University of California, Merced - Major

School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Website

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ETHICS DEGREE?

A major in Science, Technology, and Ethics is an excellent stepping stone to a wide range of different careers, depending on which STEM field students engage with. Potential career paths that may not require a graduate degree include science policy, public health communication, research ethics administration, user experience (UX) research, and AI ethics. Potential career paths that would likely require a graduate degree include environmental or technology law and clinical bioethics.

Upon graduation, you might become:

Communications Specialist
Project Manager
Public Relations Manager
Information Technology Analyst
Management Analyst
Human Resources Specialist
Project Management Specialist
Compliance Officer
Intellectual Property Lawyer*
Social Science Researcher*

*these occupations typically require additional education/training

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $101,236
563 job openings/year
7.2% projected growth in 2022-2032

Neuroscience, B.S., B.A.

bwright3 — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:32:40 +0000

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system of humans and animals from an anatomical, molecular, and functional perspective. From an anatomical perspective, neuroscientists study the structure of neurons, synapsis, enzymes, and molecules involved in neural signal transmission, as well as the structure of the brain and sensory and cognitive systems (visual, auditory, motor, memory, and attention). From a molecular and functional perspective, neuroscientists study how biochemical and enzymatic reactions facilitate neural inhibitions and excitations within and across neuro-muscular structures and in turn how these processes mediate processing of environmental stimuli, regulate organ functions, and maintain body homeostasis. Moreover, the study of modern neuroscience includes a macro examination of how neural signaling across the entire nervous system manifests in behavior and disease, typically studied in the fields of Psychology, Health, and Cognitive science. Such macro topics include how brain encoding of environmental, linguistic, and musical stimuli, emotions, memory, artistic talent, and languages facilitate learning and development and how social interactions influence mental and physical health.

UC MERCED NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM

The Neuroscience major offering takes all aspects of the study of neuroscience. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience option offers a comprehensive scientific learning experience, not only in molecular and cell neurobiology, psychology, cognitive sciences, and biomedical engineering but also the subject matters that biological systems are based on, such as chemistry, physics and mathematics. The B.S. option offers three emphases to suit students’ career plans. These emphases are: 1) Molecular, Systems and Cellular, 2) Computational, Perceptual, and Cognitive 3) Neuroscience of Human Health and Development.
Alternatively, ��쿪�� offers a Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Neuroscience option, which is similar to the B.S. option but with less emphasis on physics and mathematics. Finally, ��쿪�� also offers a Minor in Neuroscience (20-21 units), which has 2 required courses and 3 electives.

School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Website

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A NEUROSCIENCE DEGREE?

Graduates of the Neuroscience program will develop skills that go beyond a neuroscience focus, including critical thinking, communicating ideas effectively, and analyzing problems effectively. Graduates of the Neuroscience program will be well prepared to go on to graduate school in disciplines related to Neuroscience, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Health, including nursing and medicine. Moreover, neuroscience graduates will be well prepared for high school teaching careers, and careers as researchers in health and pharmaceutical settings. Finally, neuroscience graduates are highly sought after in industry, especially in companies that utilize data science to study social trends and social biases.

Upon graduation, you might become:

Natural Sciences Manager
Clinical Research Coordinator
Research Associate
Project Manager
Medical Scientist*
Biological Scientist*
Physician*
Biological Technician
Data Analyst
Clinical Laboratory Technologist

*these occupations typically require additional education/training

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $97,013
4,171 job openings/year
8.3% projected growth in 2022-2032

Communication and Media, B.A.

bwright3 — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:29:40 +0000

The BA in Communication and Media at ��쿪�� brings together research and practices of the social sciences and humanities in a broadly interdisciplinary approach to the study of human communication in diverse media. In addition to the field of communication, our faculty conduct research in many fields, including media and cultural studies, film studies, performance studies, visual studies, sound studies, gender studies, rhetoric, writing studies, cognitive science, and linguistics. We draw on these fields to illuminate processes of human communication and how these manifest socially, materially, and politically in scholarship that is historical, transnational, and committed to community engagement and social justice.

