Fall 2024 UC Merced Undergraduate Guide

Engaging undergraduates in top-level research is a particular hallmark of UC Merced. We are a truly great academic institution — but we are foremost a community of caring individuals whose greatest satisfaction is in lifting one another up and helping students thrive.

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D. Chancellor

UC Merced continues to make history, having been ranked No. 25 in the 2022 Global Top 100 Most Innovative Universities by World Universities with Real Impact (WURI).

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

About UC Merced

Location

Our IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING Merced is a dynamic and friendly community located in the heart of California’s Central Valley. It is the region’s hub for education, culture and business, and it offers abundant shopping, pleasant neighborhoods and tree-lined streets.

Campus diversity *

Our proximity to Yosemite National Park sets us apart and allows us to offer resources that are unique to UC Merced, such as the Yosemite Leadership Program and Yosemite Field Station.

1% Unknown/Decline to State <1% Pacific Islander 4% Two or More Races

4% African-American/ Black <1% American Indian

20% Asian

10% White

52% Hispanic 8% International

Just over 90,000 people

UC Merced is proud of our Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and our Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) eligible status.

Campus enrollment

First-generation status **

262 sunny days per year

9,104 Total Enrollment

67% All Undergraduates

Fast facts

8,344 Undergraduate Students

760 Graduate Students

58% First Year

68% New Transfer

Spotlight

175 + eateries

Edwin CAsillas Men’s Soccer Team

Major: Mechanical Engineering Hometown: Sonora, CA Class Year: 2026 “Being at UC Merced has helped me find the best version of myself.”

*Data from Fall 2022 ** First generation is defined as neither parent having a 4-year college degree. PLEASE NOTE: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

Preparing for At UC Merced, you can gain valuable experience through project-based learning opportunities and internships. These experiences provide our Bobcats with the opportunity to explore career pathways associated with their academic major, develop relevant workplace skills and gain insight into the workplace and company culture. the Future

Quality Academics in a Personal and Engaging Environment If you ask current Bobcats what shapes their UC Merced experience, many will share stories about working closely with a world-class faculty member who became a valued mentor. Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Colleen Naughton’s work focuses on designing healthier and more sustainable food, energy and water systems. Her valuable contributions include her work on COVID-19 pathogen detection in wastewater, earning awards and proving to be indispensable to public health specialists managing the pandemic.

SOFIA ANDOM ALUMNA English major and first-generation college student, Sofia Andom (Class of 2022), played the role of Imogen in Shakespeare in Yosemite’s first feature-length film, “Imogen in the Wild.” She credits the mentoring of English Professor Katie Brokaw with helping cultivate her love for acting. You can view the film at ucm.edu/imogen-film . As a third-year Chemistry major, Nicolas is spending the summer of 2023 in Australia collaborating with students from Harvey Mudd College and participating in an internship with researchers at University of New South Wales. They are working to address the problem of lead in the pipes that carry drinking water. UC Merced Chemistry Professor Aurora Pribram Jones offers undergraduates this paid research opportunity and said “This is really going to be a life-changing experience. I’m really excited to get our phenomenal students involved in this team.” NICOLAS FLEMING CURRENT STUDENT

Recent employers who have hired UCMerced interns: > Amazon > Apple > Blue Diamond > Boeing > California State Assembly > Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco > Genentech > Goldman Sachs > Google

> National Park Service > Netflix > Northrop Grumman > Oracle > Peace Corps > Roche > Teach for America

> Kaiser Permanente > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory > LinkedIn > NASA

> City of Los Angeles > City of San Francisco > E. & J. Gallo Winery

> Vanguard > Workday

Interested in graduate school after you get your UCMerced degree?

Our alumni have attended Cornell University, Harvard University, Pennsylvania State University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Arizona, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Hastings College of the Law, UCLA School of Public Health, UCSF School of Medicine, the USC School of Medicine, and UC Merced, just to name a few!

Careers and Faculty Interaction

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

Living and Learning at Uc Merced

GUARANTEED HOUSING Incoming students who wish to live on campus and apply by the deadline are guaranteed a spot in one of our beautiful new residence halls (two-year guarantee for first year students and one-year for transfer students).

Residence halls at UC Merced are modern, comfortable and convenient.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Joining a club is one way to build a sense of belonging during your tenure at UC Merced. We have 200 clubs, including social, cultural, special-interest, academic, and more, that cater to the diverse hobbies, identities, and interests of our scholars. There is a place for everyone! To see a complete list of registered clubs and organizations (RCO), visit ucmerced.presence.io . FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE (FSL) UC Merced has 2 governing councils, 1 honor society and 20 fraternity and sorority organizations. Fraternity & Sorority Life exists to enhance the collegiate experience through leadership, scholarship, service, and social development . Fraternity & Sorority Life also serves to highlight the positive nature and goals of Greek Life, while building unity through the creation of strong and lasting relationships. Learn more: fraternitysorority.ucmerced.edu .

