Business Administration Associate in Applied Science Degree
Master the art of business with an AAS program in business administration. Prepare for leadership in the corporate world.
48%
Job Postings Requiring Communication Skills
$47K
Median First-Year Salary of Graduates
20%
Salary Increase with an AAS Degree
Overview for Business Administration AAS
The business administration program focuses on general business operations and the critical decision-making process required for success in today's fast-paced work environment. You will learn the fundamentals of business planning, communication, and critical decision-making skills–all essential, high-growth skills for the jobs of the future. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.
AAS in Business Administration: Online or On-Campus
The business administration program, offered by RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, blends practical business experiences with theory and teaches you how to apply these concepts in actual business situations through case studies, interactive sessions, and cooperative education work experience. This degree prepares deaf and hard-of-hearing students to enter the workforce immediately following graduation, and is ideal for deaf and hard-of-hearing working professionals who would like to advance their career by enhancing their skills with a degree from this nationally recognized university. While this associate degree is a stand-alone credential valued by employers, qualified students can choose to continue their education.
This degree is for students contemplating careers in marketing, sales, retail, advertising, banking, management, human resources, hospitality, and other related fields. You’ll receive leadership training in addition to becoming proficient in the use of computer software applications necessary to succeed in the business world. Decision-making skills will be stressed throughout the program as well as consensus-building skills that support working in team situations.
Business administration is available as an associate in applied science (AAS) degree or as an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program.
The AAS degree in business administration is a career-focused degree program that leads to immediate entry into well-paying careers at the paraprofessional or technician level.
The Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program in business administration prepares you to complete an RIT bachelor’s degree. In this option, upon successful completion of the AAS degree in business administration, provided you maintain a 2.5 or higher grade point average in the program, you will enroll into RIT's School of Individualized Study, where you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and science.
Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program.
Why Study An Online Degree with RIT/NTID?
- NTID mission—The primary mission of NTID is to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students with outstanding state-of-the-art technical and professional education programs, complemented by a strong arts and sciences curriculum that prepare you to live and work in the mainstream of a rapidly changing global community while enhancing your lifelong learning.
- NTID faculty—Many NTID faculty are deaf or hard of hearing, have years of higher education experience teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing learners, and have specialized experience in their professional fields from working in business and industry.
- High-quality accessible educational materials and technologies—NTID uses a variety of strategies to make the online learning environment as flexible and accommodating as possible to ensure access, participation, and progress for all deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. Most video instructional materials include ASL interpretation and all videos include captions.
- Outstanding academic support services—Academic tutoring is available online from your instructors and from qualified tutors familiar with course content and sign language.
- Personal and career counseling services—Academic advising, personal counseling, and career counseling are provided to all deaf and hard-of-hearing students by the NTID Counseling and Academic Advising Services (CAAS). Every enrolled student receives an assigned NTID academic advisor/counselor to support their personal and academic success.
- Access and accommodation services—NTID’s Department of Access Services provides interpreters and captionists for in-person classes and Zoom meetings. Students with secondary disabilities also can receive academic accommodations from RIT’sDisability Services Office.
- Required cooperative work experience—This tuition-free, paid career experience provides you with on-the-job training and work experience in your field prior to graduation. The NTID Co-op and Career Center assists deaf and hard-of-hearing students with their job search and works with employers to facilitate hiring after graduation.
- Job Placement Rate—95% of deaf and hard-of-hearing students who seek jobs after graduation find one within a year.
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.
Careers and Cooperative Education
Typical Job Titles
| Project Assistant | Office Manager | Technology-Oriented Support Specialist |
| Sales Support Specialist | Relationship Banker | Store Supervisor/Manager |
| Public Relations Specialist | Manager Trainee | Assistant Manager |
| Retail Supervisor/Manager | Customer Service Supervisor/Manager |
Industries
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education, or co-op for short, is full-time, paid work experience in your field of study. And it sets RIT graduates apart from their competitors. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries. RIT co-op is designed for your success.
Students in the business administration program are required to complete a cooperative education work experience prior to graduation. You may schedule your co-op after completing your second-year academic requirements.