UC MERCED COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA PROGRAM

Our program offers students the tools available to analyze, investigate, and produce effective communication in a wide variety of media for diverse audiences and perspectives. This training prepares students to pursue positions in many occupations and graduate programs, including media production, journalism, health communication, industrial and labor relations, public information, opinion research, legislative staff positions, mediation and negotiation, legal research, business management, and other professions in which effective communication is essential. In addition to a B.A. in Communication and Media, we also offer emphasis tracks in Media Production, and Linguistics that provide more specialized background in particular areas of inquiry.

School of Natural Sciences Website

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA DEGREE?

Upon graduation, you might become:

Advertising Manager
Content Creator
Journalist
Marketing Manager
Market Research Analyst
Sales Manager
Project Manager
Fundraiser
Public Relations Specialist
Editor
Artistic Director
Multimedia Artist or Animator

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $95,306
35,872 job openings/year
7.2% projected growth in 2022-2032

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, B.S.

bwright3 — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:20:47 +0000

In an era marked by global ecological challenges and rapid biodiversity loss, the study of Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB) has never been more critical and compelling. The 21st Century is witnessing an urgent need for individuals equipped to navigate and mitigate the complexities of environmental crises. The undergraduate majors in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of California, Merced, which include both B.S. degrees in General and Pre-Health tracks, instruct students in the intricate relationships within natural ecosystems, evolutionary processes, and conservation strategies vital for preserving our planet's biological wealth.

UC MERCED ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY PROGRAM

The Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB) program at ��쿪�� teaches these ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology as interconnected and dynamic fields of study, emphasizing data-driven ecological analysis, hypothesis testing in evolutionary biology, and practical conservation strategies. The curriculum is underpinned by foundational concepts from various disciplines including Biology, Data Science, and Environmental Sciences. Students opting for the EECB B.S. will gain deep insight into areas such as organismal ecology, the processes giving rise to the Tree of Life, and cutting-edge conservation practices. The EECB B.S. offers two emphasis tracks: the General track, where students have flexibility to tailor their studies to their unique interests and career aspirations, and the Pre-Health track, which provides students with expertise in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, while simultaneously fulfilling the Medical Education Core Coursework, opening the door to medical school and other health fields.

School of Natural Sciences Website

Natural Sciences

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH AN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY DEGREE?

The EECB General track offers a comprehensive exploration of ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, allowing students to enrich themselves in the program's core tenets while tailoring their studies to their individual interests. This track is designed to be flexible and broad, ensuring that students gain a strong foundation in the key disciplines while also having the opportunity to specialize in areas such as organismal ecology, conservation practices, and evolutionary biology. Graduates from the General track are prepared to enter a diverse range of fields including wildlife biology, conservation policy, biological research, and education.

Students in the EECB Pre-Health track integrates the Medical Education Core Coursework, preparing students for medical school applications and other health-related postgraduate pursuits. Students will find that their unique background equips them to approach health sciences with a nuanced understanding of the interplay between ecological systems and health outcomes. Their grounding in ecology and evolutionary biology will enable them to specialize in areas such as public health, epidemiology, and infectious diseases, using insights into population dynamics and evolutionary pressures to devise comprehensive approaches to disease transmission, outbreaks, and the impacts of environmental changes on health.

