Transfer students at Chapman may be exempt from some of Chapman’s General Education (GE) requirements. It is important that transfer students understand the policies that apply, which are summarized below.
Language Inquiry requirement
All transfer students must complete the GE language requirement. You satisfy the requirement at Chapman, through courses previously taken or through demonstrated proficiency.
You can explore options to place in an advanced language program or have your language requirement waived through a placement or proficiency language exam.
Exploration Focus requirement
All transfer students must complete the Exploration Focus requirement, either in part or in full.
The secondary area of study requirement is completed through completing a minor, second major, the University Honors Program or a Themed Inquiry.
- If you transfer in less than 30 completed credits, you must complete the full Exploration Focus requirement.
- If you transfer in between 30 and 59.99 completed credits, you may complete a minor, second major or University Honors Program.
- You may also choose to complete a Themed Inquiry, and instead of the required total of four courses, complete three courses, two of which must be upper division. Dual enrollment and test credit do not count towards the credits.
- If you transfer in 60 completed credits or more, you may complete a minor, second major or University Honors Program.
- You may also choose to complete a Themed Inquiry, and instead of the required total of three courses, complete two courses, both of which must be upper division. Dual enrollment and test credit do not count towards the credits.
- No courses taken prior to beginning at Chapman may be used to complete a Themed Inquiry.
First-Year Focus requirement
All transfer students must complete the First-Year Focus requirement (the First-Year Foundations course) unless they have completed 24 or more credits at an institution of higher education after graduation from high school. Dual enrollment and test credit do not count towards the 24 credits.
- If you have attended one or more semesters at a 4-year institution of higher learning and taken a 3-credit first-year seminar course focused specifically on critical thinking, you may be able to waive this requirement.
- A copy of the syllabus for this course and a request for review must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar (email the syllabus and request to registrar@chapman.edu).
Transfer students who have completed the CSU GE Breadth or IGETC programs
Transfer students who have completed either of the following will have completed all GE requirements except the Language Inquiry and Exploration Focus area:
- General education certification program: either the CSU GE Breadth or IGETC programs in California
- If transferring from other states, the equivalent to the California certification programs.
Certification, and questions regarding certification, can be sent to the registrar@chapman.edu.
Military veterans who are transferring to Chapman
Military veterans may be eligible to receive six credits of academic credit for a year of honorably completed active duty military service. This service will also satisfy the GE Citizenship/Community/Service requirement.
Please contact Undergraduate Advising at advising@chapman.edu for further information on documentation required.
Transfer credit and articulation process
GE category credit for any course taken prior to beginning your studies at Chapman may be determined using the Transfer Guides available at the Office of the University Registrar’s web page on Transfer and Articulation.
- Courses must be passed successfully and the transcript sent to the Office of the University Registrar.
- All final transcripts from prior schools and any test scores used to complete GE requirements should be sent to the Office of the University Registrar as soon as possible so that you know which GE categories are completed prior to registration.
- Many students submit courses that include a significant writing component for consideration for the Written Inquiry category. However, the amount of required writing is not part of the consideration for Written Inquiry approval. A Written Inquiry course must examine the ways language is used to negotiate social, educational and intellectual relationships in various contexts to a range of audiences.
