2018 UCMerced InternationalBrochure

WH E R E I S UC Merced?

Welcome to the University of California, Merced

The University of California, Merced is the newest and fastest- growing University of California campus and the first U.S. research university established in the 21st century. As a member of the UC system, UC Merced continues a tradition of 150 years of distinguished teaching, research and public service. The university is composed of three Schools — Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts — which offer 24 undergraduate majors and 15 areas of graduate (postgraduate) study. The schools and numerous research facilities, institutes and centers encompass nearly all areas of inquiry and attract students, faculty and researchers from across the United States and around the world. In the Middle of Everything UC Merced is located in California’s northern Central Valley. Merced is a typical American small town, with a tree-lined downtown filled with shops, restaurants and a theater, but with amenities that a larger town might have, such as a mall and nationally popular restaurants. Merced is centrally located, whichmean it’s easy to take a day trip to San Francisco or Silicon Valley, observe the marine life at Monterey Bay Aquarium, go skiing at Dodge Ridge, or sit on the beach during the day and hit the boardwalk at night in Santa Cruz. Yosemite: Our Majestic Neighbor Merced is called the Gateway to Yosemite for a reason. We’re only 2 hours from Yosemite Valley, home of Yosemite National Park, Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, and more breathtaking attractions. You can take advantage of the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), buses that will pick you up on campus and take you to the park; no driving required.

Getting to UC Merced

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

131 miles (211 km) 2 hours, 6 minutes flysanjose.com +1-408-392-3600

66 miles (106 km) 1 hour, 9 minutes flyfresno.com +1-559-621-4500

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Oakland International Airport (OAK) 118 miles (190 km) 1 hour, 54 minutes oaklandairport.com +1-510-563-3300 Sacramento International Airport (SMF) 129 miles (208 km) 2 hours sacramento.aero/smf +1-916-929-5411

136 miles (219 km) 2 hours, 8 minutes flysfo.com +1-800-435-9736

For more information about travel and transportation options, visit iss.ucmerced.edu/resources/ transportation .

A DRONE’S VIEWOF CAMPUS

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U C M E R C E D Fast Facts

Total Enrollment

Undergraduate

7,375

Graduate

592

Total Headcount 7,967

The Carnegie Foundation has designated UC Merced as

Student-Faculty Ratio

one of only 107 universities in the U.S. that are “doctoral-granting universities with higher research activity,” or R2, the second-highest classification for American research universities.

21:1

B E S T P U B L I C U N I V E R S I T I E S BEST

Small Class Sizes

UC Merced was recognized in 2017 as one of the best public universities in the nation in U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Colleges Rankings

26%

of classes have fewer than 20 students

International Students

220 from 36 countries

Our campus proudly serves the most ethnically and culturally diverse student body among all University of California campuses. We believe that educating students of every race, religion, sexual identity, geographic region and more strengthens our commitment to serving students who reflect the world we live in. We have been designated as a Hispanic-Serving and Asian-American/Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.

Professors

348 86% Full-time instructional faculty

of faculty have Ph.D. or equivalent

UC Merced Office of Admissions

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SOURCE: UC MERCED INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND DECISION SUPPORT DIVISION, FALL 2017

U N D E R G R A D U AT E Majors and Minors

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING » Bioengineering, B.S. » Computer Science and Engineering, B.S. » Environmental Engineering, B.S. » Materials Science and Engineering, B.S. Emphasis: Nanotechnology » Mechanical Engineering, B.S. » Undeclared School of Engineering

SCHOOLOF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES ANDARTS » Anthropology, B.A. » Cognitive Science, B.A., B.S. » Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A. » Economics, B.A. » English, B.A. » Global Arts Studies, B.A. » History, B.A. » Management and Business Economics, B.S. » Philosophy, B.A. » Political Science, B.A Subfield: Pre-law » Psychology, B.A. » Public Health, B.A. » Sociology, B.A. » Spanish, B.A. » Undeclared School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES » Applied Mathematical Sciences, B.S.