Upon graduation you might become:

Biologist
Bioinformatics Scientist*
Disease Epidemiologist*
Medical or Health Science Professional*
Environmental Educator or Outreach Coordinator
Conservation Scientist
Policy Advisor or Environmental Lobbyist
Environmental Scientist/Specialist
Restoration Ecologist
Ecotoxicologist
Forester
Sustainability Specialist
Environmental Health and Safety Specialist*
Zoologist
Agricultural and Food Scientist
Science Communicator or Journalist
Marine Biologist
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist
Postsecondary Biological Science Teacher*
Environmental Consultant

*these occupations typically require additional education/training

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $96,021
288 job openings/year*
6.2% projected growth in 2022-2032

Biochemistry, B.S.

bwright3 — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:15:04 +0000

The pioneering geneticist Craig Venter famously stated in 2004, “If the 20th century was the century of physics, the 21st century will be the century of biology.” The wealth of genomic data that has become available in recent decades, along with parallel development of methods in biochemistry and molecular biology, has offered new opportunities for solving some of humanity's most pressing challenges, including issues related to human and environmental health. Furthermore, biochemistry is foundational to the practice of modern medicine.

Our growing knowledge of how life operates at the biochemical level has already ushered in remarkable advances in technology, including new chemical and biologic drugs, vaccines, cancer immunotherapies, sustainable catalysts and chemical synthesis approaches, genetically modified crops, and engineered biomaterials. A degree in Biochemistry opens the door to a wide variety of careers in fields where the ability to leverage the exponential growth of available biological data and to extract meaningful biochemical insights from this vast sea of information is critical, such as in medical research, biotechnology, and environmental health.

UC MERCED BIOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

Students majoring in Biochemistry at ��쿪�� will pursue a highly interdisciplinary understanding of biology at the scale of atoms to molecules with a level of depth and rigor that is not provided by programs in either Chemical or Biological Science majors. The program develops students' fundamental knowledge of biochemical principles, and provides training in cutting edge experimental techniques, data analysis and computational methods, and effective scientific communication.

School of Engineering Website

Natural Sciences

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A BIOCHEMISTRY DEGREE?

Upon graduation, you might become:

Biochemist*
Biophysicist*
Chemist
Medical Scientist*
Post Secondary Chemistry Teacher*
Natural Sciences Manager
Microbiologist
Biological Technician
Medical Technologist
Clinical Research Coordinator

*these occupations typically require additional education/training

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $106,903
3,328 job openings/year
10.5% projected growth in 2022-2032

Management of Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology (MIST), B.A.

bwright3 — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:08:02 +0000

The undergraduate major in Management of Innovation, Sustainability and Technology (MIST) combines fundamental coursework in leadership, communications, organizations, entrepreneurship, finance, policy, data analytics, technology management, and sustainable innovation. The resulting multi-dimensional skillset integrates core management skills with a broad understanding of how to develop innovative, sustainable and equitable solutions by way of teamwork and technology. It also enables students to understand where and why entrepreneurial opportunities exist, what constraints define them, how to identify marketable solutions, and how to develop an action plan grounded in the Triple Bottom Line principles that prioritize people and planet, in addition to the traditional bottom line of value generation for financial profit only.

UC MERCED MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

The program develops fundamentals skills of management with emphasis on the integrated roles of innovation, sustainability, and technology. Students will learn how modern-day problems – from climate change across global environmental systems, to other challenges associated with designing and managing social, food, and energy systems – require combining complementary understandings that combine into a wholistic perspective for developing potent solutions.

In particular, students will develop a systems thinking mindset for understanding where and why global crises emerge; an entrepreneurial technology management mindset for understanding how to design cutting-edge, scalable and equitable solutions that can generate value for stakeholders and society; and a digital mindset for harnessing the modern data analytics paradigm that is critical to decision-support, effective communication and inspiring action.

This combination of management and entrepreneurship fundamentals paired with applied skills in data analysis, operations, planning, communication and leadership will equip MIST graduates with a valuable array of skills for pursuing a wide range of careers in profit and not-for-profit organizations and public and private enterprises.

School of Engineering Website

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY DEGREE?

