Counseling and Advising Services
Challenging situations arise for all college students. The following information is designed to help students explore possible support resources on- and off-campus to maximize their educational success at Bakersfield College. For more off-campus resources, see Community Resources.
Academic/On-Campus Services
The Counseling and Advising Center is located on the first floor of the Center for Student Success (CSS) building.
- Office Hours
- Monday - Thursday
7:30AM - 5:30PM - Friday
8:00AM - 12:00PM
- Monday - Thursday
Students arriving by 5:00PM Monday through Thursday will be seen. Students arriving
by 11:30 AM on Fridays will be seen.
(These times may vary due to student volume.)
Counseling and Advising Appointments
Continuing or returning students may schedule a half-hour individual appointment with their pathway Counselor or Educational Advisor during the semester (availability permitting), or visit the center for a drop-in appointment on a first come, first served basis. Students cannot request a specific Counselor or Educational Advisor during a drop-in appointment. Drop-in appointments are limited to 15 minutes.
- The center stops accepting drop-in student appointments 30 minutes prior to close of business. Depending on student traffic and availability of Counselors and Educational Advisors, drop-in appointments may be closed sooner.
- The center stops accepting drop-in student appointments at 3:30pm on Mondays.
Counseling appointments are not available during peak periods.
- One week prior to registration and the first week of registration
- One week prior to the start of each semester and the first week of each semester
Disabled Student Programs & Services
Disabled students should visit the Bakersfield College Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) to connect with services and a DSPS Counselor.
Delano Community Campus
Counseling and advising services are available at the Delano Community Campus, 1450 Timmons, Delano CA. Call (661) 720-2000 for availability.
Student Development Courses
| Course | Title | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| STDV B1 | Educational Planning | 1 unit Description: The course introduces college survival skills and issues, including college expectations, a students responsibility for education, college resources, and academic policies. This course is designed to assist students in discussing strategies for choosing a major and/or career and to help them in making educational plans based on their individual career goal. AA/AS Associate's Degree applicable. Hours: 18 lecture Transferable: CSU and UC |
| STDV B2 | Lifelong Learning and Career Planning | 2 units Description: This survey course is designed to increase academic motivation and career success throughout a persons lifespan. In particular, students will learn to examine how an individual's psychological, social, and environmental factors impact academic, career, and personal life choices. Through this exploration, students will apply these topics as they relate to their personal and professional self-development and to the discovery of many new options for improving all aspects of their lives. The historical view of careers, current career trends, and employment outlook will be studied. Various methods of researching academic and career opportunities will be explored to assist students. Hours: 36 lecture Transferable: CSU and UC |
| STDV B6 | Tools for College Success | 3 units Integrates personal growth, learning techniques, academic and career success, problem solving, critical, and creative thinking. The course focuses on the following topics: self-evaluation and assessment, goal setting, career decision making, educational planning, time and financial management techniques, instructor-student relationships, cultural diversity, stress management, campus resources, learning styles and strategies including lecture note-taking, test taking, memory and concentration. Hours: 54 lecture Transferable: CSU and UC; CSU GE E; BC GE E |
Crisis Counseling
A 24 hour hotline for a mental health crisis.
Students that are in crisis may stop by the BC Student Health and Wellness Center in AS 102, located in the Student Services Building and ask to see a Crisis Counselor. This service is available Monday - Thursday from 8:00AM - 5:00PM, or Friday from 8:00AM - 11:30AM. Students in crisis outside of the college hours can refer to the Crisis Hotline and/or community resources below.
- Alliance Against Family Violence: (661) 322-0931 (no charge)
- BC Health and Wellness Center: (661) 395-4336
- Crisis Hotline — Kern County Mental Health: (661) 334-8000 (no charge)
- CSUB Counselor Training Clinic: (661) 664-3402 (Fee based on income)
