Current Graduate and Professional Students | Chapman University
Source: https://www.chapman.edu/academics/graduate-education/current-students.aspx
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Current Graduate and Professional Students | Chapman University
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Current Graduate and Professional Students
Learn more about Chapman's graduate and professional programs, relevant university
and program policies, and our supports by exploring the options below.
Toggle Section
Graduate Catalog
The university's graduate policies and procedures are found in the student's respective
Graduate Catalog
.
Beginning with
2019-2020
academic year, catalogs can be found at
https://catalog.chapman.edu
.
Be sure to use the drop-down box in the upper right to choose the 2024-2025 Graduate
Catalog.
Students are reminded to look at the Degree Requirements
for their catalog year
. Usually this is the year the student began the graduate degree program, unless there
has been a break in enrollment or the student opted to move forward to a later catalog
year.
The student's Program Evaluation in the Student Center on studentcenter.chapman.edu
provides the best representation of what course requirements have been satisfied,
and not satisfied, to date.
Graduate Student Handbook
Graduate and professional students at Chapman can use the
Graduate Student Handbook
from the Associate Vice President for Graduate Education to orient themselves to
university-level policies, information, and supports.
If you have a suggestion for a section that should be added, or if you notice an update
is needed or broken link, please email us at
GradEd@chapman.edu
. We welcome your feedback!
Checklist for New Graduate Students
Here is a handy
student checklist
that will help you to be sure you have taken care of all your "to do" items before
arriving at Chapman.
Graduate Student Orientation Videos and Tutorials
Graduate and professional students can choose from several
university-level student orientation videos and tutorials
relevant to your journey at Chapman. They contain information for all students regardless
of degree program or campus.
Choose from the topics below:
Chapman University Campus Stores
Parking at Chapman University
Graduate Student Dining at Chapman
Graduate Student Off Campus Housing
Disability Services
Graduate Student Health Services
Graduate Student Psychological and Counseling Services
Career and Professional Development Center
Library & Printing Services
Technology Supports for Graduate Students
The Chapman University Interactive Map
Getting Involved as a Graduate Student
If You See Something, Say Something: Safety at Chapman
Public Safety: Operation Get Safe
Office of Research Supports
How to Use Your Program Evaluation
Student Center (my.chapman.edu) Tutorials
ePay
Tutorials
Graduate Student Health Insurance & Opting Into Student Health Center Access
Proof of health insurance is required for all Chapman students, including graduate
students, and must be submitted each term.
Students should monitor their my.chapman.edu Student Center “To Do List” to submit
proof of insurance. All
international graduate students and graduate students who do not submit proof of health
insurance will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the university’s UnitedHealth
Student Health Insurance plan.
Students may visit
www.uhcsr.com/chapman
to view the full plan description, terms of coverage, and more. The cost of the Student
Health Insurance plan for the 2025-2026 academic year is $2,365 ($1,182.50 per fall/spring
semester) for students on the Orange Campus and $2,315 for students on the Rinker
Health Science Campus ($788.33 per trimester - note the spring semester payment also
covers summer). For more information on the Student Health Insurance plan, visit the
Student Health Insurance webpage
.
Graduate students must additionally opt-in and pay a fee to access the Chapman Student
Health Center on the Orange Campus.
Health Center access is not included in the cost of attendance for graduate students.
Access must be purchased at the beginning of the year/term
for an annual cost of $244 ($122 per semester)
. Students may not pay 'on-demand' for Health Center access at a later date. In addition,
proof of insurance or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance plan is required
to qualify for Health Center access.
Graduate students may sign up and pay for Health Center access via the links in their
Student Center on my.chapman.edu.
Questions can be directed to
osbusn@chapman.edu
.
The Chapman Student Health Center is located at 402 North Glassell Street. The center
is available for walk-in visits Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon during regular
terms. It is recommended that appointments be made for afternoon hours. Contact the
Student Health Center with further questions at (714) 997–6851 or see the
Student Health Services webpage
.
Current Graduate Program Handbooks
Graduate and professional students can view the
Program Handbook
for their academic program by clicking on the appropriate link below. If your Program
Handbook is not hyperlinked, please contact your Program Director for a copy.
Master's and specialist degree Program Handbooks, in alphabetical order by major area
of study:
2025-2026:
MS Communication Sciences and Disorders
MS Computational and Data Sciences (24-25)
MFA Creative Writing
MA Curriculum and Instruction (General)
MA Curriculum and Instruction (Joint)
MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
MA English
MA English
/
MFA Creative Writing Joint Degree Program
MFA Film and Television Producing (24-25)
MA Film and Media Studies (24-25)
MS Food Science (24-25)
MS Strategic Communication
MA International Studies
MM Keyboard Collaborative Arts
(23-2024)
LLM (Master of Laws) (23-24)
MA Leadership Development
MA Marriage and Family Therapy
Frances Smith Clinic Handbook
MS Pharmaceutical Sciences
MMS Physician Assistant Studies
MFA Production Design (24-25)
MA School Counseling
MA/EdS School Psychology (24-25)
MFA Screenwriting (24-25)
MFA The Showrunner Program (24-25)
MA Special Education
MA Teaching: Elementary Emphasis
MA Teaching: Music Emphasis
MA Teaching: Secondary Emphasis
MA War, Diplomacy, and Society
MS Accounting (21-22)
MS Behavioral and Computational Economics
MBA (Master of Business Administration) (21-22)
MS Real Estate (21-22)
Doctoral degree Program Handbooks, in alphabetical order by degree:
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Communication
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Computational and Data Sciences (24-25)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Pharmaceutical Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Science (D.Sc.): Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics
Juris Doctor (JD) (23-24)
Graduate Student Full-Time Enrollment & Continuous Enrollment Policies
Here are the
Graduate Student Full-Time Enrollment and Continuous Enrollment Policies
and the accompanying
Graduate Student Enrollment Exception Form
that went into effect August 31, 2020 for all non-Law graduate programs. Please read
the policies in their entirety, complete the form (only if applicable), email the
completed form or your request for further information on your enrollment status to
GradEd@chapman.edu
.
