Social Sciences

UC Merced Aerial Picture
Spotlighting Black Trailblazers Whose Stories Deserve to be Told
February 12, 2026
Black History Month often honors familiar names, leaders whose courage and determination changed the course of a nation. But many others have made groundbreaking contributions that exposed injustice, advanced civil rights, reshaped... Read More
Merced Trio to Share Knowledge, Visions as UC Merced Artists-in-Residence
February 5, 2026
Three Merced painters, united in friendship and in their steadfast determination not to compromise their creative values, are serving as UC Merced’s first locally based artists-in-residence. The brushes of Ruben Aguilera Sanchez, Frank... Read More
UC Merced Scientists Among Global Elite Shaping AI, Climate and Health
January 26, 2026
UC Merced continues to demonstrate its growing influence on the global stage. Several faculty members landed on Clarivate’s 2025 list of the world’s most‑cited researchers. The honor is reserved for the top 1% of scholars whose work has... Read More
Conference of California Sociologists Engages UC Merced Undergrads
December 3, 2025
More than a dozen undergraduate students in UC Merced’s Sociology Club were immersed in the discipline’s breadth of research and professional possibilities during the California Sociological Association’s annual conference. The two-day... Read More
Younger, Latino and Moderate California Republicans Diverge from Party Line on Immigration Policies
November 24, 2025
While California Democrats are nearly unified in their views on current immigration enforcement strategies, Latino Republicans and party moderates, especially women, are most likely to diverge from the GOP majority, according to a study co... Read More
A Husband’s Self-esteem Could Protect Against Preterm Births, Study Finds
November 20, 2025
A husband’s optimism and confidence might play a crucial, if often unseen, role in helping babies arrive healthy and on time. A new study from UC Merced psychology researchers found that when married fathers reported higher levels of... Read More
People Don’t Worry About Losing Jobs to AI, Even When Told It Could Happen Soon
November 18, 2025
As debates rage about artificial intelligence's impact on jobs, new research suggests that even warnings that AI could disrupt workers' employment soon do little to shake their confidence. In a survey-based study, political scientists Anil... Read More
First-generation Students Shine at UC Merced. This Week Celebrates Them
November 3, 2025
More than six in 10 UC Merced undergraduates are the first in their families to attend a university. The national average for four-year universities is about two in 10. Opening doors to opportunity for first-generation students is infused... Read More
Three-year Grant Lifts Joy Provided by UC Merced Children’s Opera
October 20, 2025
UC Merced Children’s Opera, a performance that delights and enlightens thousands of schoolchildren a year while giving Bobcat students experience in theater, has received support from a generous grant from the Central Valley Opportunity... Read More
UC Merced Celebrates 15 Years as a Hispanic-serving Institution
October 8, 2025
Fifteen years ago, UC Merced was designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. And though recent developments at the federal government have left what that designation means in limbo, the mission of serving the university’s largest... Read More