Living in on-campus housing means living among a diverse group of friendly students. View housing options and take a virtual tour of the residence halls at housing.ucmerced.edu .

Learn about UC Merced’s Living Learning Communities, designed to unite students who have similar interests and educational goals with academic, social and personal resources across the campus community.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES The Campus Activities Board (CAB) makes sure something is always happening: pool parties, spirit days, cultural events, dance crew battles, guest speakers, trips and more. You’ll see excited faces from all over campus at our most popular annual events – Treats ‘N Beats, CABsterical Comedy Jam, Spoken Word Poetry and the Cowchella music festival. equipped fitness facilities; enjoy the tennis courts, basketball courts and aquatics center; participate in and cheer on our 12 NAIA sport teams, explore a variety of intramural sports and sport club programs; or sign up for trips through the Outdoor Experience Program. Fun and adventure await! ATHLETICS AND RECREATION Take advantage of our well-

Driving force for a sustainable future

UC Merced was the first public research university in the country to achieve carbon neutrality. It has also been awarded a Platinum rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements under the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS.) Platinum is the highest rating a higher education institution can receive for its sustainability programs and actions. Currently, only 11 institutions throughout the nation have earned this rating.

Beyond the Classroom / Campus living

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

Calista Lum ‘22 Alumni SPOTLIGHT

Financial Aid

Scholarships &

An Excellent education with an affordable Price Tag

About $ 21,868

84 %

of UC Merced students received financial aid*

is the average annual gift aid offered to eligible UC Merced students

2023-24 Cost of Attendance **

$14,840

California resident tuition and fees

$20,240

Room and board (on campus, average)

$1,214

Books and supplies (estimate)

SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

Recognized as #1 public university in the nation for percentage of students who received need-based

$880

Transportation (on campus, estimate)

$1,926

Personal expenses (on campus, estimate)

scholarship or grant aid U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, 2021

$2,290

Health insurance***

Degree Physics, B.S., Natural Sciences Education minor

For more information on the estimated cost of attendance, visit financialaid.ucmerced.edu/cost-attendance .

Hometown Fairfield, Calif.

Estimate your FINANCIAL AID AWARD with the FINANCIAL AID NET PRICE CALCULATOR finaidcalc.ucmerced.edu

#4 for creating social mobility and #8 for economic diversity of its students U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, 2022

UC Merced is … a place where I have met lifelong friends and have gained the support of a passionate and caring community. It is where I have been able to pursue life- changing opportunities that I don’t think I would have been exposed to anywhere else.

* 2022-23 academic year ** UCTuition remains flat for up to six years under the Tuition Stability Plan. It includes systemwide tuition (the cost of classes for California resident students), and student services fees for areas such as student government, student public transportation, and building improvements.These fees are set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year. Nonresidents will pay an additional $32,574 in tuition. Please note: 2024-25 tuition is not yet available. *** The campus medical health insurance charge will be waived for students who provide proof of insurance.

Calista, seen here wearing an official flight suit, was presented with the opportunity to intern at NASA through her work in the Merced nAnomaterials Center for Energy and Sensing (MACES), a research center at UC Merced that is supported by a grant from NASA.

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

Requirements

Admission

Apply for admission to UC Merced at admissions.ucmerced.edu/apply

Submit your admission application for the fall semester Oct. 1-Nov. 30

Apply for admission to the spring semester July1-31

Transfer

First Year (Freshmen) » High school diploma or equivalent

Minimum Junior-Level Requirements » Complete at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of UC-transferable credit » Earn at least a 2.4 GPA in UC-transferable courses (nonresident: 2.8)** » Take no more than 14 semester (21 quarter) units as Pass/Not Pass » Complete the 7-course pattern by the end of the spring term prior to fall enrollment » Complete the courses required for your major Minimum Lower-Division Requirements » Enrollment at a college or university after high school graduation and fewer than 60 semester (90 quarter) UC-transferable units completed prior to enrollment at UC Merced » Meet requirements for the University of California upon high school graduation (required GPA and all “a-g” courses) » Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all UC-transferable coursework (nonresident: 2.8)** » Complete the courses required for your major

» Students must earn a 3.0 minimum GPA (3.4 for non-residents) in all “a-g” courses. Only the grades earned in “a-g” subjects in the tenth and eleventh grades—including summer sessions— are used to calculate the UC GPA. Aminimum of 15 yearlong high school courses (“a-g”): a. History/social science – 2 years required b. English – 4 years required c. Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 years recommended d. Science – 2 years required, 3 years recommended e. Language other than English – 2 years required, 3 years recommended

f. Visual and performing arts – 1 year required g. College-preparatory elective – 1 year required

For more information on requirements, visit admissions.ucmerced.edu/first-year/requirements .

Admission Requirements / How to Apply

Early Transfer Opportunity Want to get a head start on your college career? The University of California, Merced is inviting transfer students to join our Bobcat family earlier in their education. Learn more: admissions.ucmerced.edu/early-transfer-opportunity

2022 Admission Statistics *

For more information on admission and major requirements, visit admissions.ucmerced.edu/transfer/requirements .