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Business Administration AAS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Business Administration, AAS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| NACC-130 | Personal Finance This course provides students with information and resources needed to understand the creation and implementation of a budget, use of credit and borrowing money responsibly, financial rights and ways to safeguard their money, and factors used to determine their readiness to buy a home or make other major purchases. Information on financial institutions such as banks, credit unions, and savings and loan organizations will also be covered. This course will provide students with basic financial literacy so they can develop sound financial management of their personal income as well as an understanding of the economic events that can influence their financial well being and society as a whole. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NACC-201 | Accounting 1 Introduction to accounting principles for both accounting and nonaccounting students. Service and merchandising (retail/wholesale) businesses are introduced. Focus is on analyzing and recording of business transactions using the double-entry accounting system. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NAST-160 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NACT-170 | Intro to Web Development This course introduces students to designing and coding a multipage web site. Topics include an overview of the internet and web addressing, coding valid HTML and CSS, design principles, implementation on a server, and use of web development software. The use of hyperlinks, graphics, and multimedia in web pages will be covered. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| NAST-160 | Fundamentals of Spreadsheet Applications Emphasis will be on creating, formatting, and enhancing worksheets; creating and applying formulas and functions; building and formatting charts; using What-If analysis and creating templates. Upon completion, students will be able to design and enhance basic spreadsheets. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-200 | Orientation to Business This course introduces students to a broad overview of the form and structure of multinational organizations. It provides students with a basic knowledge of the history, organization and operation of business and its particular vocabulary. (NTID Supported Students.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-217 | Fundamentals of Management This course focuses on the management aspect of organizations. Students will learn a variety of methods management uses to stay organized, lead and motivate employees as well as how controls are established to ensure company goals are met. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the multi-faceted roles of leaders and managers in the workplace. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NBUS-200 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| Choose one of the following | 0 |
|
| 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). |
|
| NCAR-015 | Strategies for Successful Online Learners** This seven-week course is designed to prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing students enrolled in a fully online degree program at RIT/NTID to be successful in their courses. In this course, students will navigate the –university’s online environment; practice effective strategies for successful online learning; establish meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and student peers; and learn about the university’s services and resources. Successful students can earn up to 7 badges that reflect competency in areas associated with successful online learning: using RIT’s course management system (myCourses); leveraging RIT’s academic and technical resources; participating in an online learning community; exploring RIT Student Services; and developing effective time management, study, and test-taking strategies. Completing this course will help students to establish effective online learning habits and will provide them with a solid foundation for ongoing success as an online learner at RIT. (This course is restricted to BUSADN-AAS Major students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
|
| UWRT-150 | FYW: Writing Seminar (WI) (General Education – First-Year Writing) Writing Seminar is a three-credit course limited to 19 students per section. The course is designed to develop first-year students’ proficiency in analytical and rhetorical reading and writing, and critical thinking. Students will read, understand, and interpret a variety of non-fiction texts representing different cultural perspectives and/or academic disciplines. These texts are designed to challenge students intellectually and to stimulate their writing for a variety of contexts and purposes. Through inquiry-based assignment sequences, students will develop academic research and literacy practices that will be further strengthened throughout their academic careers. Particular attention will be given to the writing process, including an emphasis on teacher-student conferencing, critical self-assessment, class discussion, peer review, formal and informal writing, research, and revision. Small class size promotes frequent student-instructor and student-student interaction. The course also emphasizes the principles of intellectual property and academic integrity for both current academic and future professional writing. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
General Education – Elective‡ |
3 | |
General Education – Elective† |
3 | |
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| NACC-202 | Accounting 2 This course is a continuation of Accounting 1 (NACC-201). Topics covered include accounting principles and procedures related to notes payable and receivable, the valuation of receivables, inventories, fixed assets, partnerships, retained earnings, and the analysis of financial statements. A comprehensive capstone project is completed. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NACC-201 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 5 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NAST-210 | Essentials of Business Communication This is a course in the essentials of business communication for today's fast-paced global environment. Emphasis will be on the message and the modes of communication used in the business environment. Participants will engage in effective communication skills through writings (traditional and electronic), face-to-face interactions, and team presentations. Course content will also include emphasis on non-grammar language applications in business communication. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NAST-220 | Fundamentals of Database Applications This course introduces the fundamental concepts of a database management system for creating, maintaining, manipulating, retrieving, and printing business data. Students will learn to create various forms and design reports for storing and displaying data. In addition, the student will create switchboard systems and allow users to view data in multiple dimensions. Students will also learn to save database objects in HTML format so they can be viewed by a browser and imported or exported in XML format. (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-213 | Applied Ethics This course introduces ethical issues facing the workplace. Students will learn about common work-related ethical issues, and evaluate problems concerning professional conduct and moral conflict. Students will also learn what ethical behavior is, how to recognize ethical behavior, and how to model ethical behavior in the workplace. Individual, organizational and societal needs will be taken into consideration during the students’ decision-making process (NTID Supported Students.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-221 | Essentials of Human Resource Management This course acquaints students with the basic concepts of Human Resource Management. Exposure to the changing nature of Human Resources relates to employee retention, legality, EEO/Diversity, job analysis, recruitment, selection, training and development as well as performance management, compensation, benefits, employee relations and labor relations. An overview of the range of duties and levels of responsibilities found in this sector of the business environment will allow students to identify similarities between job function required of an administrative assistant and of a human resources assistant. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NBUS-217 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-223 | Fundamentals of Marketing This course introduces the field of marketing and its focus on how consumer behavior effects in the marketplace (domestically and internationally). Emphasis will be placed on understanding the marketing mix and its impact on the external market environment. (Prerequisites: This class is restricted to NTID supported students who have completed NBUS-200 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-224 | Business Law This course will provide students with a comprehensive view of the American legal system. It will begin with an introduction to the fundamentals of business law and traverse into actual case studies for the purpose of observing the development and applications of legal principles in a business activity. Topics covered include the foundations of law, courts and court procedures, crimes and torts, employment and agency relationships, contracts, sales, and negotiable instruments. Students will exit the class with a working knowledge of the legal framework within which formal business organizations must operate. (Prerequisite: NBUS-213 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-226 | Introduction to Organizational Behavior The purpose of this course is to provide students with the tools to understand and analyze behaviors of individuals, groups and the organization itself. Through class discussions, assignments and case analysis, students will determine the impact of the behaviors on the organization. Students will then determine how the organization can be managed more effectively to enhance employees work experiences while maintaining organizational success. Students will exit the course with a clearer understanding of how to create and maintain a productive work environment that will help organizations perform more effectively. (Prerequisites: NBUS-217 and NBUS-221 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| NBUS-299 | Co-op: Business Administration Designed to give the student an opportunity to gain work experience, to apply what has been learned and to self-evaluate personal and communication skills. Placement assistance is provided to help the student find a job related to their field of study. One co-op experience is required for graduation. (NTID Supported Students.) CO OP (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
0 |
General Education – Global Perspective‡ |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective‡ |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| NBUS-220 | Introduction to Economics This course gives an overview of economic concepts. Students examine economic problems in a rational manner by learning the fundamental processes of economic analysis and the skills of economic reasoning. This course includes selected knowledge and skills from the economic discipline presented in the form of concepts and applications that are most important to economic literacy for students. Lec/Lab 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| NBUS-228 | Leadership Essentials The purpose of this course is to develop personal leadership skills that can be applied in the business world. The course will focus on concepts of leadership, followership and motivation, and the impact on organizations. Self-examination of leadership skills will result in a personal profile of strengths and weaknesses that students will be able to analyze and use to create an action plan. Leadership elements such as developing personal goals and objectives, decision-making, time management, team building, conflict resolution, dealing with change, ethics, and diversity issues will be explored. By the end of the course, students will have increased their personal and interpersonal awareness and gained a greater understanding of the complex issues facing today's leaders. (Prerequisites: NBUS-217 and NBUS-221 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 4 (Fall). |
3 |
General Education – Ethical Perspective‡ |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective‡ |
3 | |
Open Elective‡ |
3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 75 |
|
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.
** This course is required for NTID students accepted into this online-degree programs and is a substitute for NCAR-010 Freshman Seminar.
† Must be a General Education Elective course NMTH-140 or higher.
‡ An ASL-Deaf Cultural Studies (AASASLDCS) course is required for graduation. It can be taken in any semester and can be taken at NTID or another college of RIT. In order to fulfill this requirement as part of the credit hours in the program, it can be a course approved for both AASASLDCS and a General Education - Perspective or General Education - Elective or it can be used to fulfill an Open Elective.
Note for online students
The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.
Admissions and Financial Aid
For the career-focused AAS degree
- 2 years of math required
- 1 year of science required
- English language skills as evidenced by application materials determine associate degree options.
For the AAS 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-140 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): For the Career-Focused AAS degree, the ACT middle 50% composite score is 14-17. For the Associate+Bachelor AAS degree, 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
Additional Information
Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students
Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
Contact
- Mark Pfuntner
- Department Chair
- Department of Business Studies
- National Technical Institute for the Deaf
- 585‑286‑4640
- mjpnvd@ntid.rit.edu
Department of Business Studies