NSC programs include academic degrees, college prep and transfer, cross-disciplinary, continuing and senior adult education programs. NSC is also home to the Watch Technology Institute, the only two-year program in the art of Swiss watchmaking and technology in the Western United States. NSC also provides Running Start, where high school Juniors and Seniors can take college classes to earn high school credits as well as college credits. Since 2010, as part of a new Washington State educational initiative, North Seattle College began offering Bachelor of Applied Science degree programs to students that have previously completed a two-year degree.
Campus
The North Seattle College main campus occupies 62 acres, including of environmentally sensitive wetlands, in the Licton Springs/North College Park neighborhood of the Northgate district of Seattle. The campus is five miles north of the Seattle city center. The college is easily accessed from Interstate 5, and several King County Metrobus routes. NSC campus consists of various academic, athletics & supporting facilities:
The Library at North Seattle College was founded in 1970. As of 2017 it contains over 174,000 volumes in the physical and digital collection along with 40 plus databases that provide access to many thousands of scholarly, popular, trade and newspaper articles.
The North Seattle College Wetlands sit at the South Fork of Thornton Creek and are important ecological lands for the Thornton Creek watershed as they work as a sponge to hold surge flows of water as well as filtering out pollutants. The wetlands serve as a critical habitat for many species including the Pacific Tree Frog and Long-toed salamander, as well as several species of avian and plant life. Currently, there is a system of crude trails that get you to and through most of the wetlands habitat. The main trail is a loop that walks around the northern part of campus. There are spurs that branch off of this main loop trail. An interpretive trail is in progress and a map is available with points of interest for those wishing to explore the wetlands further. A wide variety of native and non-native plant species can be observed throughout the main campus and surrounding wetlands habitat. There are many mushrooms growing in and around the wetlands. Some notable species include Redlead Roundhead, Harefoot Mushroom, Fiber Caps, Shaggy Parasol, and Bellybutton Hedgehog. Wetlands shrub life includes Snowberry Shrubs, Himalayan Blackberry, Burning Bush, and Nootka Rose ''. Campus and wetlands are also home to many plants such as Sumac, Yarrow, Sword Fern, and Common Horsetail.
