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Undergraduate Academics
First-Year Focus

» First-Year Focus

At Chapman, one of your General Education requirements is the First-Year Focus. 

First-Year Focus is a class where you will get to learn about a particular topic or area of interest not normally covered in other general education classes.

Learn more about the First-Year Focus below, or check out a full list of First-Year Focus classes for Spring 2025.

First-Year Focus overview

Transfer students who have not earned 24 credits at a college or university (excluding dual enrollment and testing credit) prior to starting Chapman are required to enroll in a First-Year Focus class in their first semester at Chapman. See below for a list of all available classes.

First-Year Focus is:

  • A general education requirement.
  • A class where you earn 3 credits out of the 60 general education credits required for graduation.
  • Taken within your first year at Chapman. You can choose to take your First-Year Focus class in your first semester or second semester. We encourage you to take the class in your first semester.
  • Themed around a particular topic meant to broaden your horizons, as well as be fun and engaging.
  • Designed to introduce you to the skills you will need throughout college, such as self-motivation, collaborative learning and good study habits.
  • Different depending on your major. See below for details.
Divya Sanghavi
First-Year Focus Class: Challenges University and University Students Face
"I was able to get a holistic overview of the difficulties students experience and what resources universities provide to help them overcome these obstacles. It was interesting learning about the variety of factors colleges consider while admitting students, which is different from anything else I learned in courses for my major!"
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First-Year Focus for Fowler Engineering and Schmid majors

  • Students in the Fowler School of Engineering or the Schmid College of Science and Technology will take a First-Year Focus class called Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering. This class is an introduction to a larger project called the Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI).
  • Fowler and Schmid students are required to take this class. If your major is under Fowler or Schmid, you will be block scheduled into the class automatically.
  • Students from other majors may take this class (and participate in the larger GCI project) if they want. Space may be limited for non-STEM students.
  • Transfer students entering Fowler Engineering and Schmid majors may be waived from participating depending on the number of credit hours they have.

If you have questions about this class, contact us at grandchallenges@chapman.edu. For more information about the class and the GCI project, including info for transfer students, see our GCI Curriculum page.


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First-Year Focus for Wilkinson students

Students in the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences are required to take a First-Year Focus class with the Engaging the World label. Engaging the World is a group of classes that offer a critical look into important topics within the humanities. Each class is themed around an important social issue, with a new theme every year.

Engaging the World classes are available to students outside of Wilkinson majors on a space-available basis.


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First-Year Focus for transfer students

Transfer students who have not earned 24 credits at a college or university (excluding dual enrollment and testing credit) prior to starting Chapman are required to enroll in a First-Year Focus class in their first semester at Chapman.

Transfer students may choose from the same First-Year Focus class list as first-year students.

Check out all your First-Year Focus options

See all the First-Year Focus classes you can take in the 2023–2024 academic year on our full First-Year Focus class list.

See all First-Year Focus classes

Which First-Year Focus class should I take?

Students outside of STEM majors may choose from a variety of First-Year Focus classes. If you’re having trouble deciding which one you want to take, here are a few tips to help you choose:

  • Take a class aligned with your major. Taking a class related to your major can help you establish a foundation in your chosen subject and prepare for later in your college career
  • Alternatively, take a class that has nothing to do with your major. First-Year Focus classes are a great opportunity to explore interests outside the field you plan to go into before you start your major classes.
  • Take a class apart from your friends. It may sound like less fun, but doing this can help you establish strong study habits and independent learning skills, which will help you throughout college and beyond.

 

Have questions about the First-Year Focus classes?

Ask one of our current students. They can speak to their experience taking a First-Year Focus class and are happy to help.

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