California State University , Bakersfield California State University , Bakersfield ( often abbreviated CSUB or shortened to CSU Bakersfield ) is a public university located in Bakersfield , California , United States which was founded in 1965 . CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus , becoming the 19th school in the 23 campus California State University system . The university offers 91 different Bachelor ' s degrees , 30 types of Master ' s degrees , and 12 teaching credential s . The university does not confer Doctoral degrees . In the Winter 2013 academic quarter , 8 , 111 undergraduate and graduate students attended CSUB , at either the main campus in Bakersfield or the satellite campus , Antelope Valley Center in Lancaster , California . The university is a heavily dominated commuter campus serving the city of Bakersfield . CSU Bakersfield ' s petroleum geology program is the only one offered by a public university west of the Rockies . History . CSUB owes its founding to the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960 , which formalized the creation of the CSU system , initially as the " California State Colleges " system . The areas in the southern San Joaquin Valley had been demanding a four - year university since the 1950s . After considering several locations , including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County , a steering committee decided on Bakersfield because at the time it was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a four - year university . Their decision was turned into a bill by Bakersfield ' s State Senator Walter W . Stiern , ratified by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Edmund G . " Pat " Brown , Sr . Under these rules , the school was founded as California State College , Bakersfield in 1965 . It opened for classes in September 1970 . In 1982 the California State College system became the California State University system and the school changed to its present name . Athletics . CSU Bakersfield is currently a NCAA Division I school . They began the process to move from Division II in 2006 and became a full Division I member starting in the 2010 - 11 school year . For wrestling , CSUB competes in the Pac - 12 conference . CSUB wrestling is the institution ' s original Division - I sport and has placed 3rd ( 1996 ) and 8th ( 1999 ) in the NCAA D - I Wrestling Championships . The men ' s basketball team competes at the Rabobank Arena in downtown Bakersfield , while the women ' s basketball team plays on campus at the Icardo Center . The men will return to campus when the 2011 - 12 season begins in November . On June 1 , 2006 , Cal State Bakersfield President Horace Mitchell formally announced that CSUB is raising $ 6 million over a five - year period for the additional costs for the athletics program . Part of the additional costs is to start a baseball program and women ' s golf program . In September 2011 , CSUB accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference for baseball . Rudy Carvajal was CSUB ' s Athletic Director from 1972 until his retirement on Dec . 31 , 2010 . In 2005 , Carvajal received the prestigious CSU Wang Family Award . Under Carvajal ' s leadership , CSUB has 30 national championships and received the Sears Directors Cup in 1998 . Nearly 60 , 000 people attend NCAA sporting events at CSU Bakersfield . On May 17 , 2007 , CSUB announced that Bill Kernen would be the school ' s first baseball coach , with the school ' s first official season beginning in Spring of 2009 . On Jan . 8 , 2011 Jeff Konya assumed the position of Athletic Director . Student life . Admissions . In Fall of 2013 , CSUB enrolled its largest freshman class of over 1 , 300 students . Clubs and organizations . CSUB has more than 90 official student clubs and organizations ( including 7 Greek Organizations ) . The Associated Students Inc . ( ASI ) is the recognized student government and is known for having an active role on campus . CSUB ' s campus has a Student Union and a Recreation Center . CSUB is predominantly a commuter school , drawing its student body from a mix of recent high school graduates in the local area and working people returning to school or pursuing a degree part - time . In Fall 2006 , CSUB received its highest enrollment of first - time freshmen of approximately 820 . The university official credit " move to Division I " for the increase of younger students . While the majority of students live off - campus , the campus dorms can accommodate up to 324 students , or under 5 % of the 2002 enrollment figure of 7 , 700 . Space in the dorms has historically been plentiful , with single - occupancy rooms often available and one entire dorm devoted to faculty offices through the mid - 1990s . However , space is now impacted and usually fills up quickly . New dorms are currently in progress and will open late 2015 The six buildings comprising the dorm complex are each named after locations in J . R . R . Tolkien ' s " The Lord of the Rings " novel : Rivendell , Rohan , Entwood , Numenor , Dobry , and Lorien . Dorm facilities include a first floor lounge in each building , a dining commons , a swimming pool , a sand volleyball court , a pond , and a parking lot . CSUB is in the initial stages of building new dorms ( referred to as Living Residences ) on the northeast side of campus . Tradition . The CSUB Fight Song and Alma Mater were selected through a structured contest initiated by the student government , Associated Students Inc . ( ASI ) . The winner of the Fight Song Contest was a current music student , Gwendolyn Wilcox , and the winner of the Alma Mater Contest was a CSUB alumnus and current high school music instructor , Bill Ingram . Fight song . CSUB Victory ! < br > Striving on , we face the goal , < br > And will not be denied . < br > Always knowing , courage showing , < br > Strength is on our side . < br > Fighting on we ' re holding strong < br > With victory in sight , We will prevail , we will not fail < br > to win the fight ! < br > C - S - U - B , CSUB Victory ! Alma mater . Long Live CSUB < br > The blue and gold stands high for honor , < br > Thanks to all its pride . < br > We stand to pay respect and glory , < br > For us all to guide . < br > We are proud to shine above the mountains , < br > And across the sea . < br > Salute the blue and gold tradition , < br > Long live C - S - U - B .