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.
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 are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Fridays.
Counseling 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 Counselor or Educational Advisor and a first come, first served basis. Students cannot request a specfic 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 availablity 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.edu 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 Counselor 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 |
Living Assistance
- PG&E CARE Program
- 1-800-278-5472
- Provides a 15% discount off of utility bill to low-income households
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
- 1-800-433-4327
- Provides once a year assistance for low–income households
- Housing Authority Of Kern County
- (661) 631-8500
601 24th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Provides low income public housing
- Bakersfield Homeless Center
- (661) 322-9199
1600 E. Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93305
Provides overnight shelter, Two hot meals a day, Clothing Distribution, Personal Hygiene items, Restrooms and Showers, Mail Service, Transportation to job Interviews, Case management, Job Training and placement, GED, Literacy and Parenting classes
Health/Medical Assistance
- BC Health Center
- (661) 395-4336
Panorama Campus, Campus Center 3
- General health services, Over-counter medication, Pregnancy tests, STD/HIV referral, Weight control, Campus accidents
- Planned Parenthood
- (661) 634-1000
2535 16th St. Suite 100
Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Reproductive Services, STD screening and Treatment, Pre-natal education, Various Cancer screening
- Medical/Dental Services
- East Bakersfield Community Health Center
- (661) 322-7881
815 Lakeview Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Counseling services, WIC, Case Management
- (Bilingual)
Legal Assistance
- Domestic Violence Self Help Center
- (661) 334-4663
615 California Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93304
- Provides various free legal assistance, Prepare and file petition for protective order, Assist with court process
- Kern County Department of Child Support Services
- (661) 868-6500
1300 18th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Helps public Assistance and non-public assistance residents of Kern County establish the paternity of their child and pursue court ordered child support
Counseling Services
- Kern County Mental Health
- (661) 868-8010
P.O. Box 1000
Bakersfield, CA 93302
- Provides individual, family and group therapy, case management and medication management, fees are covered by Medic-Cal or are charged on a sliding scale
- Crisis Hotline: (661) 868-8000
- Alliance Against Family Violence
- (661) 322-0934
1921 19th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Counseling, Education, Family counseling, Child Abuse prevention, Domestic Violence prevention, Emergency Services for recent abuse
- Hotline: (661) 327-1091
- Child Guidance Center
- (805) 322-1021
3628 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93305
- Provides Early Intervention Programs, Individual/family and group therapy, Parenting classes, case management
- Ebony Counseling Center
- (661) 324-4756
1301 California Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93304
- Provides affordable (Fees based on sliding scale) outreach programs Substance Abuse counseling, Family and child counseling, Job development, Parenting classes, HIV education, Pre-natal services, Individual and group services
- Angel Steps Counseling Center
- (661) 395-0588
1705 30th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Group, Individual therapy, Therapy for Crime Victims, Child counseling
- East Bakersfield Community Health Center
- (661) 322-7881
815 Lakeview Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Counseling services, WIC, Case Management
- ** Bilingual **
- Haven Counseling
- (661) 327-4711
730 Chester Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93304
- Parenting classes, Case Management, Family counseling
- Memorial Center
- (661) 398-1800
5201 White Lane
Bakersfield, CA 93309
- Counseling, Assessment, Psychological Services, Community Services
- Crisis Stabilization Unit
- 661.868.8000
2151 College Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93302
- Crisis Mental Health Assessment & 24 hour care
Self Help Groups
Help Lines
- Kern County Collaborative
- (661) 392-8758
- Provides support and technical assistance to community groups, schools, individuals, and agencies who want to enhance the quality of life for children and families in our county.
- Helpline
- 1 (800) 273-2275
- Information and referral to provide answers to questions about available (up to date) services in Kern County Program links client to resources available in the community.
- Warmline
- (661) 323-3531
- Warmline is an organization of volunteer mothers who conduct a telephone outreach service for families of young children.
- Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention
- 1 (800) 931-2237
- National Association for Anorexia Nervosa
- 1 (847) 831-3438
- California Rural Legal assistance Foundation Immigrant Info/hotline
- 1 (800) 447-7901
Crisis Hotlines
Crisis Counseling
A 24 hotline for a major crisis
Students that are in crisis may stop by the Counseling and Advising Center, located in the Student Services Building and ask to see the Crisis Counselor. This service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday or Friday 8:30-11:00 a.m. Students in crisis outside of the college hours can refer to the Crisis Hotline and/or community resources below.
Accessibility Center