Applied Liberal Arts AS

Broaden your horizons with an AS program in Applied Liberal Arts. Explore diverse subjects and expand your knowledge.

Overview for Applied Liberal Arts AS

The associate in science (AS) degree in applied liberal arts is designed to prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing students to enter and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree in RIT’s College of Liberal Arts or in NTID's community development and inclusive leadership BS degree. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.

Applied liberal arts is an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program, offered by RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, that prepares you to enter and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. The program offers you unparalleled academic support and you will strengthen your skills by taking courses taught by NTID faculty.

By the end of the first year, you will choose a bachelor's degree you wish to enroll in after completing the AS degree. During the second year, you'll take four professional courses in your chosen major. In addition, as a part of the AS degree, you'll complete mathematics, science, and other courses to meet the graduation requirements of your major.

You’ll start with an AS in applied liberal arts, which provides you with the courses and credits you need to enroll in and successfully complete a bachelor's degree program. Upon completion of your AS program, provided you earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, you can choose to complete a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations; applied modern language and culture; communication; community development and inclusive leadership; criminal justice; humanities, computing, and design; economics; international and global studies; journalism; museum studies; philosophy; political science; psychology; public policy; or sociology and anthropology.

Additional information is available in the NTID Applied Liberal Arts AS Student Handbook.

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

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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 Applied Liberal Arts AS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Applied Liberal Arts, AS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
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-250	Elementary Statistics (General Education) An introductory statistics course utilizing a lecture/lab format in which statistics concepts, probability, probability distributions, and bivariate data are studied. Statistical concepts that are essential for an understanding of social and political issues of contemporary life will be emphasized. Statistical software and applications will be introduced. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students that have completed (UWRT-100 or 150) and NMTH-210 or higher with a grade of C- or better or have a math placement score greater than or equal to 40 or equivalent courses.Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students that have completed (UWRT-100 or 150) and NMTH-210 or higher with a grade of C- or better or have a math placement score greater than or equal to 40 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall, Spring).	3
	General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective*	3
	NTID – Mathematics Elective†	3
	NTID Liberal Arts Elective‡	3
	General Education – Electives§	6
	General Education – First Year Writing (WI)	3
	General Education – Artistic Perspective	3
	General Education – Global Perspective	3
	General Education – Social Perspective	3
Second Year
	Professional Electives**	12
	General Education – Ethical Perspective	3
	General Education – Electives: Math or Science	6
	General Education – Immersion 1, 2, 3	9
Total Semester Credit Hours		60

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.

* NTID science course numbered NSCI-250 or higher, or College of Science course required by chosen professional area.

† Mathematics and science courses as required by chosen professional area.

‡ Students may take NDLS-150, NDLS-200, or any NCOM, NHSS, or PRFN course.

§ Students may need to take UWRT-100 Critical Reading & Writing, depending on placement to satisfy one of the General Education Electives.

** Four courses in a College of Liberal Arts professional area of study.

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 Critical Reading and Writing (UWRT-100), or a First Year Writing course, such as FYW: Writing Seminar (UWRT-150).
Mathematics: Placement into NMTH-250 or higher from NTID, RIT's College of Science, or another RIT college. Students will enroll in the mathematics course required by their prospective baccalaureate program. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least three years of high school mathematics.
Science: Readiness for NSCI-250 or higher from NTID, RIT's College of Science, or another RIT college. Students will enroll in the science course required by their prospective baccalaureate program. Typically, students entering this program will have completed at least two years of high school science.
ACT (optional): The ACT middle 50% composite score is 18-21.

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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

Faculty

May 11, 2020

NTID names Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Alesia Allen, an alumna and NTID faculty member, has been named NTID Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She begins her new duties July 1.
May 11, 2020

RIT/NTID students graduate with accolades

Several students at NTID were honored with academic achievement awards ahead of RIT’s virtual commencement ceremony on May 8.