Liberal Studies


Department of
Liberal Studies
Breadcrumb
- RIT/
- National Technical Institute for the Deaf/
- Academics/
- Departments/
- Liberal Studies
Contact
Jess Cuculick
Department Chair
Phone: 585-286-4569 (VP)
jalnap@rit.edu
Jillian Sinclair
Senior Staff Assistant
jlsnts@rit.edu
The NTID Department of Liberal Studies (DLS) provides opportunities for all students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to reach their academic potential and become responsible, global citizens and life-long learners. Faculty meet the needs of students through a variety of communication strategies as well as offering a unique approach to educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students in RIT’s College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
Degrees and Programs
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. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.
Learn More about Applied Liberal Arts ASThe NTID bachelor of science degree in community development and inclusive leadership is an innovative, interdisciplinary program in which students gain skills in leadership, interpersonal communication, research, and data management–all of which are needed by dynamic leaders at the helm of 21st century organizations. This is a multidisciplinary degree offered in partnership with Saunders College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the School of Individualized Study.
Learn More about Community Development and Inclusive Leadership BSThe pre-baccalaureate studies program is available to students who are accepted by NTID and are close to, but not fully ready for, direct entry into a baccalaureate-level program through one of the other colleges of RIT. It is a bridge program for qualified students, based on academic transcripts, scores on admissions tests, and other evidence that supports a reasonable expectation of success in baccalaureate course work. Qualified students who are undecided as to a program of study may choose the career exploration studies program.
Learn More about Pre-Baccalaureate Liberal StudiesPartnership with RIT's College of Liberal Arts
NTID Department of Liberal Studies faculty members partner with RIT's College of Liberal Arts faculty members to provide specialized instruction and tutoring.
- Teaching College of Liberal Arts core courses, and certain other courses, using direct instruction. All students in the classes taught using direct instruction are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and faculty use sign language, spoken language, fingerspelling, printed/visual aids and Web-based instructional materials. Courses include:
- Critical Reading & Writing (UWRT-100)
- Writing Seminar (UWRT-150)
- Science, Technology & Values (STSO-140)
- Introduction to Visual Arts (FNRT-100)
- U.S. History since 1945 (HIST-275)
- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC-101)
- Foundations of Sociology (SOCI-102)
- Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIM-110)
- Teaching sections of some College of Liberal Arts courses with hearing, deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the same class. Access services are available, including sign language interpreting, real-time captioning services and notetaking.
- Tutoring deaf and hard-of-hearing students in College of Liberal Arts courses.
- Providing academic advising to deaf and hard-of-hearing students who are pursuing majors, minors or concentrations in the College of Liberal Arts.
- Partnering with each department in the College of Liberal Arts to maximize student retention and performance.
Developmental English Program
The Developmental English Program is designed for students to begin developing the skills necessary for understanding and using written English in AOS degree programs at NTID. Additional information can be found in the English Handbook.
DLS Tutoring Program
The Department of Liberal Studies Tutoring Program (DTP) provides an extensive network of tutoring support for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. DTP offers a wide variety of peer and professional faculty tutors. Tutors work with students on their reading and writing assignments at NTID as well as provide reading and writing support for all courses throughout RIT. Both peer and professional faculty tutors are skilled in American Sign Language and English.
Students should meet first with their professors and discuss the most appropriate support available. In some courses, professors provide tutoring for their own courses. In other cases, professors can advise students where to go for additional tutoring.
Professional tutoring is provided by DLS faculty in the NTID Learning Center which is housed in the Lyndon Baines Johnson building. Tutoring support is available for all levels of literacy work, including reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, and support for writing and reading assignments for all levels of English courses and RIT major courses. Please contact Professional English Tutoring Coordinator, Jeanne Yamonaco, at jnynge@rit.edu if you have questions or wish to schedule tutoring. For online tutoring, an appointment can be made at ntid.mywconline.com.
Student peer tutors provide tutoring for NTID students enrolled in any degree program at NTID and RIT. Student tutors provide support for grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and presentations. Tutoring can be online or in-person at the NTID Learning Center. If you have any questions or wish to schedule a tutor, please contact the English Peer Tutoring Coordinator, Patricia Kenney at pxknce@rit.edu. For online tutoring, an appointment can be made at ntid.mywconline.com.
