Academic Counseling

Our counselors are here to support your academic journey! Whether you need help selecting courses, planning for transfer, or exploring career options, we’re here to guide you. Book an appointment today to stay on track toward your goals.

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Counseling Services

• Our Mission

  The mission of the Coastline College Counseling Department is to guide and support our diverse student population throughout their educational journey. We aim to serve as a vital link across academic disciplines and student services within Coastline College, promoting access, understanding, and effective communication.

When to See a Counselor

Our Counselors are dedicated to helping you succeed in your educational journey, whether you're pursuing a 2-year associate degree, a certificate in one of our many programs, or planning to transfer to a 4-year university. Our Counselors are available to assist you with:

• Academic Advising: Get personalized advice on course selection and academic planning.
• Educational Plans: Develop a comprehensive plan to achieve your educational goals.
• Career Guidance: Explore career options and receive guidance to help you make informed decisions.
• Programs and Degrees: Understand the requirements and opportunities within various programs and degrees.
• Transcript Evaluation: Ensure your previous coursework is accurately assessed and applied.
• Transfer Assistance: Receive support and guidance for transferring to a 4-year university.

Our goal is to provide you with the resources and support you need to navigate your academic and career pathways successfully.

More Information

• Before Your Appointment

  Prepare Questions or Topics 

  Consider what you want to discuss during your appointment. Topics might include education plans, transfer options, or academic concerns. 

  Review Current Academic Progress

  Log in to your MyCoast portal and check your DegreeWorks to review your academic progress before meeting with a counselor. 

  Gather Necessary Documents

  If applicable, bring any transcripts, test scores, or forms that may help guide the conversation. 

  Be On Time 

  Ensure you arrive or log in on time to make the most of your session. 

• After Your Appointment

  Review Your Education Plan

  Check your updated Education Plan for any changes made during your counseling session. You can access it through your MyCoast portal and navigating to the DegreeWorks section.  

  Check Registration Dates

  Make sure to check your registration date to register for classes on time. 

  Apply for Graduation

  If you are nearing program completion, submit your application for graduation to the Graduation Department. 

  Transfer Resources

  Planning to transfer? Visit our Transfer Services for next steps. 

  Student Survey

  We value your feedback! Please take a moment to complete our student survey. 

• Appointment No-Show Policy

  Students who cannot keep a scheduled appointment should cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment, or they will be considered a no-show. Students with two no-shows in a three-month period will not be eligible to schedule another counseling appointment for three months from the date of the second no-show. Walk-In and E-Advise counseling will still be available; however, many issues cannot be effectively addressed in Walk-In and E-Advise because counselors are unable to access student records or view transcripts.

  To avoid a no-show, students should cancel at least 24 hours prior to the appointment in one of the following ways:

  • Call the Counseling office at (714) 241-6162
  • Email counselingdept@coastline.edu
  • Reply with "CX" to the automated text reminder
  • Select Cancel after logging on to the appointment scheduling webpage
• Course Overload Petition

  Course Overload Petition Criteria:

  To request approval for enrolling in more units than the semester/term limit, please review the following criteria carefully:

  1. Eligibility Restrictions: 

  • First-time college students and students on progress or academic probation are not eligible for course overload. 
  • Dual enrollment high school students are not eligible to petition for unit overloads. They are limited to a maximum of 11 units in Fall/Spring and 9 units in Summer. 

   2. GPA Requirement: 

  • Students must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher across all colleges attended. 

   3. Transcripts:

  • Students must provide copies of transcripts from all colleges attended.

  4. Completion Rate:

  • Students must have successfully completed at least 50% of the units they have attempted.

  5. Timing for Submission:

  • Petitions can only be submitted during open enrollment for the semester or term in which the overload is being requested.

   6. Submitting Your Petition:

  • The Course Overload Petition must be submitted to the college where the overload course is to be taken (Coastline College, Golden West College, or Orange Coast College).

   7. Unit Limits Before Overload (applies to the total units enrolled across the Coast Community College District):

  • Fall/Spring Semester: 19 units
  • Summer Term: 9 units
  • Winter Intersession: 6 units

   8. Important Notes:

  • This form is specifically for requesting a unit overload at Coastline College.
  • If you are requesting a unit overload at Golden West College (GWC) or Orange Coast College (OCC), please visit their respective websites for instructions.

  
  Ready to Submit? 

  Click here to begin your Course Overload Petition.

• Clear Prerequisites

  The Counseling Department can assist with clearing prerequisites for Math up to and including Math C170 - Precalculus.

  For prerequisites beyond Precalculus or for courses in other subjects, please refer to our Prerequisite Clearance How-To or contact the Matriculation Clerk in the Admission & Records office at (714) 241-6176.

• Registration

  Ready to enroll at Coastline? Our Counseling team has gathered key resources to help you through the registration process: 

  Start Your Application: Begin your journey at Coastline by visiting Admissions and Records to access the admissions application and enrollment steps. 

  Registration Dates and Deadlines: Stay on track with important registration dates. Visit the academic calendar for key enrollment deadlines. 

  Choosing Classes: Not sure which classes to take? Schedule an appointment with one of our counselors for personalized course recommendations based on your academic goals. 

  Help with Financial Aid: Learn about your financial aid options and how to apply by visiting Financial Aid Services. 

  Need Assistance?: If you encounter issues with the registration process, our Admissions and Records team is available to assist with any questions. 

• Student Services

  Explore the range of support services available to you at Coastline. Whether you're looking for academic guidance, personal development, or additional resources, we have you covered: 

  Student Handbook 2024-2025: A comprehensive guide to all student services and support. 

  Student Services Overview: Find details about the variety of services offered, from academic support to extracurricular opportunities. 

• Articulation and Transfer
  • Transfer Articulation Agreements
• Inclusion & Equity

  The Counseling Department is committed to:

  • Recognizing our areas of privilege and to use our privilege as a voice of advocacy for our students and for the communities we serve.
  • Reviewing and updating Coastline Counseling Department policies, procedures, and practices for countering systemic racism.
  • Addressing intersectional challenges of race and social class to develop appropriate helping strategies while allowing dignity of the human person.
  • Continually growing our cultural competency and cultural humility by listening and learning from the students we serve.
  • Addressing institutional racism on our campus and offer spaces for dialogue for our students.
  • Exemplify, through our actions, our deep commitment in creating an equitable, equal, and non-discriminatory environment for our culturally diverse students, colleagues, and communities.
• District Course Disclaimer

  Please be advised that courses with the same number and the same title may not be equivalent across the three colleges in the district, and might not be the course you need for your major, general education, or transfer path. It is the student's responsibility to check with Counseling at your home college to confirm that this course meets your specific educational goals.

Unit Requirements for Degrees & Certificates

The unit requirements for an Associate Degree from Coastline is 60 units. The unit requirements for Certificates are as follows: Certificate of Achievement (18-39 units), Certificate of Accomplishment (12-17.5 units), and Certificate of Specialization (6-11 units).

Certificates of Competency are noncredit. Information about those can be found on Adult Education.

Basic Needs Resources

Basic Needs Resources

Basic Needs Resources

Basic Needs at Coastline College includes food access, housing assistance, mental health services, hygiene products, student success supplies/equipment, transportation, and emergency funding. Basic needs services & resources are coordinated to serve and support students to be successful in your educational journey.

Related Pages

Admissions & Records

Information about Enrollment, Registration, Records & Transcripts, Graduation, and more.

Student Orientation

All new Coastline students participate in an online orientation session.

Student Success Resource Center

Providing academic support for Coastline students.