Art and Art History
Program Overview
Art at North Seattle: Solid & Affordable Classical Training Plus Emphasis on Crafts
North Seattle College's Art Program provides a solid foundation in studio art, coupled with an emphasis on a range of techniques and materials not generally offered in community colleges. The wide array of affordable courses includes ceramics, drawing, computer art, 2-D and 3-D design, metal design, printmaking, painting, jewelry-making, and sculpture — as well as art history. The North Seattle College Art Gallery showcases celebrated artists of regional and international renown. The exhibition schedule, visiting artist lecture series and cross-disciplinary programming bring contemporary art and critical thought from a diversity of artists right to your classroom. The gallery attracts visitors from the campus and larger community and offers work-study positions for real-world training in art handling and exhibition design.
Enrollment in North’s art program requires no prior portfolio. All classes are transferable and fulfill general education requirements for an Associate of Arts degree or a specialized Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree.
Art instructors are successful working artists, respected in their fields and serving as both role models and mentors. NSC art studios are well-equipped and updated.
Professional Training
North is one of a handful of colleges in the country to offer a 2-year Associate of Fine Arts degree in Art (AFA), as well as a one-year Certificate of Fine Arts (CFA) in Art and a 4-quarter Certificate in Jewelry Design (CJD) (through one of the few jewelry-making programs in the state). Through working with an advisor, we can also direct you toward a 20 credit Foundations in Art emphasis, a set of courses that will transfer directly to the University of Washington and fit within the AA degree.
In the Art Department, discover or redefine — your creative focus as an artist and build your portfolio in preparation for transfer to a 4-year or professional school. North's students have transferred both in and out-of-state to the University of Washington, Central Washington, Western Washington and Evergreen, as well as to Pacific Northwest College of Art, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, California College of Art, and Rhode Island School of Design to name only a few.
North's Classes also prepare you to be an entrepreneur as a studio artist. Art business classes help you strengthen your portfolio and equip you to market your work effectively.
Art for General Education & Enrichment
Take art courses for general education credit in the area of Visual, Literary and Performance Arts (VLPA) — or for pleasure and personal enhancement with no degree as a goal. The many choices in the Art Department will help you to explore your artistic potential, express yourself, learn to think visually and respond to life's possibilities more creatively.
Everyone can find a place here — North's art students range in age from 16 to 85, and their art interests are equally varied. Some students with a BA pursue the AFA degree to complement their training in another discipline. An art background could be the basis for related jobs in museums or galleries, education, and a wide range of design fields including product design, landscape design, costume and set design, web design, illustration and more.
Courses can be taken for credit or on an "audit" basis.
Pathways
Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend. Depending on your program of study, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA) or an Associate of Fine Arts.
- Units to complete: 90
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 7
Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend. Depending on your program of study, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA) or an Associate of Fine Arts.
- Units to complete: 90
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 6
Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend. Depending on your program of study, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA), Associate in Business (AB-DTA), or Associate of Science (AS), Track 1 or Track 2.
- Units to complete: 90
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 7
Certificate programs provide students with a set of skills to find a job or stay current in a profession. Many certificates are designed to build on top of each other and eventually lead to a longer-term certificate or degree. These are called “stackable” certificates.
- Units to complete: 50
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 4
Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend. Depending on your program of study, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA) or an Associate of Fine Arts.
- Units to complete: 90
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 6
Certificate programs provide students with a set of skills to find a job or stay current in a profession. Many certificates are designed to build on top of each other and eventually lead to a longer-term certificate or degree. These are called “stackable” certificates.
- Units to complete: 45
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 3
Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend. Depending on your program of study, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA) or an Associate of Fine Arts.
- Units to complete: 90
- Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 6
Program lengths are estimates, not guarantees. For the most current program information, please check with the program contact.