International Graduate Student Enrollment Requirements
The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
enrollment requirements for recognition in a "full course of study" for international
graduate students at Chapman are found here
. Please contact Graduate Admissions and International Students Services, at
iss@chapman.edu,
Pavis Ortega at
portega@chapman.edu
if you have questions.
Graduate Student Fellowships
Fellowships
are funding that graduate students can use to help finance their
education; they are similar to what most people recognize as 'scholarships' at the
undergraduate level. Unlike Graduate Assistantships ("GShips"; see section below),
fellowships generally do not require the student to work for the university to receive
this funding.
There are two general categories of graduate student fellowship awards: external and
internal. Within those categories, fellowships may cover tuition (tuition fellowships),
other educational or living expenses (non-tuition fellowships), or a combination of
the two.
Internal fellowship awards
for graduate students at Chapman are determined by the academic departments/programs.
The Graduate Financial Aid Office coordinates tuition fellowships with other types
of financial aid including institutional loans. Please contact your program for more
information about internal fellowships available.
External fellowship awards
for graduate students are provided by government agencies, private foundations, and
donors outside of the Chapman community. Graduate students apply for these fellowships
on their own and the selection, award, and payment process varies according to the
funding source. The AVPGE's Office annually curates
a list of publicly-advertised graduate student fellowship opportunities
; students may review this list for possible sources of funding.
This list is provided as an aid to students, and inclusion on the list does not constitute
a recommendation of the fellowship or grantor by Chapman University; students must
exercise due diligence and take full responsibility for their role in the application
and award process for all external fellowships.
Provost Dissertation Non-Tuition Fellowships
Provost Dissertation Non-Tuition Fellowships are funded by the Office of Associate
Vice President for Graduate Education to provide financial support to outstanding,
advanced doctoral students working to complete their dissertation. A non-tuition fellowship
with a one-semester stipend paid in 4 monthly payments.
Eligible students must have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy and have completed all degree
requirements for the Ph.D. other than the publication (if required) and the writing
and defense of the dissertation. The student must have committee approval for their
dissertation proposal and (as necessary) IRB approval for proposed research. The student
must demonstrate scholarly excellence while conducting original research that contributes
to their field of study. The student should be in good academic status and continuously
enrolled full-time for the duration of the fellowship period. Currently, nominations
are sent from the Ph.D. program directors directly to the Associate Vice President
for Graduate Education.
Graduate Assistantships (GShips)
Graduate Assistantships (known informally as GShips)
are student employment positions where graduate students perform work duties related
to their professional development. There are multiple types of Graduate Assistantships
(GShips) available at Chapman:
Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
Graduate Writing Assistantship (GWA)
All GShips are governed by the
2025-26 GShip Policies and Procedures Handbook
.
The Handbook details the GShip categories, duties, eligibility, and how to obtain
a GShip. Please contact
GradEd@chapman.edu
if you have questions.
Principal Investigators
who wish to hire GRAs on internal or external research/project/grant funds can find
additional
GRA hiring guidance here
.
GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) and GTA Resources
Chapman University
Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)
are employed as instructors of record for a course much in the same manner as part-time
lecturers (see job description in GShip Handbook). GSIs are hired by each department
or academic unit on a term-to-term basis according to their needs and the availability
of qualified GSI candidates. Graduate students seeking a GSI position should contact
the head of the specific department/program in which they believe they are qualified
to teach.
As GSIs, unlike faculty, are not terminal degree holders, they are assigned a Faculty
Supervisor for mentorship and guidance in their teaching. The Faculty Supervisor is
a full-time faculty member in the department/program in which the GSI is assigned
to teach and observes and evaluates the GSI's teaching quality, in addition to the
end-of-term course evaluations submitted by students.
Important GSI documents:
All GSIs should be familiar with the
GSI Competencies and Performance Expectations
.
Supervisors may use the
GSI Class Observation Form here
or an alternative form in use by their department/program when performing the required
observation once per fall/spring term.
GSI Evaluation form
to be completed each term by the Faculty Supervisor.