Emphases: • Applied Mathematical Sciences • Computational and Data Sciences • Computational Biology • Computer Science • Economics • Engineering • Environmental • Physics

UNDECLARED

» Biological Sciences, B.S.

Emphases: • Biological Sciences

MINORS

• Developmental Biology • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology • Human Biology • Microbiology and Immunology • Molecular and Cell Biology

» American Studies » Anthropology » Applied Mathematics » Arts » Chemical Sciences » Chicano/a Studies » Cognitive Science » Community Research and Service » Economics » English » History » Interdisciplinary Public Health » Management and

Business Economics » Natural Sciences Education » Natural Sciences

Education Minor with Teaching Credential » Philosophy » Physics » Political Science » Psychology » Services Science » Sociology

» Chemical Sciences, B.S.

Emphases: • Biological Chemistry • Chemical Sciences

• Environmental Chemistry • Materials Chemistry

» Earth Systems Science, B.S. » Physics, B.S.

» Spanish » Writing

Emphases: • Atomic/Molecular/Optical/ Condensed Matter • Biophysics • Mathematical Physics • Physics

SEE UC MERCED’S POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS ON PAGE 7

» Undeclared School of Natural Sciences

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

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Centers, Institutes and Research Facilities > > Blum Center for Developing Economies > > Center for Climate Communication > > Center for Computational Biology > > Center for Early Cognition and Language > > Center for Educational Partnerships > > Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning > > Center of Excellence for the Study of Health Disparities > > Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) > > Center for the Humanities > > CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM) > > Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI) Environmental Analytical Laboratory > > Foster Family Center for Engineering Service Learning > > Health Sciences Research Institute > > Imaging and Microscopy Facility (IMF) > > Light Microscopy and Crystallography Modeling Center > > Mechanical Test Laboratory > > Nanomaterials Center for Energy and Sensing (MACES) > > Resource Center for Community Engaged Scholarship (ReCCES) > > Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI) > > Small Business Development Center (SBDC) > > Spatial Analysis and Research Center > > STEM Resource Center > > Stable Isotope Laboratory > > Stem Cell Instrumentation Foundry (SCIF) > > UC Water Security and Sustainability Research Initiative > > University of California Advanced Solar Technologies Institute (UC Solar) > > UC Natural Reserve System Collaborative Research Partners > > Central Valley Higher Education Consortium > > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory > > National Park Service

R E S E A R C H At Our Core

At UC Merced, some of the world’s foremost scholars team up with students to focus on creating new products and technologies that will improve our daily lives. They collaborate to solve some of society’s most pressing issues, from disease to global warming, and everything in between. As an undergraduate, you will have opportunities to take your learning beyond the classroom out into the field or in a laboratory. research.ucmerced.edu

Across All Disciplines

Some examples of recent research conducted by faculty and students:

»» Professor and biologist MiriamBarlow helped develop amethod to restore the efficacy of antibiotics and help doctors deal with resistant bacteria.

»» Through the World Heritage program in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, students and faculty involved in a project titled “Bodie Digital Community - Connect with Your Past” designed and developed an augmented reality mobile app that brought to life the town of Bodie, a California State Historic Park that is at risk of being lost due to wildfires and lack of funding for conservation. »» Adjunct Professor Gabriela Loots is studying why certain cancers prefer tometastasize to bone. Loots is trying to identify, characterize and potentially exploit the information packaged in different types of extracellular vesicles to determine if they can distinguish aggressive forms of breast cancer that rapidly spread in the body. »» Three students were selected as fellows for the Global Food Initiative to work on projects including increasing food recovery, advancing food literacy and expanding experiential learning opportunities in food systems.

»» Professor Danielle Edwards was part of a team of researchers that made a discovery about two groups of giant Galapagos tortoises — they are actually two different species.

