UC Merced's academic programs offer an exemplary learning environment that provides critical hands-on experience in your area of interest, courses taught by outstanding faculty and numerous resources to help you achieve a competitive edge.
Schools and Divisions
Off-Campus Learning
Undergraduate Majors
Anthropology, B.A.Anthropology is dedicated to understanding our diversity and what makes us uniquely human. Our Anthropology program distinguishes itself by focusing research and teaching on a select group of common research themes relevant to our local, state and global communities. It emphasizes how topics and issues central to the human experience such as migration, gender, power, health, kinship, race and identity are examined and understood through diverse anthropological methodologies. In upper division courses, students explore particular socio-cultural, archaeological and biological perspectives on such issues in greater depth, and these courses may specifically engage perspectives from two or more sub-fields.
Anthropology majors develop critical skills in thought, written and oral expression, the application of knowledge and a valuable understanding of human cultural diversity. In an increasingly globalized world in which interaction with people of diverse cultures is becoming the norm, developing a cross-cultural understanding about the complexities of human societies past and present makes Anthropology an ideal education for the 21st century.
Mathematics is an essential part of scientific development. By itself, mathematics is a subject of great depth and beauty. However, mathematics is also crucial in the development of natural sciences, engineering and social sciences.
A Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematical Sciences prepares students in the fundamentals of applied mathematics: modeling, analysis and scientific computing applied to real-world problems.
Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the techniques, devices, materials and resourcefulness of engineers are used to address problems in biology and healthcare; and lessons from biology are used to inspire design and inform progress in engineering. This synergy between biology and engineering has led to a wide range of implantable materials, diagnostic devices, sensors and molecular characterization techniques, and it has produced tools that greatly expedited the sequencing of the human genome. Along with these practical innovations has come a rapidly increasing need for personnel with the necessary hybrid skills to capitalize on them, and undergraduate bioengineering programs have proliferated alongside the continued growth of bioengineering research.
The Biological Sciences major provides students with a solid foundation in the life sciences, ranging from the molecular mechanisms of biological processes to the emerging understanding of the genomic instruction book of life. Biology is presented as a modern multidisciplinary science, reflecting the increasing trend for the life sciences to bridge across scientific disciplines and to integrate multiple types of information for a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. These concepts are taught with a strong emphasis on real-world applications of this knowledge in understanding health and disease and complex biological systems.
Chemistry is often known as "the central science" because of the key position it occupies in modern science and engineering. Most phenomena in the biological and earth sciences can be described in terms of the chemical and physical behavior of atoms and molecules, and chemical principles also underlie much progress in medicine and engineering. In addition, chemical systems are fascinating and often beautiful in their own right. The Chemical Sciences major is designed to meet the requirements for American Chemical Society certification while providing the flexibility to pursue increasingly important interdisciplinary areas.
Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of thinking. Our Cognitive Science major integrates theories and methods from neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, computer science and philosophy, and provides hands on experience in laboratories or in the field. It is ideal for students interested in how humans and machines think, perceive, act and interact. Both the B.S. and the B.A. prepare students for a wide range of careers, including positions in high tech companies and medical settings. They also provide excellent training for graduate study in fields as diverse as information sciences, neuroscience, medicine, law, management, psychology, computer science and engineering, industrial engineering and communications.
The Computer Science and Engineering major is designed to provide students with breadth and depth in the exciting and rapidly expanding fields of computer science and computer engineering. Computer scientists and engineers have the opportunity to work with advanced computer and information technologies that impact virtually every aspect of society. Computers have become a vital part of all industries including design and manufacturing, entertainment, communications, transportation, health care, scientific research, education, as well as public, private and governmental services.