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
serve in different instructional support roles at Chapman, including as an assistant
to a faculty member in their teaching, evaluating students, and running limited lab
or class sessions. GTAs are not considered instructors, do not appear on the class
schedule, and do not have instructional responsibility for the course. T
he faculty member teaching the course is considered the person responsible for planning
and delivering the curriculum and overseeing the achievement of Course Objectives
and Program Learning Outcomes.
GTAs, at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course to which they are
assigned, may:
Be expected to attend class sessions.
Help with the preparation or updating of lecture materials.
Run lab sessions with the guidance of a faculty member/supervisor.
Conduct review sessions with the guidance of the faculty member.
Hold office hours to consult with students regarding course requirements.
This does not supplant a faculty member’s regular office hours for advising students.
Monitor grades.
Grade assignments and exams based on established criteria provided by the faculty
member.
Teach on a limited basis with the support of the faculty member, while the faculty
member has primary oversight and responsibility for the course.
Utilize the online professional development library available at the
CETL website
, along with all their other support materials, to prepare for future GSI service.
GTAs should not:
Independently design class instruction, assignments, or grading criteria without the
direct oversight and guidance of the faculty member for the course.
Perform all grading or grade monitoring for the course.
The faculty member is expected to be personally involved in student assessment and
the monitoring of individual and class-wide student progress
.
Teach a “lecture” course extensively nor teach on a regular basis without the faculty
member present.
FAQ: How much teaching is too much?
It would be reasonable to expect the GTA to teach 3-4 class sessions (for a course
that meets 2-3 times per week for 15 weeks) during a standard term so they have supervised
teaching experience and can be given feedback. GTAs assigned to courses that meet
only once per week should be expected to be responsible for fewer sessions or only
portions of multiple sessions. Such teaching experiences should be planned in advance
and the GTA guided by the faculty member on the planned instruction prior.
FAQ:
Can the GTA “cover” for the faculty member and teach if the faculty member is absent?
Yes, but this should occur no more than twice per term, and should be included in
the GTA’s total teaching time. In addition, it is suggested that the GTA use the Swivl
video recording systems available from
CETL
, or another video recording device, so they can review their teaching performance
if the faculty member is not present.
FAQ: Can the faculty member have the GTA independently run a discussion section every
week on one of the regular class days (i.e., for a MWF course, the faculty member
teaches M/W and GTA runs a discussion session on Fridays
without
the faculty member)?
No.
The faculty member is expected to be present whenever possible and receives full
load for teaching the course. Such a lecture/discussion combination would represent
the GTA being responsible for 1/3 of total class time. A more reasonable solution
would be for the GTA and faculty member to split the class into two groups on Fridays
and alternate facilitating the discussion groups, so the GTA has faculty oversight/support
and all students receive equal time with the faculty member and GTA in discussion.
Graduate Student Tuition Support Policy
The policy
outlines the implementation procedures for tuition support for graduate students
appointed to eligible research and teaching positions (Graduate Assistantships), which
is a significant contribution by the university to their education and is regulated
by internal policies in accordance with federal and state laws.
Graduate Forms
To find forms such as the Graduate Change of Program form, as well as other forms
and additional information, please refer to the
Office of the Registrar’s forms webpage
.
Submit a petition
Fill out the Graduate form and email it to
graded@chapman.edu
.
Graduate students:
Graduate Petition Form
Submit an enrollment exception
Fill out the Graduate form and email it to
graded@chapman.edu
.
Graduate students:
Graduate Student Enrollment Exception Form
Canvas Support (FOR FACULTY ONLY)
Fill out the form to add a Graduate student to Canvas.
The purpose of this form is to submit a request to the AVP of Graduate Education to
approve adding graduate student(s) to Canvas, as an Observer, for some special use
case where the student is not being hired as a Graduate Assistant or Instructor.
Faculty only:
Add Graduate Student to Canvas Request
Master's Comprehensive Exams Calendar
Dates for comprehensive exams and deadlines to register are listed here:
2025-26 Master's Comprehensive Exam Calendar
Thesis and Dissertation Supports
There are a number of resources and guidance documents available to graduate students
completing their research-based theses and dissertations at Chapman University. Please
consult your Program Handbook as well as the
Graduate Catalog
for specific policies and timelines in addition to the materials below.
University deadlines for thesis/dissertation submission as related to degree conferral
are hyperlinked in the callout box to the left on this page.
Library submission requirement and formatting:
Leatherby Libraries maintains the university's
thesis and dissertation submission system and instructions for use
. There you will find the thesis and dissertation checklists and formatting requirements,
frequently asked questions, and more. For personalized support in submitting your
thesis or dissertation to the library,
contact Librarian Kristin Laughtin-Dunker via email
or by phone at
(714) 532-7769.
NOTE: Library submission deadline dates for each term are posted on the
library's https://libguides.chapman.edu/dissertations page
.
The
"Submitting your Thesis
or Dissertation to the Library" workshop was October 3, 2023.
Here is a
flyer
with the guidelines and upcoming fall/spring workshops.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research
:
The IRB is
Chapman University's authorized regulatory committee that reviews, approves, denies
and provides ongoing oversight of all research - including thesis and dissertation
research - involving human subjects in accordance with OHRP and FDA regulations.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit and obtain IRB approval (or documented
exemption) prior to commencing any research with human subjects.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for animal subjects research
:
Chapman University's IACUC is charged with evaluating the ethical and scientific merit
of research investigations - including thesis and dissertation research - and teaching
activities that involve animal subjects. It is the responsibility of the student to
submit and obtain IACUC approval (or documented exemption) prior to commencing any
research with animal subjects.