Content tutoring for specific liberal courses offered by RIT’s College of Liberal Arts is provided by DLS faculty in ASL and English. Courses include but are not limited to courses in:
- History
- Sociology
- Public Policy
- Political Science
- Economics
- Psychology
- Communication
- Criminal Justice
- Literature
- Research Methods
- Science Technology & Society
- Anthropology
In-person and online modes of tutoring are available. Please contact Pamela Conley at prcnge@rit.edu to arrange for tutoring support.
RIT University Writing Program’s Writing Commons
The Writing Commons (WC) is staffed by a team of undergraduate, graduate, and faculty writing consultants with expertise in STEM and Humanities disciplines. If you take courses in RIT colleges other than NTID, you can also access writing tutoring at the WC.
- Link to an overview of WC: https://www.rit.edu/writing/writing-commons-overview
- Link to WC scheduling guidelines: https://www.rit.edu/writing/scheduling-appointment-writing-support
- Make an appointment for WC: https://rit.mywconline.com
RIT Academic Success Center
In addition to the DLS Tutoring Program, RIT’s Academic Success Center offers academic coaching, math and physics support, instructor-led academic coaching, and ASC courses and tutoring. Tutoring from ASC is available to deaf and hard-of-hearing students enrolled in associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degree programs. In addition to reading and writing support, content support is provided by various departments as listed in the ASC tutoring website, under Tutoring Services at RIT. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about ASC, please email ASC at asc@rit.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
References to the Department of Liberal Studies Handbook or English Handbook can be found in this document.
As a student in an NTID program of study, you must take at least two English tests when you enter, the NTID Writing Test and the NTID Reading Test. Your English scores are based on performance on these two tests. These scores are used to place you in the NTID English curriculum. For more information about English scores, please refer to the Department of Liberal Studies Handbook, under "Initial Course Placement."
Your placement in English courses at RIT/NTID depends on what scores you get on the English tests you take when you first arrive here. The English curriculum at RIT/NTID is divided into two parts. If you have very strong English skills, you begin your coursework in the writing sequence in the College of Liberal Arts. If your English skills are not yet college ready, you are placed in developmental courses designed for four different levels of ability (Introductory, Intermediate, Analytical, and Bridge).
For more information, please look in the Department of Liberal Studies Handbook under "Curriculum Framework," "Initial Course Placement," and "English in the College of Liberal Arts."
Grades in English courses are assigned just like in other courses at RIT/NTID. The most common grades include A-D, W (withdraw), and I (incomplete).
It is very important to understand that the English curriculum at RIT/NTID is mastery-based. That means that in order to pass any English course with a satisfactory grade, you must demonstrate competence in all or most learning objectives for that course. In other words, English course grades are assigned to give an accurate reflection of your achievement.
According to the Department of Liberal Studies Handbook:
"A" means that there is a strong reason to believe that the student will perform satisfactorily in the next course in the strand. "B" means that there is fairly good reason to believe that the student will perform satisfactorily in the next course in the strand. "C" means that there is some question that the student will perform satisfactorily in the next course in the strand. "D" means that it is doubtful that the student will perform satisfactorily in the next course in the strand. Students who earn a "D" grade are advised to repeat the course. "F" means that the student has failed the course and must repeat it to progress in the curriculum at the Introductory and Intermediate levels.
f you have already passed English Composition, or its equivalent, at another college you should check with the Department of Liberal Arts for policies concerning transfer credit. This flowchart shows you the process by which RIT decides whether to accept your credits from another college.
Depending on your performance on the NTID Writing Test and the NTID Reading Test, you may also be required to take the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (the "Michigan"). Performance on all three tests determines access to a fourth test, the Writing Placement Exam (WPE), which is used to place you in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) writing sequence.
If you are matriculated into an AOS degree program, you are required to successfully complete the two-course Career English sequence. If you are matriculated into an AAS, AS, or BS degree program, you are required to successfully complete courses in the CLA writing sequence as well as other general education courses that fulfill elective, perspective and immersion requirements for students seeking associate or bachelors degrees.
For advice on which English course to take next, please ask your current English instructor or your academic advisor.