The Earth Systems Science major is designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of environmental and ecological research in the 21st century. Students who study Earth Systems Science will gain a quantitative understanding of the physical, chemical and biological principles that control the processes, reactions and evolution of the Earth as a support system for life. The major emphasizes a highly interdisciplinary approach, incorporating field studies, laboratory experiments and computations. Complementary coursework in the social sciences will expose students to the political, economic, and societal implications of human interactions with the environment. A unique aspect of the major is its flexibility — students can select upper division classes in areas that reflect their individual interests within Earth Systems Science.
Economics is often called the study of how to allocate scarce resources. The most important thing you'll get from studying economics is learning to "think like an economist," developing your skill for identifying essential elements of a problem and the analytical skills for finding solutions. This way of thinking and analyzing can be applied to a remarkable range of problems in many different fields, such as:
- How to make good individual decisions and good business decisions
- How to take account of strategic considerations
- How to explain human behavior
- How to address public policy issues such as unemployment, inflation, pollution, and international trade and politics
Consequently, studying economics gives you a superb preparation for many careers in business, law, government, education and consulting.
The study of Environmental Engineering provides students with quantitative understanding of the physical, chemical and biological principles that control air, water and habitat quality, and sustainability. Students majoring in this exciting field will be prepared to study and help solve important problems in all areas of water, air and land resources management including watershed restoration, groundwater remediation and protection, hydrologic modeling and engineering, air resources monitoring and assessment and contaminant mitigation.
The Greek historian Thucydides wrote many centuries ago that, the study of history is of value to any "who desire an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the interpretation of the future…" History, with its focus on research, writing and argumentation, as well as knowledge about the past, is well known as an excellent preparation for law school and other professions. History majors may also find employment related to their degrees in schools, museums, editing and publishing, archives, historic preservation, federal, state and local agencies, and as consultants and contractors. Students can choose a field of concentration in either United States history or world history. By applying classroom learning to research problems outside the classroom, students contribute to expanding public knowledge and awareness of cultural issues. This major also trains students to understand and use methods for examining human activities in the past. Students may explore environmental history, the history of science and technology, the history of migration and cultural intersections, and issues of world, national, state and local history.
A degree in literature challenges and rewards students in many ways. They are asked to examine the complex interactions of history and culture, gender and ethnicity, and reality and perception, while also understanding methods and trends in the production of literature. Our Literatures and Cultures major is truly global and interdisciplinary and is divided into two concentrations: Literatures of the English-Speaking World and Literatures of the Spanish-Speaking World, which makes it unique. Courses in each emphasis will overlap and take students on a journey into philosophy, history, music, sociology and even into the wilderness as they look at ecocriticism and nature writing in Yosemite National Park. Students analyze works produced by writers from all continents, from Asia to the Americas — including the literature of the Central Valley.
As is the case for all of UC Merced's undergraduate programs, students will have many opportunities for research with faculty members whose expertise includes U.S. Latino literature and film, reception studies, regional and local literatures including environmental and contemporary ethnic literatures of California, and Hispanic literatures, including interdisciplinary connections to literature and history of African cultures.
A literature degree is a strong foundation for many graduate school and professional programs, ranging from the humanities to law and medical school. The degree opens many doors, not only to those who wish to teach, but also into the world of publishing, communications and business here and abroad. The ability to write clearly and persuasively is one of the world's most highly sought-after skills.
The Management major will respond to the general needs for graduates with education and training in business management. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the Management major prepares the students for a variety of management-related careers.
The curriculum will include a foundation in economics, organization, business, finance, accounting, communication, statistics and management theory. It focuses on analysis and problem solving across a wide spectrum of management activities.
Since the beginnings of civilization, technological progress has always relied on the behavior of materials. Wood, stone, metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, liquid crystals and nanomaterials all have unique properties that enable — but also limit — what humans can make and do.
Every single object that we use, the construction of safe dwellings, the conveniences of rapid travel, the efficiency of telecommunications, the calculating and archiving power of computers, the life-prolonging gift of surgical implants, and the dazzling performances of athletes; all require dependable materials. The pace of future technological progress of any kind will continue to depend on innovative materials.