Additional policy guidance for research-related endeavors:
The
Office of Research's Policies and Guidance page
provides information for graduate students on a variety of research-related endeavors
applicable to work on theses and dissertations, including the following:
Guidelines for Authorship in Scientific or Scholarly Publications policy:
Applies to all forms of publication and provides guidance in the event of disagreement
between students and/or faculty.
Animal Care and Use Policy
Human Subjects Protection Policy
Integrity in Research Policy
External Thesis/Dissertation Committee Members:
External thesis/dissertation committee members volunteer their service and must complete
this
Volunteer External Thesis Dissertation Committee Member Form
. The purpose of this agreement is to provide information about the volunteer experience
and important University policies that apply to volunteers.
Graduate students are responsible for adhering to all university policies, as well
as additional policies set forth by externally-funded grant agencies or sponsors,
applicable to their thesis or dissertation work. Students should actively seek guidance
from their thesis/dissertation advisor, related faculty researchers or Principal Investigators,
and/or the Office of Research & Graduate Education if they have questions.
Survey of Earned Doctorates - Ph.D. Graduates Only
After library dissertation submission is complete, Ph.D. graduates must participate
in the
Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
, which
collects data on the number and characteristics of individuals receiving research
doctoral degrees from all accredited U.S. institutions. The results of this annual
survey, established more than fifty years ago, are used to assess characteristics
and trends in doctorate education and degrees. This information is vital for education
and labor force planners and researchers in the federal government and in academia,
and it influences federal decisions regarding financial support for Ph.D. students
in years to come. The estimated time to complete the survey is no more than 20 minutes.
Your Ph.D. diploma will be released after you have submitted the SED's "Certificate
of Completion" to Chapman via email. Please forward the certificate with your name
and ID# to
aps@chapman.edu.
Please note, responses to all questions other than the first section where graduates
are asked for their name, doctoral degree, institution, and graduation month/year
are completely voluntary, and opting to
not
complete any portion of the survey thereafter is not required by Chapman University
and will not prevent the student being issued a Certificate of Completion by the SED.
Specifically, the National Science Foundation's Program Officer for the SED (Kelly
Kang) confirms (3/23/21 via email to Chapman University),
"The SED respondents’ nonresponse to any survey questions once they provide their
personal verification information such as their name, doctoral degree, institution,
and graduation month/year in the beginning of the survey, does not affect their SED
completion and they should be able to obtain the Certificate of Completion."
Questions about the SED content, data storage, or other aspects of the survey can
be directed to
sed@rti.org
.
Graduate Student Grievance/Complaint Procedures
Graduate students who have concerns about campus academic policies, procedures, other
policies, treatment by faculty or other campus employees or concerns about college
operations are encouraged to bring those concerns or
complaint
s to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Education
after
first reviewing the respective sections of the
Graduate Catalog
for relevant procedures to follow.
In general, for academic matters, the complaint process normally begins with the faculty
member involved. Appeals typically go to the department chair, the academic dean,
the Graduate Academic Council, and then the Associate Vice President for Graduate
Education (who will act on the matter or refer it to the Provost). For non-academic
matters (issues related to departments such as residence life, facilities management,
business office, etc.), students should first discuss the matter with the head of
the appropriate department with appeals to the appropriate supervisor. Students wishing
to discuss or report concerns about harassment should contact the Vice President for
Student Affairs.
The
Grade Reviews
section in the Graduate Catalog specifically addresses the process for challenging
a grade received.
The
Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment
section in the Graduate Catalog provides further information on lodging and complaint
and contact persons.
Additional situations that may necessitate filing a complaint are addressed in the
Academic Policies and Procedures
section of the Graduate Catalog.
Housing for Graduate Students
As part of a pilot program for the 2024-25 year, Chapman is offering limited university
housing near our Orange Campus to incoming graduate students. Graduate students interested
in living in Chapman housing should contact their program directly and visit the
Grad Housing
website to learn more. Note that space is on a first come, first serve basis, but
we strongly encourage you to apply! For additional housing options, we suggest all
incoming and current students use the
Off-campus Housing
website. Here you can connect with other Grad and Undergrad students also looking
for housing or roommates!
Graduate Education
Graduate Education
Prospective Students
Current Graduate Students
Graduate Student Academic Supports & Events
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Graduate Curriculum Handbook
Graduate Education SharePoint
Upcoming Thesis and Dissertation Deadlines
Need the complete list of thesis/dissertation-related degree conferral deadlines?
See here:
2025-26 Graduate Degree Conferral Deadlines and Late Thesis/Dissertation Submission
w/o Continuous Enrollment
As per
Graduate Catalog
policy, students must successfully
defend
their thesis/dissertation prior to commencement to participate in May commencement
ceremonies.