»» Undergraduate mechanical engineering student Rebecca Quinte worked with Professor Andrea Joyce on a project that aims to shoo away leaf-footed bugs, insects that feed on the seeds of crops, research that could end up benefitting farmers in the Central Valley and beyond.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) encourages and facilitates faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects and creative activities. The UROC website hosts a database of research opportunities, and workshops and events are ongoing. uroc.ucmerced.edu

C A R E E R Preparation

UC Merced’s Office of Leadership, Service and Career provides an array of resources to help students prepare for their careers after graduation. The career center helps students assess their career interest and possibilities, develop professional skills, and connect with potential employers. hire.ucmerced.edu

Professional Development The desire to see an immediate return on investment for a college degree has never been stronger. At UC Merced, each student has the opportunity to conduct an assessment, design a strategy and begin to implement a professional development plan. Our pro- gram for student success consists of a group of skills: »» PERSONAL INVENTORY: Take a career assessment and pinpoint your passion. »» CAREER DIRECTION: Explore majors and related career paths. Develop a job-search strategy. »» PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Continually learn and build skills and relationships to lead a meaningful, satisfying professional life in a constantly changing world. Career Specialists Students work directly with career specialists assigned by aca- demic program. Services include individualized career coach- ing and mock interviews, skill-building events and workshops, search teams and walk-in hours.

Signature Programs Students have direct access to innovative programming that will help cultivate new skills, showcase their creativity and give them a competitive advantage as they enter the global job market. SOME ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: »» Learn through the Conversations with Entrepreneurs lecture series.

»» Participate in Flash Talks, a fast-paced presentation competition.

»» Meet industry recruiters at career fairs, information sessions and networking events.

»» Dine in style at professionally hosted etiquette dinners.

»» Engage employers as part of company treks to Silicon Valley, Sacramento and San Francisco.

I WILL FIND MY CALLING

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F O L L OW Y O U R Dreams

Gain Professional Experience Many of UC Merced’s international students gain professional experience in the United States through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) while they’re enrolled in their degree programs, or Optional Practical Training (OPT) immediately after they have graduated. In recent years, international students have found practical training at:

> > Adecco > > Adobe Systems

> > Stanford University > > Tesla Motors > > Toyota Technological Institute > > University of California, Berkeley > > University of California, Davis > > University of California, Los Angeles > > University of California, Merced > > University of Chicago > > University of Florida > > University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

> > Apple > > Cisco > > Google

> > GraphSQL > > PayPal Inc. > > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory > > Merck > > Mercedes Benz Research and Development > > Microsoft > > NVIDIA

> > Qualcomm > > Salesforce

UC Merced’s postgraduate programs boast cutting-edge research, excellent funding opportunities, inclusive community, and extensive professional development programming.

UC Merced Postgraduate Programs > > Applied Mathematics, M.S., Ph.D. > > Biological Engineering and Small-Scale Technologies (BEST), M.S., Ph.D. > > Chemistry and Chemical Biology, M.S., Ph.D. > > Cognitive and Information Sciences (CIS), Ph.D. > > Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, M.S., Ph.D. > > Environmental Systems, M.S., Ph.D. > > Interdisciplinary Humanities, M.A., Ph.D.

> > Management of Innovation, Sustainability and Technology, M.M. > > Mechanical Engineering, M.S., Ph.D. > > Physics, M.S., Ph.D. > > Political Science, Ph.D. > > Psychological Sciences, Ph.D. > > Quantitative and Systems Biology (QSB), M.S., Ph.D. > > Social Sciences-Public Health, Ph.D. > > Sociology, Ph.D.

UC Merced Office of Admissions

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L E A R N I N G O U T S I D E The Classroom

Many UC Merced students have secured positions because of their involvement in research – something that is key to the UC Merced experience. The campus’ diversity prepares students for a diverse work force and fosters thinking on a global level.