Materials Science and Engineering (MS&E) embraces skills from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. It is therefore especially appealing to anyone who enjoys interdisciplinary studies and who seeks to apply such knowledge to solving practical Engineering problems. MS&E graduates are highly versatile in the job market. Employers appreciate the ability of MS&E graduates to relate to people across a wide spectrum of expertise.
The Mechanical Engineering program at UC Merced provides a broad education that prepares students for the technological challenges of the 21st century. The core areas include dynamics, materials, solid mechanics, thermal/fluids, design and control. Current research areas in this field include energy, bioengineering, nano/micro-technology, computational modeling, complex systems and intelligent systems.
The innovative curriculum at UC Merced provides hands-on education and the students are exposed to engineering fundamentals with the use of computational tools to solve realistic engineering problems.
Physics seeks to reduce complex phenomena to elemental principles: What causes an object to fall? What makes molecules stick together? What is light? What causes electricity? Is there a speed limit in the universe? What is the fundamental nature of matter? Far from being purely academic questions, these inquiries have revolutionized our society. It is nearly impossible to imagine an area of science or engineering that has not been profoundly affected by fundamental developments in physics.
The physics major at UC Merced provides a strong foundation in the fundamental physical properties of the natural world, while recognizing the interdisciplinary role that physicists play in the scientific and technological community. This is reflected in the core plus emphasis tracks model of the major. The core is a rigorous grounding in fundamental physical principles, including electricity and magnetism, quantum and classical mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Emphases
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Biophysics, Earth and Environmental Physics, Mathematical Physics
Political science is the social-scientific study of political institutions and political behavior. Students in the interdisciplinary political science program at UC Merced will develop a strong, substantive understanding of both political institutions and behavior. Students will also learn the theories that help us better understand the political world and the methods by which these theories are tested and refined.
Students will examine such topics as the effects of the design of electoral systems on the quality of representation in government; the formal and informal elements of the legislative process and their implications for making law; and the impact of domestic political institutions on the incidence of international conflict.
Under the rubric of political behavior, political scientists study how and why people choose to participate in politics, the determinants of vote choice, and the nature of public opinion.
The knowledge and skills acquired with the political science major should provide a strong foundation for graduate training in law, political science or other social sciences. However, graduates can pursue a wide variety of other careers, such as public administration, campaign management or consultation, grassroots political organization, corporate governmental affairs, foreign service, journalism, lobbying or teaching.
The Psychology program at UC Merced is a central discipline in the social sciences. At any UC campus, psychology is almost always the largest major. Demand is high because it's an intrinsically interesting subject. Psychology requires critical scientific thinking, writing and research skills that prove useful in a variety of careers.
UC Merced's interdisciplinary approach ensures graduates have a well-rounded educational background, and the school offers many opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research projects with professors.
Sociology is the scientific study of society, social institutions and social relationships. A key contribution of the discipline is that social factors matter; our lives are not only shaped by personal psychology, but also by our place in the social world. Sociology's areas of inquiry range from intimate family relationships to ties between nationstates; from divisions by race, class, gender and sexuality to shared ideas of common culture; and from understanding the influence of broad-scale social movements to analyzing how adolescents become productive adults.
Sociologists help develop theories to understand how the social world works and also use analytic tools to craft policies and create programs that address important social issues, such as neighborhood and educational inequality. Few disciplines offer such a broad scope of relevance for understanding individual and collective relations in society.
The substantive breadth and skills in conducting and analyzing research that sociology majors obtain can be useful for a range of career paths including: business and marketing, criminal justice, education, environment and technology, graduate school, law, public health, leadership in faith communities, non-profit and social service organizations, public policy, social welfare and social work. Students will leave the major with research skills developed in conjunction with knowledge of substantive material relevant to a variety of social service and non-profit research positions. They also will have an excellent basis for pursuing graduate studies in law, sociology and other social and cultural studies programs.
The B.A. in Sociology is pending WASC approval.
