The University of California at Los Angeles awarded Tapia an B.A. in 1961. Tapia did not proceed immediately to graduate studies but first he was employed as a mathematician working on ship design at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, California.
Ang University of California sa Los Angeles na iginawad Tapia isang BA sa 1961. Tapia hindi magpatuloy kaagad sa mga nagtapos na pag-aaral ngunit siya ang unang trabaho bilang isang dalub-agbilang nagtatrabaho sa barko disenyo at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, California.