Bioengineering, B.S.

Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the techniques, materials, devices and resourcefulness of engineers are used to address problems in biology and healthcare. Lessons from biology are used to inspire design and inform progress in engineering.

This synergy between biology and engineering has led to implantable materials, diagnostic devices, sensors, and molecular characterization techniques, and has produced tools that greatly expedited the sequencing of the human genome. The Bioengineering major at UC Merced will evolve along several pathways including nanobioengineering, biomaterials engineering and bioelectronic engineering.

Emphasis: Nanobioengineering

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Computer Science and Engineering, B.S.

The Computer Science and Engineering program at UC Merced is designed to provide students with both 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, healthcare, scientific research, education at all levels, and public, private and governmental services.

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Environmental Engineering, B.S.

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.

Emphases: Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Hydrology, Air Pollution, Hydrology

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Materials Sciences and Engineering, B.S. (transfer students will be accepted for Fall 2008)

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.

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Mechanical Engineering, B.S.

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.

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Applied Mathematical Sciences, B.S. (transfer students will be accepted for Fall 2008)

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.

Emphases: Economics, Computational Biology, Physics. Students may design their own emphasis tracks with faculty approval.

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Biological Sciences, B.S.

The undergraduate major in Biological Sciences 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.

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Chemical Sciences, B.S. (transfer students will be accepted for Fall 2008)

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 program is designed to meet the requirements for American Chemical Society certification while providing the flexibility to pursue increasingly important interdisciplinary areas.

Emphases: Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry

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Earth Systems Science, B.S.

The undergraduate major in Earth Systems Science 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 program 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 program is its flexibility – students can select upper division classes in areas that reflect their individual interests within Earth Systems Science.

Emphases: Atmospheric Sciences; Ecosystem Sciences; Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry; Hydrologic and Climate Sciences.

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Physics, B.S. (transfer students will be accepted for Fall 2008)

Physics is the study of nature at its most fundamental. Its domain of exploration stretches from the tiniest pieces of matter and energy Ð molecules, atoms, photons, and subatomic particles -- up to the entire universe.

The physics program at UC Merced educates students in the fundamental physical properties of the natural world and how these properties are manifest in a wide array of phenomena.

Physics students learn how to reduce complex problems to essential core issues. By its very nature, the study of physics emphasizes quantitative and analytical reasoning, which provides a strong foundation for a host of technical careers.

Emphases: Atomic/molecular/optical (AMO) Physics, Mathematical Physics, Biophysics, Earth/environmental Physics.

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Cognitive Science, B.S., B.A.

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of thinking. The Cognitive Science major at UC Merced 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. 

The BS and the BA prepare students for a wide range of careers, including positions in high tech companies and medical settings. It also provides 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. 

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Economics, B.A.

Economics is often called the study of how to allocate scarce resources. That's the subject of economics. Perhaps more important is that economics is a way of thinking. 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 economic way of thinking and analyzing can be applied to a remarkable range of problems in many different fields: 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. Graduates with bachelor’s degrees in economics are sought by financial institutions, consulting firms, government agencies, law and business schools and business firms of all kinds and sizes. This is reflected in the salaries that economics graduates command – and not only at the beginning of their careers, but also in growth of income throughout their careers. 

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History, B.A.

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. History majors at UC Merced will choose a field of concentration in either United States history or world history.

They will apply their classroom learning to research problems outside the classroom, where they can contribute to expanding public knowledge and awareness of cultural issues. The history major will train 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.

Current Merced faculty members’ areas of expertise include archives and museums, the study of global conflict and diplomacy, American history, world history, political geography, and the digital mapping of historical and cultural phenomena.

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Literatures and Cultures, B.A.

“You will come here and get books that will open your eyes, and your ears, and your curiosity, and turn you inside out or outside in.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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.

UC Merced‘s Literatures and Cultures major is truly global and interdisciplinary. The major is divided into two concentrations: Literatures of the English-Speaking World and Literatures of the Spanish-Speaking World, which makes UC Merced’s literature program rather unique.

Courses in each emphasis will overlap with those in the other, and they will 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 will 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.

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Management, B.S.

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.

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Political Science, B.A.

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.

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Psychology, B.A.

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.

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