Southern California Campus Student Services

Welcome! We are so glad that the Lord has led you to study at the Southern California campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. We are excited about helping you prepare for what God has called you to do in ministry.

Those of us who live in Southern California love it! In Southern California you will be exposed to some of the grandest and most innovative evangelical churches and ministries in the world as well as the cultural diversity of dozens of unique and unreached people groups. Since 1973, the Southern California campus has been training church leaders to work and serve in Southern California, urban areas and the world!

You will find in this section some helpful information in support of your studies and experiences at the Southern California campus. Let us know how we can help!

Building Community: Students attending the Southern California campus commute to campus from throughout Southern California. Some live in nearby apartments while others commute from as far away as Bakersfield, San Diego or the lower desert! You’ll find students willing to share rides and commute on the same day for class who reside in your area. A sense of community is built on campus as you study with others from a wide range of church and ethnic backgrounds. The campus has regular all campus events (usually on days when a large number of students are on campus) that bring students together. Resident faculty are available and accessible to students.

Local staff positions and internships: The Southern California campus gets regular requests from churches and associations in the greater Los Angeles area for students to apply for staff positions or internship. The seminary also partners with Saddleback Church and Mosaic. Inner city internships and positions with ethnic churches are also available through a partnership with the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association.

Relaxation and Refreshment: Students gather in our student lounge or on the patio to socialize, eat and study before and after classes and during class breaks. The student lounge (Espresso Heaven) is equipped with a vending machine, refrigerator, microwave and coffee. Wireless Internet access is available in Espresso Heaven and throughout the campus. Espresso Heaven also has a few desktop computers for students needing to check email or check news on the Internet.

The Southern California campus also boasts “our own” food court! The Brea Mall (directly across the street) is the usual hangout for professors and students especially during on-campus intensives when students are in class for extended periods of time. “Our staff” at the Brea Mall Food Court serve up daily dishes from America and around the world! Speaking of food… it’s not unusual for a missions, intercultural communication or other class to head to one of a number of nearby ethnic restaurants – Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian or Mexican – to name a few.

Similarly, "our own fitness center" is across the street at the Brea Community Center where students enjoy a special rate for use of the faculties that include a complete gym and basketball courts.