Undergraduate Minors
American StudiesThe American Studies minor builds on the tradition of an interdisciplinary field of study that promotes a broad humanistic understanding of American culture, past and present. By incorporating economics, history, literature, sociology, art history, anthropology, ethnic studies and public policy (among other areas), this minor encourages students and faculty within those fields to exchange ideas on scholarship as it relates to the American experience. In addition, the American Studies minor seeks to move beyond traditional limitations of American Studies, by allowing students to take relevant courses in engineering or the natural sciences. Inclusion of these courses is based on the rationale that cultural practices often stem from our understanding of and research in those sciences.
Students taking the Anthropology minor learn how the human experience in both the past and present involves the interaction of many factors including social, cultural, political, economic, historical, environmental, and biological factors. Thus, the holistic understanding provided by anthropology draws on knowledge that encompasses the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
The Applied Mathematical Sciences minor provides students an opportunity to supplement their major with additional training in applied mathematics.
A minor is by definition a form of study that can truly be referred to as enrichment. The minor in Arts provides students the opportunity to explore courses from the three parallel tracks in the Arts curriculum: history (interpreting works of art from all media within their context and purpose), theory (concentrating on research) and art technique and practice (acquiring and applying art techniques in fine arts, music and performing arts). ARTS 007 is a survey course of arts around the globe, with an integrated and comparative approach to studying the history and ideas of arts from antiquity to the twentieth century. This course serves as the foundation for all students pursuing the Arts minor.
Chemistry is often known as "the central science" because of the key position it occupies in modern science and engineering. Most phenomena in the biological and earth sciences can be described in terms of the chemical and physical behavior of atoms and molecules, and chemical principles also underlie much progress in medicine and engineering. For these reasons, chemistry is a natural and useful minor for students majoring in other science and engineering disciplines. The Chemical Sciences minor allows students to pursue interests in chemistry in some depth without requiring the breadth of course work and extensive laboratory time required for the Chemical Sciences major.
The Minor in Chicano/a Studies is an interdisciplinary program that introduces students to the complex experiences, history, cultural practices, and social interactions of one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States. The program has been designed around conceptual and theoretical units that are central to Chicano/a Studies as a field. In the upper division courses, students, in final papers/projects, will be able to critically examine the concepts below as they tie in to each particular course. UC
Cognitive Science is the study of human thought and its relation to human activities, including the study of language, perception, memory and reasoning. The Cognitive Science minor increases students' knowledge of the mind and how it is studied from various perspectives, and helps them to acquire critical skills in scientific research and formal areas such as computer science and mathematics. Students are encouraged to become involved with faculty research.
Students with an interest in developing a solid grounding in economic theory are encouraged to consider the minor in Economics. The minor provides students with an understanding of how incentives and institutions shape society. Students in the Economics minor have opportunities for strong theoretical and statistical training in areas of labor economics, public economics, environmental economics, political economy and economic data analysis.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that focuses on application of concepts and methods from the physical, chemical, biological, and social sciences to the study of the natural environment, and seeks solutions to environmental problems. Sustainability science aims to improve the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. The Environmental Science and Sustainability minor at UC Merced allows students from diverse backgrounds to pursue interests in earth and environmental sciences in some depth without requiring the breadth of course work and extensive laboratory and field time required for the Earth System Science major.
Students find that a minor in History makes an invaluable contribution to their studies. A knowledge of history provides an appreciation of the context within which important developments in politics, art, literature, philosophy and science or technology take place, and is necessary to an understanding both of their origins and their implications.
The Literatures and Cultures minor enables students who are majoring in other disciplines to nonetheless develop strong skills in literary and cultural analysis, critical reading, and effective writing. Literary study asks questions of history and culture, of gender and minority thought and discourse, of intersections with other fields such as cognitive science, social science, and information science.
This minor seeks to ensure both that students understand the basic notion of cultural production and reception, and that they are, through a variety of courses, familiarized with the relationships between society and literature, between reading and thinking, and between self and societal forms of expression.