3.26 – 3.95 GPA

First Year

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

* Ranges represent the 25 th to 75 th percentile of admitted students. ** Some majors require a higher GPA for admission selection.

Programs

Academic

» Anthropology, B.A. » Applied Mathematical Sciences, B.S. * Emphases:  Computational and Data Sciences  Computational Biology  Computer Science  Economics  Engineering  Environmental  Physics » Bioengineering, B.S. * Emphases:  Biomedical Imaging and Bioinstrumentation  Biotechnology » 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 » Chemical Engineering, B.S. * ‡ Optional Emphases:  Materials Science and Engineering  Nanotechnology » Computer Science and Engineering, B.S. » Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A. » Data Science and Analytics, B.A. ∆ » Data Science and Computing, B.S. * ◊ Emphases:  Applied Mathematics  Biology  Chemistry  Environmental Systems  Materials Science and Engineering  Physics » Economics, B.A. » Economics, B.S. ** Emphases:  Economic Analysis and Policy  Quantitative Economics » Electrical Engineering, B.S. † » Environmental Engineering, B.S. » Environmental Humanities, B.A. ◊ » Civil Engineering, B.S. » Cognitive Science, B.A. » Cognitive Science, B.S.

» Environmental Systems Science, B.S. * Emphases:  Earth and Climate Science  Ecosystem Science » Global Arts Studies Program, B.A. Optional Emphases:  Performance Studies  Visual Studies » History, B.A. » Literatures in English, B.A. Optional Emphases: » Management and Business Economics, B.S. » Materials Science and Engineering, B.S. Optional Emphasis: Nanotechnology » Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Optional Emphasis: Aerospace Engineering » Philosophy, B.A. » Physics, B.S. ** Emphases:  Astrophysics  Biophysics and Soft Matter  Literature and Social Justice  Literature and the Environment

(NEW)

(NEW)

 Computation and Data Science  Engineering and Applied Physics  Mathematical and Computational Physics  Physics  Quantum Science and Technology

(NEW)

» Political Science, B.A. Emphases:  American Politics ‡

(NEW)

 Comparative Politics ‡  International Relations ‡  Law and Policy ‡

» Psychology, B.A. » Public Health, B.A. » Public Health, B.S. ◊ Optional Emphasis: Pre-Medical » Sociology, B.A. Optional Emphases:  Community Studies ‡

(NEW) (NEW)

(NEW)

(NEW)

 Health, Medicine, and Society ‡  Justice, Law and Society ‡  Race and Racial Justice ‡

» Spanish, B.A. » Writing Studies, B.A.

(NEW)

* Junior-level transfer students must choose an emphasis when applying; first year students must select an emphasis to complete the degree/graduate. ** All applicants must choose an emphasis ‡ Open to first year/freshmen in Fall 2024; available to transfer students in Fall 2025 ∆ Open to first year/freshmen in Fall 2024; available to sophomore-level transfer students in Fall 2025 and junior-level transfer students in Fall 2026 ◊ Open to first year/freshmen in Fall 2024; available to transfer students in Fall 2026 † Open to first year/freshmen only; available to transfer students in Fall 2025

(NEW)

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2024-25 Admissions Guide

UC MERCED ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. CHECK ADMISSIONS.UCMERCED.EDU FOR OPEN MAJORS.

Medical Education » Interested in a career in health? See the exciting opportunities to shadow health care professionals, receive MCAT preparation, get Pre-Health Advising and learn about our BS toMD Pathway by visiting our Medical Education website: meded.ucmerced.edu .

UCMerced’s three schools—the School of Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, and School of Social Sciences, Humanities andArts—offer interdisciplinary programs, resources and laboratories that enrich students’ educational experiences. Undergraduate students in each school can conduct research andwork on creative projects under the mentorship of innovative andworld-class professors.

Engineering engineering.ucmerced.edu

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM Teacher Education

Natural Sciences naturalsciences.ucmerced.edu

» Complete your UC Merced degree in any major and earn your K12 teaching credential in one year through UC Merced Extension. If you choose the Natural Sciences

Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts ssha.ucmerced.edu

Education minor, you can earn your teaching credential in less than one year. Learn more at: teacherprep.ucmerced.edu .

Wondering which minors we offer? Scan the QR code to view our minors, find out more about our majors and try out our career finder tool. ucmerced.edu/academics-undergraduate-majors-minors

UNSURE OF YOURMAJOR?

As a first year (freshman) student, you can apply as undeclared and we’ll support you in finding the program that is the best fit for you.

Spotlight

Paige Stapleton ‘20

Degree: Political Science, B.A. Hometown: Merced, CA

Paige transferred fromMerced College and got involved in the UCDC program, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Small Business Development Center while at UC Merced. She completed her Juris Doctorate degree at the Santa Clara University School of Law last May (Tech Edge J.D. program) and joined the PlayStation team in Summer 2022.