Upon graduation, you might become:

Chief Executive
Project Manager
Architectural or Engineering Manager
Financial Analyst
Plant Manager
Sustainability Manager/Analyst
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Health and Safety Manager/Analyst
Conservation Scientist
Project Management and Business Operations Specialist

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates*

2022 Median Pay in California: $90,916
673 job openings/year
6.2% projected growth in 2022-2032

*combined data from science and technology management programs and sustainability studies programs

Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering, B.S.

bwright3 — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 19:37:16 +0000

Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineers apply chemical engineering principles and knowledge in molecular and cell biology and biochemistry to design, develop, and operate processes, products, and devices involving biological systems. Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineers produce biologically derived products, industrial and consumer chemicals of application in food processing and conservation, agriculture, health and the environment.

��쿪�� Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Program

The Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering major at ��쿪�� provides students with a solid foundation in biological sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, and biochemical and biomolecular process engineering.
The program educates students in critical thinking and engineering design, communication effectiveness, in the benefits of collaborative and cooperative work, and provides strong ethical and professional considerations with the goal of preparing students for careers in industry, academia, and government.

What Can You Do With a Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Degree?

B.S. graduates in Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering pursue careers in pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology industries, launch their own startups, and continue their studies in different fields such as medicine or other engineering disciplines.

Career Opportunities:

Process Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Bioengineer
Biomedical Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Chemical Engineer
Quality Engineer
Food Scientist or Technologist
Engineering Technician
Environmental Regulatory Specialist

Employment Outlook for Program Graduates

2022 Median Pay in California: $112,175
450 job openings/year*
7.2% projected growth in 2022-2032

*Estimated from Job Postings in 2022-2024

Chemical Engineering, B.S.

Steven Powers — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:35:36 +0000

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The undergraduate major in chemical engineering provides students with a solid foundation and the necessary skills to assume leadership roles in industry and government agencies. Chemical engineers are recruited for the design, synthesis and processing of chemicals and materials in a variety of industries including industrial chemicals and petroleum, environmental engineering, electronics, agriculture, tissue engineering, biomaterials engineering, food and beverage processing, semiconductor manufacturing, and power generation. Chemical engineering positively impacts society by providing efficient processes for making a range of products including cleaning air and water, nanotechnology, plastics, food, beverages, alternative fuels and recycled products. Because of the variety of fields that are relevant to this profession, the undergraduate program covers a broad range of subjects, including chemistry, physics, materials and thermal/mass/fluids/heat transfer, as well as computer-aided engineering, design, scale-up and manufacturing.

UC MERCED CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

The innovative curriculum at ��쿪�� provides a rich educational experience that exposes students to engineering fundamentals, laboratory skills, unit operations and advanced computational tools to solve realistic engineering problems.

The program prepares students to pursue graduate studies in a variety of majors by focusing on exciting topics that not only include chemical production and processing, but also materials, nanotechnology, semiconductor fabrication, and environmental engineering. Students also get a culminating laboratory and design experience.

The program both offers the chemical engineering program as well as two optional emphasis tracks: nanoscience and engineering or materials science and engineering. Semiconductor and computational tracks are also planned. Students can also choose chemical engineering with a materials science and engineering minor, or choose a dual bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering.

School of Engineering

More Information About the Major and Minor School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

What Can You Do With A Chemical Engineering Degree?

Annual Job Openings in CA: 7,663
10-year projected job market growth:15.7%
Median wage in California: $115,556

Upon graduation, you might become:

Chemical Engineer
Process Control Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Chemical Plant and System Operator
Chemical Technician
Semiconductor Processing Technician
Food and Drug Research Scientist
Petroleum Engineer
Production Engineer
Nanosystems Engineer

Environmental Humanities, B.A.

Steven Powers — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:33:57 +0000

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES

We are in the midst of a global environmental crisis. Scientists and academics from various disciplines have been researching our current environmental problems and coming up with solutions for decades, and yet little progress seems to be made. Why is this? This is a complicated question, but an important part of the answer is that environmental research often doesn’t get effectively “translated” into understandable, moving messages for the wider public. We need better environmental communicators — people capable of turning important research into relatable and, inspirational content that will lead to actual change in the real world.