The Management minor at UC Merced provides an opportunity for students who are majoring in another field, such as the sciences or engineering, to learn the fundamental analytical and quantitative tools necessary for management decision-making. Students receive training in economic theory, statistics, accounting, and fields including human resources, strategy, finance, and organizational theory.
The Natural Sciences Education (NSED) Minor is primarily intended for students interested in teaching careers at the K-12 level. The minor is being developed as part of the Science and Mathematics Initiative (SMI) also known as California Teach (CalTeach) Program. NSED Minor leverages SMI program to offer a wider range of UC Merced students an opportunity to explore additional career options, deepen their understanding of science and mathematics, and improve their ability to communicate scientific and mathematical concepts.
This minor will prepare students majoring in sciences or mathematics for direct admission into teaching credentialing programs such as the one administered by California State University, Stanislaus (CSUS). In fact, the minor program has been developed with close consideration of the teacher credentialing program at CSUS to ensure that students who complete the NSED minor will be able to obtain a teaching credential in a shorter amount of time. In particular, the courses and fieldwork that NSED Minor consists of, will allow students with degrees in science and mathematics to continue their education in a teaching credentialing program without completing any additional requirements. In addition, students will have an opportunity to become intern teachers even as they enter the teaching credentials program, which would allow them to start their teaching career earlier and be paid while completing the single-subject credential.
The minor in Philosophy provides students with an understanding of the principles, methods, and areas of application of contemporary philosophy. Philosophers study conceptual questions within and between the humanities, arts and sciences: What is art? What is justice? What is the relation between mind and brain? Philosophy at UC Merced combines a traditional curriculum with an emphasis on these interdisciplinary linkages. Because of this, students should be able to use their training in philosophy to complement their other coursework and to identify connections between their various areas of study.
Physics is the study of nature at its most fundamental. It addresses the underlying principles that govern all phenomena in the universe, both within everyday life as well as within the most exotic situations. The physics minor equips students with a broad foundation to understand these diverse phenomena, including such topics as dynamics, planetary motion, quantum mechanics, atomic structure, special relativity, electricity, optics, and much more. The minor also provides an opportunity for a student to develop significant depth and explore modern topics in a few areas of his or her choosing.
This minor may be useful for any student studying science or engineering who would like an enhanced foundation in his or her discipline. It may also appeal to any student who simply wishes to understand better the beauty and logic that governs the world around us and our place within it.
The Political Science minor offers broad coverage of the study of politics. Political science is the social scientific study of political processes involving political institutions and political behavior. The study of political institutions includes topics such as the effect of the design of electoral systems on the quality of representation in government, the formal and informal elements of the legislative process and their implications for the making of law, and the impact of domestic political institutions on the incidence of international conflict. Under the rubric of political behavior, political scientists study how and why people choose to participate in politics, the determinants of vote choice, and the nature and origins of public opinion.
Students studying political science at UC Merced develop a strong substantive understanding of both political institutions and behavior. Students also learn the theories that help us better understand the political world and the methods by which these theories are tested and refined
Psychology is a social science that helps students better understand and interpret scientific information and ways to apply quantitative tools such as statistics. Psychology is often of inherent interest to students.
Taking a psychology minor provides an interesting exposure to novel and exciting ideas that students would not otherwise encounter and can be of great use to students who are majoring in other fields. For example, students taking a pre-med curriculum find a psychology minor useful for understanding the social and psychological aspects of medical care or as preparation for a career in psychiatry. Students in management and economics find coursework in social psychology, decision-making and organizational and industrial psychology to be of particular use to their careers.
