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Undergraduate Admission

Undeclared Applicants

» Undeclared Applicants

Undecided Virtual Information Sessions

Attend an information session for students thinking of applying undeclared. You’ll hear from admission and advising staff on applying and entering undeclared. There will also be current students who entered undeclared to share their experiences.

Not sure which major to choose? Not a problem. We’re here to help you through the process of applying undeclared and finding your passion. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Applying with an undeclared major will not hurt your chances of getting into Chapman.
  • You’ll have time and opportunities to explore your interests and discover what you’re passionate about.
  • You can change your mind. Once you choose your major, you have the option to change it, add a second major or add a minor (or multiple minors!).

Note that to change your major while at Chapman, there may be an application, audition, portfolio review process or a set of courses that must be completed with certain GPA requirements.

The Inside Scoop: Being Undeclared

At Chapman, we embrace the unknown and appreciate the ability to experiment with different areas of study. In this podcast, Jaelyn talks about her experience being an undeclared student, how she declared her major, and advice for other students who aren’t quite sure about what they want to do yet.

Applying undeclared

There are 2 ways to apply to Chapman if you’re not sure which major you want to choose:

  1. Pick “Undeclared” on your application. You’ll start at Chapman as Undeclared and you’ll have to declare a major before earning 60 credits (more on that further down!).
  2. Pick a major that you think might interest you on your application. If you are seriously considering a major, we recommend you go ahead and apply as that major. You can always change it later if it is not the right fit for you. 

Not sure which option is right for you? Get in touch with your admission counselor. They’ll work with you and help you get on the right path.

Transferring in Undeclared

You can transfer to Chapman with an undeclared major as long as you transfer in with 60 credits or fewer from your previous school. If you have a major in mind as a transfer, we recommend you apply as that major. Visit the Transfer Resources page to learn more.

Academic resources for undeclared students

If you enter Chapman Undeclared, you’ll get lots of support. Here's some of the the ways we'll help you: 

  • Exploratory Majors Program: In this program you’ll select an academic pathway and learn more about navigating the university. 
  • Undeclared/Exploratory Advising: Your Undergradaute Advisor provides assistance to help you explore programs and find your major. You can also work with our Career and Professional Development office to align your academic interests with career opportunities.
  • Majors in Minutes: This annual event gives you the opportunity to learn about possible majors from students currently in those majors in a speed-dating format.

Chapman also offers over 190 student clubs that can help you discover your interests and how to leverage those to find a major.

 


Undeclared timeline

At Chapman, you’ll need to declare a major before you earn 60 credits. Earning 60 credits takes about 4 semesters (2 years).

Before the 60-credit mark, you'll focus on three things:

  1. Completing your GE (general education) courses. GE courses are required courses that all students take, regardless of their major. In many cases, these courses help students narrow down their major/minor choices.
  2. Taking major/minor exploration courses to better explore areas of interest. It is important to start discovering what you like (and what you don’t like).
  3. Utilizing helpful resources and programming to learn about majors and careers.

And your admission counselor and academic advisor will be there to help every step of the way.


Living-Learning Communities for undeclared students

First-year students who live on campus are housed in Living Learning Communities, where they live with students with similar interests and majors. 

Undeclared students will share a room with other Undeclared students. These rooms will be interwoven throughout each housing community. That way, you can meet students from different academic disciplines and discover new fields.


Ask a student

Want to learn about certain majors? Current students are happy to help. You can search by majors and feel free to reach out with any questions.

Contact Admission


Email us:

Call us: (714) 997-6711

Text us: (714) 942-5474

Send your documents:
Chapman University
Attn: Office of Admission
One University Drive 
Orange, CA 92866

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