The hallmarks of UC Merced’s School of Engineering are innovation, diversity, sustainability and personal interaction. World-class faculty, staff and students collaborate to delve into such innovative topics as gauging the impacts of climate change on water resources, researching multi-robot systems for urban search and rescue, and understanding individual stem cell behavior and how it affects tissue regeneration. The School of Engineering champions the advancement of women in STEM fields, and you will find a driven community of female engineers at UC Merced. 27% of our ladder-ranked engineering faculty members are women, well above the national average of 17%, according to the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Majors
- Bioengineering, B.S.
- Civil Engineering, B.S. NEW (available to 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.
- Undeclared School of Engineering
New program
civil engineering
We are excited to be welcoming our first Civil Engineering majors this fall! Civil engineering involves the planning, design, construction, and operation of the infrastructure systems and services that support modern civilization; it is the world's oldest engineering profession and a keystone of our society. The undergraduate major in Civil Engineering prepares students for careers in both private and public organizations concerned with managing air quality, water quality and supply, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, infrastructure, energy systems, public health, and the long-term social, economic, and environmental welfare of our society. The program is also a good foundation for further study in engineering, earth science, business, management, law, policy, planning, and public health.
FACULTY PROFILE
Christopher Viney, Professor
Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Professor Christopher Viney is one of the founding faculty members of UC Merced and its School of Engineering, and is the chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His interdisciplinary research interests include biomolecular materials (using nature to inspire innovation in materials science); the relationship between the molecular structure and physical behavior of novel polymers (including studies of how light can be used to change the shape of a material); and fundamental research on the crystallization of materials, which can be applied to processes in the pharmaceutical industry. This work has led Viney in some unexpected directions – for example, an off-the-grid adventure with a National Geographic TV crew in Zambia and attempting to collect sweat samples from hippos. Viney is a fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and ASM International. He is deeply committed to interdisciplinary and general education, as well as to science outreach. His less formal interests include professional-level photography, the history and design of musical instruments, and extremely spicy cuisine.
FACULTY PROFILE
Christopher Viney, Professor
Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Professor Christopher Viney is one of the founding faculty members of UC Merced and its School of Engineering, and is the chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His interdisciplinary research interests include biomolecular materials (using nature to inspire innovation in materials science); the relationship between the molecular structure and physical behavior of novel polymers (including studies of how light can be used to change the shape of a material); and fundamental research on the crystallization of materials, which can be applied to processes in the pharmaceutical industry. This work has led Viney in some unexpected directions – for example, an off-the-grid adventure with a National Geographic TV crew in Zambia and attempting to collect sweat samples from hippos. Viney is a fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and ASM International. He is deeply committed to interdisciplinary and general education, as well as to science outreach. His less formal interests include professional-level photography, the history and design of musical instruments, and extremely spicy cuisine.
PAST INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- BART
- Blue Diamond Growers
- Boeing
- City of Merced
- Cummins
- Del Monte
- E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Hilmar Cheese
- IBM
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Merced Irrigation District
- Olam
- PG&E
- NBC Universal Media
- Northrop Grumman
- Lockheed Martin
- NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Scholle
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
- Topcon Positioning Systems
- United States Cold Storage
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Verizon
- Webcor Builders
- Workday
- Yosemite National Park
STUDENT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Association for Computing Machinery
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- Drone Research Society
- Electrical Engineers at UC Merced
- Engineers for a Sustainable World
- HackMerced
- Materials Research Society
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Robotics Society
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Society of Women Engineers
- Solar Energy Association
- Theta Tau
Special Programs
Innovate to Grow (I2G) is a unique “experiential learning” program that engages external partner organizations with teams of students who design systems to solve complex, real-world problems.
Innovation Design Clinic
Teams of graduating seniors and organizations collaborate, discover solutions to common problems, create and streamline networking, and increase both radical and incremental innovation.
Engineering Service Learning
Teams of students work on real-world projects for nonprofit community partners. Past teams have used drones to detect illness in crops and made students in Merced County excited about the sciences.
Software Capstone
Software Capstone (formerly known as Mobile App Challenge) encourages UC Merced students to develop innovative software applications for today’s industry and societal needs.
School Of engineering Information Session
This session provides students and families with information on the School of Engineering majors, research opportunities, and support services. The Dean and current engineering students share their experiences and how those opportunities can help shape your academic journey at UC Merced.
