Chapel

Who is required to enroll in the Chapel program?

All Seaver students are required to enroll in Chapel. First-year students are automatically enrolled in CPL 101 “Welcome Chapel” in their first semester. All first-year spring admits/first-year transfer students are automatically enrolled in CPL 101 in their first semester (i.e. spring). 

I do not live on campus. Do I have to participate in Chapel?

Yes. All Seaver students–regardless of residential status–are required to participate in Chapel.

I am a transfer student. Am I required to participate in Chapel? Is my requirement the same?

Yes, you are required to participate in Chapel, but your requirement is not the same. Transfer students have a reduced burden based on when they arrive: 2.0 credits for spring first-year admits (4 semesters), 1.5 for second-years (3 semesters), and 1.0 for juniors/seniors (2 semesters). Your Chapel requirement is determined by your credit-standing at the time of your entry.

I’m a first-year student but a ____ by credit (with AP’s). Does that reduce my Chapel requirement?

No. As a first-year student, you are required to complete the full 2.5 credits of Chapel (5 semesters).

How is Chapel graded?

Chapel is a credit/no-credit (CR/NC) program that neither carries a letter grade nor impacts your GPA. Your chapel section leader assesses credit predicated upon 80% participation/engagement with the class material. Each chapel section may vary in terms of what that participation looks like. 

How many Chapel credits do I actually need to graduate?

All four-year Seaver students must earn 2.5 Chapel credits over their eight semesters of enrollment. Transfer students have a reduced Chapel requirement predicated on their entry. One semester/session equals 0.5 credits. For a four-year student, this translates to taking five (5) semesters of Chapel over their eight (8) semesters of enrollment.

I’m a PCHS (Pepperdine College Health Science) student with two years at Seaver. What is my Chapel requirement?

Your Chapel requirement is 2.0 credits (CPL 101, CPL 201 x 3) This translates to taking Chapel all four semesters at Seaver.

Is there a cost associated with these credits?

No, there is no cost associated with these credits. Chapel credits do not add to student tuition.

Can I take two sections of Chapel in one semester to “get it done with?”

No, a student may only enroll in one CPL course per semester.

I’m going abroad during my second year. Does that count toward Chapel?

Yes. All students in fall and spring International Programs (IP’s) are required to take CPL 201 while abroad. You will be enrolled automatically in your IP’s CPL 201 section for each semester you are abroad.

What happens if I receive ‘No Credit’ for a semester?

You will be required to re-enroll in the requisite CPL 101/201/301 to fulfill your graduation requirement. Note: you do not need to re-enroll in the exact same section/with the same leader to repeat.

I’m in the Class of 2029. Do I need to do Chapel in Academic Year 2026-27 as a second-year? Will I then need to take a CPL 301 my junior or senior year?

During your second year, you will be required to take two semesters of CPL 201 that will satisfy your CPL 200 requirement via substitution. You do not need to take CPL 301, as that requirement does not apply to your catalogue year.

Does Chapel affect my transcripts?

While Chapel will appear on a student’s transcript as a Credit/No Credit entry, it does not affect your overall GPA. Chapel credits do not count toward the 128 units required for degree completion; however, they are required to fulfill your graduation requirements. (Note: For the Class of 2029, your chapel grades from AY25-26 still do impact your GPA, but your grades of CR/NC for AY26-27 will not.)

What is a Welcome Chapel (CPL 101)? Must I attend?

Welcome Chapels are first-year/first-semester experiences designed to introduce you to Seaver College spiritual life and the Chapel program’s themes of love, goodness, truth, and beauty. They are larger-format gatherings that may involve worship, speaker, service, and social elements. If you are a first-year student, you are required to take CPL 101 in fall semester alongside your Waves 100 course. 

What is Connection Chapel (CPL 201)? Must I attend?

Connection Chapels are frosh-senior experiences that are designed to present a Christian perspective on the themes of love, goodness, truth, and beauty through a wide variety of formats. These smaller-scale sessions may look like surf or pickleball chapel or practicing spiritual disciplines with faculty/staff leaders. If you have completed CPL 101, you are required to take three semesters of CPL 201 over your time as a Seaver student.

What is Launch Chapel (CPL 301)? Must I attend?

Launch Chapels are junior/senior experiences that are designed to serve as a culminating chapel moment for Seaver students. This can look like a retreat with a campus partner (i.e. God in the Wilderness via Campus Rec, Faith & Business Retreat, etc.), a spiritually-based internship or mentorship with a staff/faculty member, service projects, and a variety of other experiences. If you have completed your CPL 101 and 201 prerequisites, you are eligible to take CPL 301.

How will I know where to go for my Chapel section once enrolled?

As with all courses, chapel meeting locations and times are posted on Wavenet. Additionally, you can expect your chapel session leader to reach out via email/Canvas with information prior to your first scheduled meeting. If you have questions, you’re always welcome to email the Chapel Office.

 

How does attendance factor into my Chapel grade?

Traditional letter grades are not assigned for chapel sessions, as Chapel is a credit/no-credit program. Attendance is a factor in assessing Chapel session participation, however, and students need to achieve 80% participation/engagement in order to receive credit for their chapel course at the end of the semester. For our CPL 101’s and larger-format chapels, attendance constitutes the whole of your requirement and will be taken via ID scan in/out. Please, be sure to bring your Pepperdine Student ID to scan in and out of each session.

Is there a penalty for missing Chapel meeting(s)?

Each Chapel leader will provide you with a syllabus for their session that outlines expectations for the semester and how to earn credit for that section.

Are there excused absences for Chapel?

Each Chapel leader will provide you with a syllabus establishing expectations for their section. Absences for chapel will be addressed by your chapel section leader.

Can I file for an exemption from Chapel?

Students may not file for an exemption from the Seaver Chapel requirement; however, they may work with the Office of Student Accessibility and the Chapel Office to request accommodations to ensure every student is able to participate in the program and complete requirements in a timely manner.

Can I apply for accommodations without going through the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA)?

No. While students always may reach out to our Chapel Office with any request, ultimately a modification or accommodation needs to be requested in consultation with OSA.

Are third and fourth-year students required to attend Chapel?

If you are a third- or fourth-year Seaver student and have not completed three semesters of CPL 201 and one semester of CPL 301, you are required to enroll in Chapel. Ideally, third-year students will take CPL 301 in their fall or spring semesters, thereby leaving their senior year free for focus on upper-division coursework and capstone classes. Please note, if you are a transfer student, your credit requirement may be different from the above.

How can juniors and seniors get involved in spiritual life on campus after completing their Chapel requirement?

There are numerous ways for juniors and seniors to get involved in spiritual life on campus outside of their Seaver Chapel requirement (i.e. CPL 201’s/301’s). The Hub for Spiritual Life coordinates many student-led ministries in addition to The Well Wednesday Night worship service. Waves Church and University Church of Christ are two churches that meet on Pepperdine’s campus during the week. Additionally, many faculty, staff, and Spiritual Life Advisors (SLA’s) lead on-campus Bible studies.

If I have additional questions, who can I talk with?

Please contact the Chapel Office (Chapel@pepperdine.edu) if you have any questions. We’re always happy to chat!