of managers and divisions through variance analysis. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NACC-205 or equivalent.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
	General Education – Global Perspective	3
	General Education – Social Perspective	3
Total Semester Credit Hours		63

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.

* Any science course numbered NSCI-250 or higher may fulfill this requirement.

Admissions and Financial Aid

For the AS 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). Students who qualify for Critical Reading and Writing (UWRT-100) will be considered for admission if they are at NMTH-250 or higher in mathematics.
Mathematics: Placement into mathematics NMTH-250 or higher. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least three years of high school mathematics.
Science: Placement into science NSCI-250 or higher. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least two years of high school science.
ACT (optional): The ACT middle 50% composite score is 18-21.

Learn How to Apply

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

Accreditation

Undergraduate and graduate programs in Saunders College of Business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the premier accrediting organization for business schools.

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