Business Administration AAS

This online associate degree from RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) will prepare you for a career in business operations. 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. You also will receive essential leadership and computer software applications proficiency training.

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.

RIT graduates have the edge on the competition because of our co-op program, enabling you to gain exposure to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, employers, and industries. 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 coursework.

• NTID mission—The primary mission of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf 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 them to live and work in the mainstream of a rapidly changing global community and enhance their lifelong learning.
• NTID faculty—many of whom are deaf or hard of hearing - have years of higher education experience teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing learners as well as 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 & 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’s Disability Services Office.
• Required cooperative work experience—This tuition-free, paid career experience provides students with on-the-job training and work experience in their field prior to graduation. NTID’s Center on Employment 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.

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

• 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-140 or higher in mathematics.
• Mathematics: Placement into mathematics NMTH-140 or higher. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least two years of high school mathematics.
• Science: Placement into science NSCI-250 or higher. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least one year of high school science.

• Regular and frequent access to a computer that is less than 5 years old, with at least 1GB of RAM
• Reliable high-speed internet access (broadband, cable, or fiber)
• A current web browser (Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Firefox)
• Microsoft Windows (Vista, 7+ or later) or Mac OS X
• Built-in or external webcam for videoconferencing and recording activities.
• Access to printer
• Additional requirements as noted in course syllabus or as specified by instructor

The online AAS in Business Administration degree requires 75 credits typically earned over 5 semesters, if attending full time. The current tuition rate is $764 per credit hour (Academic Year 2021-2022). Due to the unique delivery of this program, a scholarship is awarded to reduce the cost by $300 per credit hour. For example, 15 credits = $11,130; reduced by $4,500 = $6,630. Students have access to NTID’s Student Financial Services Coordinator as well as NTID’s Assistant Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Both are available to answer questions related to paying for college.

Additional financial aid and financial services also are available to help lower your costs, including: 

• Federal and state student loans and/or grants
• RIT scholarships
• Military tuition benefits
• Support from employers 
• Private scholarships 
• Financing 
• Payment plans