Santa Barbara City College (SBCC)

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a two-year community college in the southern, coastal region of California. It offers affordable two-year associate degrees, professional certificates, community education, and transfer study programs for students hoping to transfer to four-year institutions to complete a bachelor's degree. SBCC also offers distance education with many online courses available.

More than 80 degree programs and 50 career technical programs are available at Santa Barbara City College. SBCC has transfer agreement partnerships with seven University of California campuses, California State University Channel Islands, and at least one private or independent college. 

In September of 2011, SBCC was named one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program. SBCC was the only community college in the State of California to be named to the list. Criteria that qualified SBCC for consideration were its excellent job-relevant programs and its high transfer rates. 

SBCC has also been listed in the "Top 100 Associate Degree Producers" in the U.S., according to Community College Week newspaper.

History

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) was founded in 1909, and is one of the oldest community colleges in California. SBCC was closed shortly after World War I, as its work was taken over by the Santa Barbara State Normal School that later became Santa Barbara State College. Still later, Santa Barbara State College became the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Reorganized in 1946, SBCC was re-established as Santa Barbara Junior College. It became Santa Barbara City College in 1959. That same year, it moved to its present and permanent campus location on the Santa Barbara Mesa, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The college continues to reside on a single, consolidated campus at Santa Barbara Mesa.

Academics

The academic calendar for Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) follows the semester format, with fall, spring and summer semesters. The summer semester is called a "session."

Colleges and Schools

The academic units for Santa Barbara City College are divided into departments, rather than into colleges and schools. 

Student Life

There are many ways at SBCC that students can get involved on campus. SBCC students can choose to join one of the many student clubs and organizations, or join an intramural sports team. There are performances available at the Garvin Theatre, or political rallies on campus. The college hosts many creative writing contests and other activities or events that engage students in college life at SBCC.

Traditions

The school colors for Santa Barbara City College are red and white, with gray as an accent color. The school mascot is a vaquero (a cowboy in Spanish), and the athletic teams are nicknamed the SBCC "Vaqueros."

Athletics

The Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) "Vaqueros" athletic teams have won many state titles and compete in 17 intercollegiate sports, including: 

Men's Sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball 

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball

Satellite Campuses 

Santa Barbara City College has one campus at Santa Barbara Mesa, the former location of University of California, Santa Barbara.

Community Life

SBCC is located in scenic Santa Barbara, once of the most beautiful seaside communities on the California coastline. There are many opportunities for outdoor activities year round, fine dining and entertainment, shopping at the Paseo Nuevo mall, attending a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl, or visiting a local museum or art gallery. There are boat trips to the nearby Channel Islands, and plenty of chances to surf at the beach. Students at SBCC can volunteer with one of the more than 1,500 non-profit organizations in Santa Barbara.