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Skip to main content
Academics
Office of the Provost
Academic Calendar
Degrees & Programs
Schools and Colleges
Undergraduate Academics
Graduate Education
Course Catalogs
Libraries
Academic Freedom
Academic Integrity
Learning at Chapman
Graduate Education
Graduate Education
Prospective Students
Current Graduate Students
Graduate Student Academic Supports & Events
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Graduate Curriculum Handbook
Graduate Education SharePoint
Follow
»
Current Graduate and Professional Students
Learn more about Chapman's graduate and professional programs, relevant university
and program policies, and our supports by exploring the options below.
Toggle Section
Graduate Catalog
The university's graduate policies and procedures are found in the student's respective
Graduate Catalog
.
Beginning with
2019-2020
academic year, catalogs can be found at
https://catalog.chapman.edu
.
Be sure to use the drop-down box in the upper right to choose the 2024-2025 Graduate
Catalog.
Students are reminded to look at the Degree Requirements
for their catalog year
. Usually this is the year the student began the graduate degree program, unless there
has been a break in enrollment or the student opted to move forward to a later catalog
year.
The student's Program Evaluation in the Student Center on studentcenter.chapman.edu
provides the best representation of what course requirements have been satisfied,
and not satisfied, to date.
Graduate Student Handbook
Graduate and professional students at Chapman can use the
Graduate Student Handbook
from the Associate Vice President for Graduate Education to orient themselves to
university-level policies, information, and supports.
If you have a suggestion for a section that should be added, or if you notice an update
is needed or broken link, please email us at
GradEd@chapman.edu
. We welcome your feedback!
Checklist for New Graduate Students
Here is a handy
student checklist
that will help you to be sure you have taken care of all your "to do" items before
arriving at Chapman.
Graduate Student Orientation Videos and Tutorials
Graduate and professional students can choose from several
university-level student orientation videos and tutorials
relevant to your journey at Chapman. They contain information for all students regardless
of degree program or campus.
Choose from the topics below:
Chapman University Campus Stores
Parking at Chapman University
Graduate Student Dining at Chapman
Graduate Student Off Campus Housing
Disability Services
Graduate Student Health Services
Graduate Student Psychological and Counseling Services
Career and Professional Development Center
Library & Printing Services
Technology Supports for Graduate Students
The Chapman University Interactive Map
Getting Involved as a Graduate Student
If You See Something, Say Something: Safety at Chapman
Public Safety: Operation Get Safe
Office of Research Supports
How to Use Your Program Evaluation
Student Center (my.chapman.edu) Tutorials
ePay
Tutorials
Graduate Student Health Insurance & Opting Into Student Health Center Access
Proof of health insurance is required for all Chapman students, including graduate
students, and must be submitted each term.
Students should monitor their my.chapman.edu Student Center “To Do List” to submit
proof of insurance. All
international graduate students and graduate students who do not submit proof of health
insurance will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the university’s UnitedHealth
Student Health Insurance plan.
Students may visit
www.uhcsr.com/chapman
to view the full plan description, terms of coverage, and more. The cost of the Student
Health Insurance plan for the 2025-2026 academic year is $2,365 ($1,182.50 per fall/spring
semester) for students on the Orange Campus and $2,315 for students on the Rinker
Health Science Campus ($788.33 per trimester - note the spring semester payment also
covers summer). For more information on the Student Health Insurance plan, visit the
Student Health Insurance webpage
.
Graduate students must additionally opt-in and pay a fee to access the Chapman Student
Health Center on the Orange Campus.
Health Center access is not included in the cost of attendance for graduate students.
Access must be purchased at the beginning of the year/term
for an annual cost of $244 ($122 per semester)
. Students may not pay 'on-demand' for Health Center access at a later date. In addition,
proof of insurance or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance plan is required
to qualify for Health Center access.
Graduate students may sign up and pay for Health Center access via the links in their
Student Center on my.chapman.edu.
Questions can be directed to
osbusn@chapman.edu
.
The Chapman Student Health Center is located at 402 North Glassell Street. The center
is available for walk-in visits Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon during regular
terms. It is recommended that appointments be made for afternoon hours. Contact the
Student Health Center with further questions at (714) 997–6851 or see the
Student Health Services webpage
.
Current Graduate Program Handbooks
Graduate and professional students can view the
Program Handbook
for their academic program by clicking on the appropriate link below. If your Program
Handbook is not hyperlinked, please contact your Program Director for a copy.