Public health can be defined as an approach to promote health, prevent disease, prolong life and improve quality of life through organized efforts of society. Focusing on the health and well being of populations, public health complements medicine's concern for individuals with diseases. Through activities ranging from basic research, to frontline efforts such as vaccination programs, promotion of healthy lifestyles and environments, and disease control, and leadership on health policy formation, public health issues and outcomes touch the lives of people throughout the world. Public health is an interdisciplinary field drawing on the natural and social sciences as well as the humanities. One of the most important themes in public health is the disparities in health observed in different groups, for example related to economic resources and race/ethnicity, which is a focus in this curriculum.
The economies of most developed countries are dominated by services; even traditional manufacturing companies such as General Electric and IBM are adding high-value services to grow their businesses. Improving productivity in services often requires combining technical, social and business innovations. Effective combinations of these innovations often develop naturally together. Cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills relevant to services are becoming necessary for most college graduates.
The minor in Services Science aims to provide these skills by drawing together cross-disciplinary courses to understand services from management, economics, engineering and/or cognitive science perspectives.
The minor in Sociology gives students the ability to understand the complexities of today's society by examining human behavior and social actions. In examining how social structures (such as work, the family, religion, etc.) help shape social rules, processes, and agency, students gain a better understanding of the entirety of today's world — from poverty, to gender, to race, to organizational behavior, to politics. In studying these issues, students learn to use analytical reasoning and apply sociological theories to explain a wide range of social phenomena.
To be able to communicate in a foreign language is a fundamental asset in any profession, from careers in education, translating and interpreting, to those in international studies, health, business or law. A minor in Spanish addresses the needs of students who seek the ability to communicate in more than one language in order to be competitive in their chosen profession. The study of Spanish language and culture is of special importance in the United States, the country with the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. The Spanish minor offers students the linguistic confidence needed for studying in another country and the benefits of being exposed to other cultures.
Writing courses train students in academic discourse and provide them with extensive opportunities for professional development within and across the disciplines. Emphasizing writing as a process, writing minor courses offer challenging curricula that develop students' abilities to research, synthesize, and innovate. Within these courses, students demonstrate individual and collaborative responsibility, applying their studies from other courses. The analytical approaches they practice in writing courses are applicable to any course that they take at the University.
The writing minor enhances students' understanding of the theoretical, interdisciplinary and professional aspects of writing, and helps them develop the vocabulary, syntax, style and voice appropriate to the practice of composition in diverse fields. By using the writing process to strengthen their ideas, students develop strategies for participating in research, policy-making, professional advancement, and creative expression. The writing minor fosters respect for language, for the contributions of peers, and for the value of effective communication.
The minor in writing is open to — and appropriate for — students majoring in any field, and prepares those proceeding on to graduate work for the challenges of advanced academic writing. By representing the student's intensive work in writing, the minor also signals to prospective employers the student's distinguished preparation for the demands of the professional workplace.
Graduate Programs
Atmospheric Aerosols and HealthThe goal of the program is to transform air quality graduate education on these campuses by integrating policy, engineering, and science. This program is open to all UC Davis and UC Merced graduate students who are interested in learning more about air pollution and its links to health, science, and policy. This includes (but is not limited to) students in social sciences and policy, biological and physical sciences, and engineering. Students will receive their graduate degrees through their graduate groups at UC Davis or UC Merced. The contribution of the Atmospheric Aerosols & Health program will be to expose students to the complexity and breadth of air quality problems and research, through coursework and special seminars.
Applied Mathematics involves the use of analytical and computational mathematics to solve real-world problems. Its core is based on modeling, analysis and scientific computing. The Applied Mathematics graduate emphasis offers opportunities for students interested in multidisciplinary mathematics projects at the interface with life sciences, physical sciences, engineering and social sciences. Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees are offered. The coursework provides training in the fundamental tools of applied mathematics, including ordinary and partial differential equations, asymptotic and perturbation methods, numerical analysis and scientific computing. An explicit goal of applied mathematical sciences is to contribute significantly to another discipline. Hence, the objective of applied mathematics is to foster multidisciplinary research and education.