The ��쿪�� Environmental Humanities (EH) major and minor lay the foundation for becoming an environmental communicator. The “toolkit” you’ll develop in this program — including storytelling, creativity, critical thinking, and audience sensitivity — are applicable to producing inspiring and engaging content about society's most pressing environmental and social justice issues. After hearing from experts in the field, you’ll complete projects ranging from podcasts to comics to plays. Use skills you’ll hone in this program are not only necessary for creating a better world but are also rare and valuable abilities that employers today are looking for.

UC MERCED ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES PROGRAM

The Environmental Humanities major and minor at ��쿪�� is the first of its kind in the University of California system. This program, centered on the study and analysis of literary, artistic, and creative works about environmental topics drawn from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, has a strong base in literature — where the term “literature” is taken to mean any cultural production that can be “read.” The program includes reading and understanding environmental research as well as creative environmental works. Special attention is paid to environmental justice, Indigenous ways of knowing, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Black ecology, BIPOC perspectives, and postcolonial and decolonizing frameworks.

The Environmental Humanities program responds to an urgent need to create clear and inspiring environmental communications. Graduates of this career-oriented program will be professionals who understand environmental science and environmental injustice and can tell compelling stories about the research and data that urges action.

Major Minor

What Can You Do With An Environmental Humanities Degree?

Annual Job Openings in CA: 10,769
10-year projected job market growth:17.9%
Median wage in California: $91,983

Upon graduation, you might become:

Project Management Specialist
Environmental Consultant
Operations Manager
Marketing Manager
Public Relations Manager
Communications Manager
Media Programming Director
Environmental Planner
Project Coordinator
Writer

Data Science and Analytics, B.A.

Steven Powers — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:30:56 +0000

The data science and analytics (DSA) major addresses the increasing demand for adept data analysts by combining coursework in applied data science with coursework in economics and cognitive, political and management science — areas where real-world problem solving increasingly relies on data-driven analysis to inform decision-making.

Data are generated everywhere, increasingly enveloping human experience by mediating our interactions with the natural, social and built world. Yet data often require refinement, reformatting and critical analysis before they can become usable information. To make data-informed decisions, such as raising or lowering taxes, hiring or dismissing an employee or investing or divesting in a business sector, for example, people need understand how to appropriately and ethically harness, classify and analyze data, along with methods for extracting actionable insights and effectively communicating results.

Click on the link below to see a comparison chart between both Data Science programs at ��쿪��.

Download Chart

DATA SCIENCE and ANALYTICS PROGRAM

The DSA major provides students with courses across the entire data analytics pipeline with series of refinements including identifying and integrating appropriate data; understanding the strengths and weaknesses of data and its sources; extracting valuable insights by way of advanced visualization and inferential methods; and strategically communicating recommendations based upon analysis to maximally inspire persons and groups to take action.

A defining feature of this major is the senior-year capstone, where students work in teams to apply advanced methods of interactive data visualization and machine-learning to address real-world problems. As such, this major provides students a unique opportunity to develop a multi-dimensional skillset — one that integrates core quantitative and computational capabilities with a broad understanding of societal context, ethical best practices and real-world applications.

DATA SCIENCE and ANALYTICS PROGRAM CAREERS

The program will prepare students for both existing and emerging professions in data science and data analytics in business, industry, organizations and governmental agencies in the Central Valley and across the globe. The skills learned will help students become data managers, entrepreneurs, evaluators, academics, researchers, data communicators or any of a wide array of existing and emerging jobs that are increasingly recognized as necessary in the modern information technology and management sectors.

This program also provides specific skills that are often required in data science and analytics job postings, including:

Communication
Teamwork
Computing fundamentals (Python/SQL/Git)
Data visualization
Project management
Business/economic intelligence
Critical thinking
Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship
Resourcefulness and Initiative

School of Engineering