Applied Liberal Arts Associate in Science Degree
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.
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; communication (including the journalism option); community development and inclusive leadership; criminal justice; economics; English; global futures; history; humanities, computing, and design; museum studies; philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology and anthropology, or women's, gender, and sexuality studies.
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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Meet us on campus
Learn about academics, co-op and internships, financial aid, and more at one of our on-campus open house on November 8.
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Apply for Fall 2026
First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.
Curriculum for 2025-2026 for Applied Liberal Arts AS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Applied Liberal Arts AS
The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for this program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| NCAR-10 | Freshman Seminar | 0 |
| NSCI-270 | Concepts of College Physics (or higher) General Education: Scientific Principles Perspective) | 3 |
| General Education: Elective 2 | 6 | |
| NTID Mathematics Elective | 3 | |
| NTID Liberal Arts Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMTH-250 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| General Education: First Year Writing (WI) | 3 | |
| General Education: Artistic Perspective | 3 | |
| General Education: Global Perspective | 3 | |
| General Education: Social Perspective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Education: Ethical Perspective | 3 | |
| Immersion Elective | 3 | |
| Math or Science: General Education: Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Professional Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Math or Science: General Education: Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Immersion Electives | 6 | |
| Professional Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Notes:
- All students pursuing an associate's degree are also required to complete one wellness course.
- 1
This program includes two unspecified General Education – Elective courses. Students may need to take UWRT-100 Critical Reading and Writing, depending on placement, as one of these electives.
- 2
Students may take NDLS-150 Introduction to Antiracism, NDLS-200 Introduction to Group Advocacy, or any NCOM, NHSS, or PRFN course.
- 3
Course must be designated as Mathematical Perspective, Scientific Principles Perspective, or Natural Science Inquiry Perspective.
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.
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
Related News
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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.
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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.
Contact
Department of Liberal Studies