Programs

Many students attend NSC with the intention to transfer to a four-year college or university. This plan allows you to complete your general education and foundation courses at more affordable tuition, with smaller class sizes and a wider variety of support services.

Every student’s transfer plan is different, depending on the destination school(s) you have chosen and the major you wish to pursue. In order to ensure a smooth transfer, it is vital to visit with an advisor to prepare an Educational Plan that outlines which courses you need to take in order to successfully transfer. An advisor can also present you with your options and help you make informed choices about transfer and course selections.

There are six transfer degree options at NSC, and each of these 90-credit transfer degrees are designed to prepare you for transfer to a four-year college. These include the Associate of Arts, Associate in Business, Associate of Science general, option 1, and option 2, and the Associate of Fine Arts.

These degrees and certificates are for students interested in obtaining skills for employment in specific fields and generally do not transfer to universities; however, some courses in the degree may be transferable. A career training degree is an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and is very different from the transfer degrees.

Career training programs at NSC can jumpstart your career plans in a wide variety of industries. Hands-on coursework will equip you with marketable skills that are currently in demand by employers and support entry-level employment or advancement in your current field.

Certificates or degrees are awarded upon successful program completion.

Each career training program has a faculty coordinator, who advises students about career options and job market conditions. You should meet regularly with your faculty coordinator as well as a career training advisor to track your progress towards the certificate or degree you are pursuing.

Because career training programs need to meet industry demands, the programs offered at North are constantly evolving. Visit the programs page on the NSC Web site for a list of current career training programs.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The AAS degree does not require that you take transfer level English and Math classes and is designed for students who are not going to transfer to a baccalaureate program. Students in an AAS program may often specialize in a specific skill set or trade. 

Associate of Applied Science – Transfer (AAS-T) degree. The AAS-T degree is designed for students who intend to transfer to specific baccalaureate programs including one of NSC’s five Bachelor’s degrees: International Business, Application Development, Early Childhood Education, Property Management, and Accounting with International Accounting. The AAS-T is designed to transfer to Washington State’s Bachelors of Applied Science Degrees, Evergreen University’s “upside down degree”, Western Governors University business degree, or other specific programs.   The degree requires transfer level English and Math classes.

NSC also offers a large number of certificates that can generally be completed in a shorter amount of time than the Associate of Applied Science degrees and are primarily career training programs in fields such as Accounting, Business, Electronics, Health & Medical. NSC also offers certificates in fine arts in art and jewelry design.

North Seattle College offers five Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees in: Application Development, Early Childhood Education and the business programs Accounting with International Accounting, International Business, and Residential and Commercial Property Management.

When compared to traditional bachelor’s programs, bachelor of applied science degrees more heavily incorporate hands-on learning, focused on a particular industry or discipline. Added bonuses are emphasis on internship opportunities, credit for prior learning and workplace experience. You can also complete the degree program in six quarters, and there are no required summer classes.