» Muslim Applicants

Welcome from Shaykh Jibreel Speight, Chapman’s Muslim Life Director

As you consider Chapman, know that there are numerous avenues of involvement for our Muslim student population. 

In my role as the director of Muslim Life, I facilitate opportunities for Muslim students to observe their faith and cultural traditions while also serving as a central point of contact, support, and involvement for the broader Muslim student community.

Should you ever need any guidance or support, please feel free to contact me at jspeight@chapman.edu.

Outside scholarships for Muslim applicants

While Chapman provides merit and need-based aid, there are also other organizations that provide scholarships specifically for Muslim students. These include:

• Dr. Abdulmunim A. Shakir Scholarship: Awarded to Muslim-American college-bound high school seniors with impressive leadership and community service experiences.
• Dr. Adawia Alousi Scholarship Fund: Awarded to Muslim women studying at a four-year college in a STEM field, such as Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biology, or Math.

For more scholarship options, Scholarships360 has compiled a list of outside scholarships that are specific to Muslim students. The list is updated regularly with application deadlines and scholarship amounts included. We strongly encourage Muslim students with financial need to apply.

Muslim student life

We strive to build an engaging community among Muslim students, so we invite you to explore the resources that would be available to you as a Chapman student:

Muslim clubs and organizations

Chapman has opportunities for connection, collaboration, and growth for our Muslim students through religious and cultural activities.

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is Chapman’s main hub for engagement among Muslim students, as it offers ​a place for Muslims (as well as anyone interested in Islam), to build a sense of community through various club events and group activities.

For more details, visit the Muslim clubs and organizations section on the Muslim Students page.

Resources for prayer, meditation and religious observance

Many student activities and faith-based services occur in the Fish Interfaith Center, which is the central campus hub for supporting Chapman’s religious communities. Some of these religious activities include:

• Jumu'ah Prayers held every Friday in Wilkinson Founders Chapel.
• “Welcome Ramadan” Ceremony that includes special Ramadan meals for Muslim students.

The Fish Interfaith Center also has a prayer/meditation room that is open Monday through Friday from from 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. for students to pray or meditate. It is fully equipped with meditation cushions, prayer rugs and a wudu/washing station.

Muslim holidays and traditions

At Chapman, you will have welcoming places to join in religious, social, and cultural programming on a regular basis, including several major Muslim observances and traditions.

Religious accommodations

To ensure that Muslim students can engage in religious observances, Chapman has established religious accommodations for Chapman courses so that students are guaranteed the freedom to adjust their schedules in line with special religious observances. These accommodations include:

• Rescheduling exams and assignment deadlines that fall on major religious observances and holidays.
• Not being penalized for class absences because of major religious holidays.
• Rescheduling class sessions if the scheduled session conflicts with an observance of a major religious holiday.

For more details, visit the Religious Accommodations page. 

Muslim life in Southern California

In Orange County and the wider Southern California area, there are many organizations that provide opportunities for Muslim students to grow in their faith, such as local:

• Places of worship
• Halal food

One of the most prominent Muslim organizations near Chapman is the Islamic Society of Orange County, which is considered one of the largest Muslim centers in the Western Hemisphere with more than 10,000 worshippers. It is located about 10 minutes away from our Orange Campus.

For more details, visit the Muslim clubs and organizations section on the Muslim Students page.