Master's and specialist degree Program Handbooks, in alphabetical order by major area
of study:
2025-2026:
MS Communication Sciences and Disorders
MS Computational and Data Sciences (24-25)
MFA Creative Writing
MA Curriculum and Instruction (General)
MA Curriculum and Instruction (Joint)
MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
MA English
MA English
/
MFA Creative Writing Joint Degree Program
MFA Film and Television Producing (24-25)
MA Film and Media Studies (24-25)
MS Food Science (24-25)
MS Strategic Communication
MA International Studies
MM Keyboard Collaborative Arts
(23-2024)
LLM (Master of Laws) (23-24)
MA Leadership Development
MA Marriage and Family Therapy
Frances Smith Clinic Handbook
MS Pharmaceutical Sciences
MMS Physician Assistant Studies
MFA Production Design (24-25)
MA School Counseling
MA/EdS School Psychology (24-25)
MFA Screenwriting (24-25)
MFA The Showrunner Program (24-25)
MA Special Education
MA Teaching: Elementary Emphasis
MA Teaching: Music Emphasis
MA Teaching: Secondary Emphasis
MA War, Diplomacy, and Society
MS Accounting (21-22)
MS Behavioral and Computational Economics
MBA (Master of Business Administration) (21-22)
MS Real Estate (21-22)
Doctoral degree Program Handbooks, in alphabetical order by degree:
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Communication
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Computational and Data Sciences (24-25)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Pharmaceutical Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Science (D.Sc.): Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics
Juris Doctor (JD) (23-24)
Graduate Student Full-Time Enrollment & Continuous Enrollment Policies
Here are the
Graduate Student Full-Time Enrollment and Continuous Enrollment Policies
and the accompanying
Graduate Student Enrollment Exception Form
that went into effect August 31, 2020 for all non-Law graduate programs. Please read
the policies in their entirety, complete the form (only if applicable), email the
completed form or your request for further information on your enrollment status to
GradEd@chapman.edu
.
International Graduate Student Enrollment Requirements
The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
enrollment requirements for recognition in a "full course of study" for international
graduate students at Chapman are found here
. Please contact Graduate Admissions and International Students Services, at
iss@chapman.edu,
Pavis Ortega at
portega@chapman.edu
if you have questions.
Graduate Student Fellowships
Fellowships
are funding that graduate students can use to help finance their
education; they are similar to what most people recognize as 'scholarships' at the
undergraduate level. Unlike Graduate Assistantships ("GShips"; see section below),
fellowships generally do not require the student to work for the university to receive
this funding.
There are two general categories of graduate student fellowship awards: external and
internal. Within those categories, fellowships may cover tuition (tuition fellowships),
other educational or living expenses (non-tuition fellowships), or a combination of
the two.
Internal fellowship awards
for graduate students at Chapman are determined by the academic departments/programs.
The Graduate Financial Aid Office coordinates tuition fellowships with other types
of financial aid including institutional loans. Please contact your program for more
information about internal fellowships available.
External fellowship awards
for graduate students are provided by government agencies, private foundations, and
donors outside of the Chapman community. Graduate students apply for these fellowships
on their own and the selection, award, and payment process varies according to the
funding source. The AVPGE's Office annually curates
a list of publicly-advertised graduate student fellowship opportunities
; students may review this list for possible sources of funding.
This list is provided as an aid to students, and inclusion on the list does not constitute
a recommendation of the fellowship or grantor by Chapman University; students must
exercise due diligence and take full responsibility for their role in the application
and award process for all external fellowships.
Provost Dissertation Non-Tuition Fellowships
Provost Dissertation Non-Tuition Fellowships are funded by the Office of Associate
Vice President for Graduate Education to provide financial support to outstanding,
advanced doctoral students working to complete their dissertation. A non-tuition fellowship
with a one-semester stipend paid in 4 monthly payments.
Eligible students must have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy and have completed all degree
requirements for the Ph.D. other than the publication (if required) and the writing
and defense of the dissertation. The student must have committee approval for their
dissertation proposal and (as necessary) IRB approval for proposed research. The student
must demonstrate scholarly excellence while conducting original research that contributes
to their field of study. The student should be in good academic status and continuously
enrolled full-time for the duration of the fellowship period. Currently, nominations
are sent from the Ph.D. program directors directly to the Associate Vice President
for Graduate Education.
Graduate Assistantships (GShips)
Graduate Assistantships (known informally as GShips)
are student employment positions where graduate students perform work duties related
to their professional development. There are multiple types of Graduate Assistantships
(GShips) available at Chapman:
Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
Graduate Writing Assistantship (GWA)
All GShips are governed by the
2025-26 GShip Policies and Procedures Handbook
.
The Handbook details the GShip categories, duties, eligibility, and how to obtain
a GShip. Please contact
GradEd@chapman.edu
if you have questions.
Principal Investigators
who wish to hire GRAs on internal or external research/project/grant funds can find
additional
GRA hiring guidance here
.
GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) and GTA Resources
Chapman University
Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)
are employed as instructors of record for a course much in the same manner as part-time
lecturers (see job description in GShip Handbook). GSIs are hired by each department
or academic unit on a term-to-term basis according to their needs and the availability
of qualified GSI candidates. Graduate students seeking a GSI position should contact
the head of the specific department/program in which they believe they are qualified
to teach.
As GSIs, unlike faculty, are not terminal degree holders, they are assigned a Faculty
Supervisor for mentorship and guidance in their teaching. The Faculty Supervisor is
a full-time faculty member in the department/program in which the GSI is assigned
to teach and observes and evaluates the GSI's teaching quality, in addition to the
end-of-term course evaluations submitted by students.
Important GSI documents:
All GSIs should be familiar with the
GSI Competencies and Performance Expectations
.
Supervisors may use the
GSI Class Observation Form here
or an alternative form in use by their department/program when performing the required
observation once per fall/spring term.
GSI Evaluation form
to be completed each term by the Faculty Supervisor.