The engineering sciences are undergoing a vast and fundamental metamorphosis from isolated disciplines to more integrative and multidisciplinary topics. Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the synergistic areas of Biological Engineering and Materials Engineering with specializations in diverse themes. Research projects are available on topics ranging from fundamental characterization of materials to tissue engineering, and coursework will provide a background in the tools and integration of modern materials.
Graduate studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers individualized, strongly research-oriented courses of study. The EECS graduate emphasis area is organized to allow students to pursue cutting edge research in modern fields of electrical engineering and computer science, emphasizing research and preparing students for leadership positions in industrial labs, government, or academia. The EECS graduate emphasis area is highly cross-disciplinary with connections to faculty from all three Schools at UC Merced. In particular, strong collaborations with the graduate programs in environmental engineering and cognitive sciences are possible.
The Environmental Systems graduate group engages in individualized, research-based courses of study. This program strives to equip students with the knowledge and skills to improve the scientific understanding of Earth as an integrated system of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Courses are designed to provide the scientific principles underlying the function and sustainability of natural and engineered ecosystems, and the policies affecting them. Participating faculty are affiliated with the Schools of Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.
The Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) graduate emphasis engages in individualized, research-based programs of study. The MEAM faculty members strive to provide students with a comprehensive research experience based on the latest developments of the analytical, numerical and experimental tools available in the field. Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics includes a broad spectrum of research activities that are based on well-defined scientific principles. Judicious application of the fundamentals principles of Mechanics allows specialized Mechanical Engineers and Applied Mechanicists to impact virtually all fields of science and technology. The goal of the MEAM emphasis at UC Merced is to provide its graduate students with a very solid foundation in Mechanical Sciences and a strong and comprehensive exposure to modern research techniques.
Research in the Physics and Chemistry graduate emphasis area spans the traditional disciplines of chemistry and physics and related interdisciplinary fields. Graduate education within the group is currently divided into three tracks — Physics, Physical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry — which have different preliminary exams and course work. Thus, students are educated and must demonstrate proficiency in a particular discipline, but have the opportunity to pursue research that is highly interdisciplinary if they so desire. This approach provides our students with both the rigorous training and the broad perspectives needed to address present-day scientific and technological challenges, most of which are not confined to single disciplines. Most students are admitted to the Physics and Chemistry program to work toward a Ph.D. degree, but applications from students whose goal is a terminal M.S. degree will also be considered.
Advances in techniques and theory that bridge molecular and ecosystems scales, have greatly enabled the potential for integration across the life sciences. Biologists' ability to gather and process large amounts of quantitative data in field and laboratory settings, is advancing hand-in-hand with theory and modeling that better explain the diversity of life on Earth. The Quantitative and Systems Biology graduate emphasis at UC Merced provides individualized, research-based courses of study. Research projects are available on diverse topics including:
- Biomolecular interactions
- Genomics and proteomics
- Cellular interactions and signal transduction
- Organ systems and whole animals (both vertebrate and invertebrate)
- Comparative ecology, evolution, and organismal biology
- Computational biology
The graduate emphasis in Social and Cognitive Sciences offers students individualized training and the opportunity to help build a unique, interdisciplinary research community. Graduate study is currently organized in five tracks:
- Anthropology
- Cognitive science
- Economics
- Political science
- Psychology
The graduate emphasis in World Cultures offers individualized, research-based courses of study that explore cultures in both their local manifestations — by focusing on the rich cultural and historical heritage of California, the San Joaquin Valley, and the Sierra Nevada — and in a global context. The program pays particular attention to world cultures in their historical, political, material, and literary manifestations, and to the effects of immigration and migration on society and cultural change. Students explore and apply the methods by which historians, literary scholars, anthropologists, artists, philosophers, scholars of cultural studies, and other humanists and social scientists examine societies and cultures. The emphasis offers concentrations in History, Literatures and Cultures of the Spanish-speaking World, Literatures and Cultures of the English-speaking World, and World Heritage.
