‘Greeting the new year with a college degree’

California State University, Bakersfield will confer degrees upon 1,396 graduates for the 2024 summer/fall semester, a surge of 9.5% over last fall.

Some 933 Roadrunners will don their blue caps and gowns in two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Mechanics Bank Arena in downtown Bakersfield to celebrate the milestone with their families, friends and the entire CSUB community.

"The holiday season is such a joyous time for everyone, but can you imagine the jubilation our Roadrunners are feeling, knowing they will be greeting the new year with a college degree," said CSUB President Vernon B. Harper Jr. "Kern County is about to receive an infusion of talented leaders and problem-solvers when our graduates take their place in the workforce."

At 9 a.m., the College of Social Sciences and Education will confer bachelor's degrees in anthropology; child, adolescent and family studies; criminal justice; kinesiology; liberal studies; political science; psychology; and sociology. The college will confer master's degrees or credentials in curriculum and instruction; educational administration; kinesiology; school counseling; and special education.

At 2 p.m., the College of Arts and Humanities will confer bachelor's degrees in art; communications; English; history; music; philosophy; religious studies; Spanish; and theatre. The college will award master's degrees in English; history; and Spanish.

At the same ceremony, the College of Business and Public Administration will award bachelor's degrees in agricultural business; business administration; economics; environmental resource management; and public administration. The college will confer master's degrees in administration; business administration; health care administration; and public administration.

And the College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering will award bachelor's degrees in biochemistry; biology; chemistry; computer engineering; computer science; electrical engineering; engineering; engineering sciences; geology; human biological sciences; mathematics; natural sciences; nursing; and public health.

"Our graduates could not have arrived at this pinnacle without the support and encouragement of the entire community, here in Kern County and the Antelope Valley," Dr. Harper said. "We are so grateful to the families, friends, neighbors and community partners who have been in their corner from the beginning of this life-changing journey."