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
serve in different instructional support roles at Chapman, including as an assistant
to a faculty member in their teaching, evaluating students, and running limited lab
or class sessions. GTAs are not considered instructors, do not appear on the class
schedule, and do not have instructional responsibility for the course. T
he faculty member teaching the course is considered the person responsible for planning
and delivering the curriculum and overseeing the achievement of Course Objectives
and Program Learning Outcomes.
GTAs, at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course to which they are
assigned, may:
Be expected to attend class sessions.
Help with the preparation or updating of lecture materials.
Run lab sessions with the guidance of a faculty member/supervisor.
Conduct review sessions with the guidance of the faculty member.
Hold office hours to consult with students regarding course requirements.
This does not supplant a faculty member’s regular office hours for advising students.
Monitor grades.
Grade assignments and exams based on established criteria provided by the faculty
member.
Teach on a limited basis with the support of the faculty member, while the faculty
member has primary oversight and responsibility for the course.
Utilize the online professional development library available at the
CETL website
, along with all their other support materials, to prepare for future GSI service.
GTAs should not:
Independently design class instruction, assignments, or grading criteria without the
direct oversight and guidance of the faculty member for the course.
Perform all grading or grade monitoring for the course.
The faculty member is expected to be personally involved in student assessment and
the monitoring of individual and class-wide student progress
.
Teach a “lecture” course extensively nor teach on a regular basis without the faculty
member present.
FAQ: How much teaching is too much?
It would be reasonable to expect the GTA to teach 3-4 class sessions (for a course
that meets 2-3 times per week for 15 weeks) during a standard term so they have supervised
teaching experience and can be given feedback. GTAs assigned to courses that meet
only once per week should be expected to be responsible for fewer sessions or only
portions of multiple sessions. Such teaching experiences should be planned in advance
and the GTA guided by the faculty member on the planned instruction prior.
FAQ:
Can the GTA “cover” for the faculty member and teach if the faculty member is absent?
Yes, but this should occur no more than twice per term, and should be included in
the GTA’s total teaching time. In addition, it is suggested that the GTA use the Swivl
video recording systems available from
CETL
, or another video recording device, so they can review their teaching performance
if the faculty member is not present.
FAQ: Can the faculty member have the GTA independently run a discussion section every
week on one of the regular class days (i.e., for a MWF course, the faculty member
teaches M/W and GTA runs a discussion session on Fridays
without
the faculty member)?
No.
The faculty member is expected to be present whenever possible and receives full
load for teaching the course. Such a lecture/discussion combination would represent
the GTA being responsible for 1/3 of total class time. A more reasonable solution
would be for the GTA and faculty member to split the class into two groups on Fridays
and alternate facilitating the discussion groups, so the GTA has faculty oversight/support
and all students receive equal time with the faculty member and GTA in discussion.
Graduate Student Tuition Support Policy
The policy
outlines the implementation procedures for tuition support for graduate students
appointed to eligible research and teaching positions (Graduate Assistantships), which
is a significant contribution by the university to their education and is regulated
by internal policies in accordance with federal and state laws.
Graduate Forms
To find forms such as the Graduate Change of Program form, as well as other forms
and additional information, please refer to the
Office of the Registrar’s forms webpage
.
Submit a petition
Fill out the Graduate form and email it to
graded@chapman.edu
.
Graduate students:
Graduate Petition Form
Submit an enrollment exception
Fill out the Graduate form and email it to
graded@chapman.edu
.
Graduate students:
Graduate Student Enrollment Exception Form
Canvas Support (FOR FACULTY ONLY)
Fill out the form to add a Graduate student to Canvas.
The purpose of this form is to submit a request to the AVP of Graduate Education to
approve adding graduate student(s) to Canvas, as an Observer, for some special use
case where the student is not being hired as a Graduate Assistant or Instructor.
Faculty only:
Add Graduate Student to Canvas Request
Master's Comprehensive Exams Calendar
Dates for comprehensive exams and deadlines to register are listed here:
2025-26 Master's Comprehensive Exam Calendar
Thesis and Dissertation Supports
There are a number of resources and guidance documents available to graduate students
completing their research-based theses and dissertations at Chapman University. Please
consult your Program Handbook as well as the
Graduate Catalog
for specific policies and timelines in addition to the materials below.
University deadlines for thesis/dissertation submission as related to degree conferral
are hyperlinked in the callout box to the left on this page.
Library submission requirement and formatting:
Leatherby Libraries maintains the university's
thesis and dissertation submission system and instructions for use
. There you will find the thesis and dissertation checklists and formatting requirements,
frequently asked questions, and more. For personalized support in submitting your
thesis or dissertation to the library,
contact Librarian Kristin Laughtin-Dunker via email
or by phone at
(714) 532-7769.
NOTE: Library submission deadline dates for each term are posted on the
library's https://libguides.chapman.edu/dissertations page
.
The
"Submitting your Thesis
or Dissertation to the Library" workshop was October 3, 2023.
