»Undergraduate Admissions FAQ

The number of students we admit varies depending on our goals and yield predictions each year. Generally we admit up to 35 students.

Yes. Please remember to print on 8 1/2 x 11 size paper.

We ask for one signed letter of recommendation from a recent art instructor but happily accept additional letters.  These are separate to the letters requested for The Common Application.  We suggest you pick your recommender wisely to make sure he/she is the best person to address your talents skills.

Applicants can indicate a first and second choice major on the Chapman supplement. Your first choice major can be one within the Department of Art while your second can be another major within a different school at Chapman. If the admissions committee in Art does not recommend you for admission, the Office of Admission can may consider you for your second or third choice at Chapman. However, as the Department of Art provides no guarantee of an approval for a change of major, we recommend only listing a second or third choice major if you are truly serious about pursuing that particular area of study at Chapman. In other words, please do not list a second choice as a back-up in case you do not get your first choice, with the expectation that you will simply switch majors later on.

We don't specifically require you to have any experience related to your area of study. Instead, we hope your application will demonstrate your love and understanding of art as well as tell us about your creative abilities and endeavors, whatever they may be. Everyone is creative in his or her own way, show us the art work that you think is your best.

Any student at Chapman University is allowed to double major. For most programs on campus, there is no additional application process or approval required to add a double major, and a student is free to declare a double major at any time. A student should thoroughly consider the time commitment to each program before declaring a double major. Our BFA programs have substantial time commitments outside the classroom which can be challenging for students to juggle with too many other activities. Similar to our change of major policy, we cannot guarantee your request to add a second major.

Any student at Chapman University may add a minor to their degree and declare it at any time. Applications to Minor in Art History, Studio Art or Art and Graphic Design require departmental approval, it is not an automatic process. Please contact the Department of Art office for more information, art@chapman.edu.

Given the high volume of applications, the Art admissions committee does not conduct personal interviews of applicants

If a transfer student has earned more than 30 credits, the University will generally not ask to see SAT scores but will still require the submission of your high school transcripts. If you have earned more than 60 college credits, you will generally not need to submit either high school transcripts or SAT scores. However, there is a small chance the Office of Admission reviewers may ask you for the test scores or transcripts if they feel it is necessary to thoroughly evaluate your application.

Yes, you can apply to the department of art after enrollment into Chapman University.  This is subject to departmental approval and review of your portfolio and materials.  We also suggest you consult with the Office of Admissions for advice on what classes to take at other colleges and how to improve your academic profile. The Office of Admissions does not meet with current students. Current students should meet with an academic advisor at Chapman University.

The application process is not any different for transfer students other than the application deadline.

Transfer applicants have no advantage over high school applicants.