Academic Programs
At a glance
Academic Programs
At a glance
Academic Programs
At a glance
At the University of California, Merced, you’ll benefit from interdisciplinary programs and opportunities to work with faculty early in your academic career on research or creative projects. With a small student to faculty ratio, you will get to know your professors and they will be there to guide you throughout your journey. Whatever major you choose, UC Merced will help you discover your passions as you chart the path to your future.
enjoy small classes
21:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
60%
of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students
57%
of students say they've had a class in which a professor knew their name
#1 in the uc system for percentage of students who go on to receive a master's degree, #2 (tied) for Ph.d.
#1 in the uc system for percentage of students who go on to receive a master's degree, #2 (tied) for Ph.d.
explore our academic programs
school of engineering
- Bioengineering, B.S.
- Civil Engineering, B.S. (NEW - available to first year students in Fall 2021 and transfer students in Fall 2023)
- Computer Science and Engineering, B.S.
- Environmental Engineering, B.S.
- Materials Science and Engineering, B.S
Optional emphasis: - Nanotechnology
- Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
school of natural sciences
- Applied Mathematical Sciences, B.S.* Emphases: - Computational and Data Sciences - Computational Biology - Computer Science - Economics - Engineering - Environmental Systems Science - Physics
- Biological Sciences, B.S.* Emphases: - Developmental Biology - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - Human Biology - Microbiology and Immunology - Molecular and Cell Biology
- Chemistry, B.S.* Emphases: - Biological Chemistry - Chemistry - Materials Chemistry
- Environmental Systems Science, B.S.
- Physics, B.S.* Emphases: - Atomic/Molecular/Optical/Condensed Matter (AMO/CM) - Biophysics - Mathematical Physics - Physics
* Junior-level transfer students must choose an emphasis.
school of social sciences, humanities and arts
- Anthropology, B.A.
- Cognitive Science, B.A., B.S.
- Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A.
- Economics, B.A.
- Economics, B.S.* (NEW - available to first year students in Fall 2021 and transfer students in Fall 2022) Emphases: - Economic Analysis and Policy - Quantitative Economics
- English, B.A.
- Global Arts Studies Program, B.A. Optional Emphases (NEW): - Performance Studies - Visual Studies
- History, B.A.
- Management and Business Economics, B.S.
- Philosophy, B.A.
- Political Science, B.A.
- Psychology, B.A.
- Public Health, B.A.
- Sociology, B.A.
- Spanish, B.A.
* All applicants must choose an emphasis
First year students (freshmen) can choose to apply as Undeclared within any of the three academic schools: Engineering; Natural Sciences or Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.
undergraduate education
- Undeclared
Learn more about our majors and minors at
Learn more about our majors and minors at
“Best 386 Colleges,”
for 2 consecutive years
- The Princeton Review
“Best 386 Colleges,” for 2 consecutive years
- The Princeton Review