Here is a
flyer
with the guidelines and upcoming fall/spring workshops.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research
:
The IRB is
Chapman University's authorized regulatory committee that reviews, approves, denies
and provides ongoing oversight of all research - including thesis and dissertation
research - involving human subjects in accordance with OHRP and FDA regulations.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit and obtain IRB approval (or documented
exemption) prior to commencing any research with human subjects.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for animal subjects research
:
Chapman University's IACUC is charged with evaluating the ethical and scientific merit
of research investigations - including thesis and dissertation research - and teaching
activities that involve animal subjects. It is the responsibility of the student to
submit and obtain IACUC approval (or documented exemption) prior to commencing any
research with animal subjects.
Additional policy guidance for research-related endeavors:
The
Office of Research's Policies and Guidance page
provides information for graduate students on a variety of research-related endeavors
applicable to work on theses and dissertations, including the following:
Guidelines for Authorship in Scientific or Scholarly Publications policy:
Applies to all forms of publication and provides guidance in the event of disagreement
between students and/or faculty.
Animal Care and Use Policy
Human Subjects Protection Policy
Integrity in Research Policy
External Thesis/Dissertation Committee Members:
External thesis/dissertation committee members volunteer their service and must complete
this
Volunteer External Thesis Dissertation Committee Member Form
. The purpose of this agreement is to provide information about the volunteer experience
and important University policies that apply to volunteers.
Graduate students are responsible for adhering to all university policies, as well
as additional policies set forth by externally-funded grant agencies or sponsors,
applicable to their thesis or dissertation work. Students should actively seek guidance
from their thesis/dissertation advisor, related faculty researchers or Principal Investigators,
and/or the Office of Research & Graduate Education if they have questions.
Survey of Earned Doctorates - Ph.D. Graduates Only
After library dissertation submission is complete, Ph.D. graduates must participate
in the
Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
, which
collects data on the number and characteristics of individuals receiving research
doctoral degrees from all accredited U.S. institutions. The results of this annual
survey, established more than fifty years ago, are used to assess characteristics
and trends in doctorate education and degrees. This information is vital for education
and labor force planners and researchers in the federal government and in academia,
and it influences federal decisions regarding financial support for Ph.D. students
in years to come. The estimated time to complete the survey is no more than 20 minutes.
Your Ph.D. diploma will be released after you have submitted the SED's "Certificate
of Completion" to Chapman via email. Please forward the certificate with your name
and ID# to
aps@chapman.edu.
Please note, responses to all questions other than the first section where graduates
are asked for their name, doctoral degree, institution, and graduation month/year
are completely voluntary, and opting to
not
complete any portion of the survey thereafter is not required by Chapman University
and will not prevent the student being issued a Certificate of Completion by the SED.
Specifically, the National Science Foundation's Program Officer for the SED (Kelly
Kang) confirms (3/23/21 via email to Chapman University),
"The SED respondents’ nonresponse to any survey questions once they provide their
personal verification information such as their name, doctoral degree, institution,
and graduation month/year in the beginning of the survey, does not affect their SED
completion and they should be able to obtain the Certificate of Completion."
Questions about the SED content, data storage, or other aspects of the survey can
be directed to
sed@rti.org
.
Graduate Student Grievance/Complaint Procedures
Graduate students who have concerns about campus academic policies, procedures, other
policies, treatment by faculty or other campus employees or concerns about college
operations are encouraged to bring those concerns or
complaint
s to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Education
after
first reviewing the respective sections of the
Graduate Catalog
for relevant procedures to follow.
In general, for academic matters, the complaint process normally begins with the faculty
member involved. Appeals typically go to the department chair, the academic dean,
the Graduate Academic Council, and then the Associate Vice President for Graduate
Education (who will act on the matter or refer it to the Provost). For non-academic
matters (issues related to departments such as residence life, facilities management,
business office, etc.), students should first discuss the matter with the head of
the appropriate department with appeals to the appropriate supervisor. Students wishing
to discuss or report concerns about harassment should contact the Vice President for
Student Affairs.
The
Grade Reviews
section in the Graduate Catalog specifically addresses the process for challenging
a grade received.
The
Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment
section in the Graduate Catalog provides further information on lodging and complaint
and contact persons.
Additional situations that may necessitate filing a complaint are addressed in the
Academic Policies and Procedures
section of the Graduate Catalog.
Housing for Graduate Students
As part of a pilot program for the 2024-25 year, Chapman is offering limited university
housing near our Orange Campus to incoming graduate students. Graduate students interested
in living in Chapman housing should contact their program directly and visit the
Grad Housing
website to learn more. Note that space is on a first come, first serve basis, but
we strongly encourage you to apply! For additional housing options, we suggest all
incoming and current students use the
Off-campus Housing
website. Here you can connect with other Grad and Undergrad students also looking
for housing or roommates!
Graduate Education
Graduate Education
Prospective Students
Current Graduate Students
Graduate Student Academic Supports & Events
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Graduate Curriculum Handbook
Graduate Education SharePoint
Upcoming Thesis and Dissertation Deadlines
Need the complete list of thesis/dissertation-related degree conferral deadlines?
See here:
2025-26 Graduate Degree Conferral Deadlines and Late Thesis/Dissertation Submission
w/o Continuous Enrollment
As per
Graduate Catalog
policy, students must successfully
defend
their thesis/dissertation prior to commencement to participate in May commencement
ceremonies.
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