Academic Highlights

Innovate to Grow: This annual celebration of student ingenuity and entrepreneurship encompasses these three signature threads: »» Innovation Design Clinic (IDC): The capstone project experience for cross-functional teams of graduating seniors who collaborate with partner organizations and industries to define engineering problems, discover solutions and demonstrate their results. »» Engineering Service Learning (ESL): UC Merced’s cornerstone engineering experience designed to expose first year students to the power of engineering. »» Mobile App Challenge (MAC): Encourages students to design, prototype and pitch their ideas for innovative mobile applications that address today’s most pressing societal needs. innovatetogrow.ucmerced.edu UCDC: Combine practical training in your area of academic interest with field research and coursework taught by University of California professors in Washington, D.C., the United States capital. ucdc.ucmerced.edu

World Heritage Research Experience Scholars Program: Create digital maps and GIS databases of culturally relevant places; build 3D visualizations and reconstructions of ancient cities andmonuments; and design virtual exhibits andmuseums to support heritage tourism in this program that focuses on preserving natural and cultural heritage. uroc.ucmerced.edu/where

Yosemite Leadership Program: Regardless of your major or previous outdoor experience, you can gain the skills to lead, advocate for the environment, make informed ethical decisions and create social change during the

two-year program. ylp.ucmerced.edu

Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS): Undergraduates have the opportunity for self-directed learning and professional development, and are are extensively involved in projects such as UC Sprouts, which is developing a curriculum to allow local elementary school students to create an edible garden. In the Constant Current Electric Vehicle project, students are working on a potentially more efficient electric motor. Tire manufacturer Pirelli supported students in the Pirelli Project, in which they generated a discovery report on emerging trends in the automotive vehicle industry that could affect the tire environment. citris.ucmerced.edu

UC Education Abroad Program: There are opportunities in nearly 40 countries through scores of partner institutions for summer, semester and yearlong study,

research and training programs. studyabroad.ucmerced.edu

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C A M P U S Life

Campus Safety UC Merced strives to keep the campus community as safe as possible. Our full-service UC Merced Police Department is always on call. Emergency blue lights, which are direct lines to the police dispatcher, are located all around campus. In the event of a critical incident, messages are sent to students, staff members and faculty by text message or email immediately using UCM Alert.

At UC Merced, the student experience is much more than academic study. In addition to its technologically advanced library, classrooms and laboratories, UC Merced features a campus store, undergraduate residence halls, athletics and fitness facilities, dining options, and a variety of spaces for socializing and fun. The University also provides resources for students to extend their experiences beyond campus. UC Merced students can: »» Get involved in clubs and organizations — we have more than 200 to choose from »» Work out, play recreational sports or join an outdoor activity, such as hiking or surfing »» Meet friends at the dining hall, food trucks or café »» Cheer on UC Merced’s basketball, soccer, cross country and volleyball teams »» Study abroad in 40 different countries »» Travel to downtown Merced on CatTracks or to Yosemite on the YARTS bus »» Buy books, class materials, UCMerced clothing, computers and other electronics at the Campus Store »» Join student government andcontribute to theUniversity’s present and future Campus Housing UC Merced is proud to guarantee housing to all incoming first year and transfer students meeting the necessary application and contracting deadlines stated at housing.ucmerced.edu . On-campus housing is available to continuing students on a first-come, first-served basis. Residence halls offer computer labs with printers, study lounges, a laundry facility with an Internet notification system, a gaming center, a dance and music room, kitchens, outdoor barbecues and more.

Support for International Students The International Students and Scholars website ( iss.ucmerced.edu ) provides resources for common issues that international students face, such as:

» » Applying for and renewing your student visa » » Finding off-campus housing in Merced » » Funding your undergraduate education » » Traveling to Merced » » Signing up for health insurance » » Immigration policy updates, resources and FAQs

To read about adjusting to life in Merced, visit iss.ucmerced.edu/resources . 

Learning the English Language Through personal and interactive collaborations, international students who want to improve their spoken and written English language skills have many opportunities to do so:  Conversation Partner Program: International students are matched with local members of the UC Merced community for conversations with native speakers and to perhaps learn a bit about American culture.  Weekly Language Workshops: International students can participate in English Pronunciation and Fluency workshops, where topics ranging from practicing specific English sounds to fluency strategies and improving listening comprehension are discussed. Grammar workshops cover topics related to the written English language.  One-on-One Meetings: English Language Institute staff assist international students with individual challenges with grammar, fluency and accent.

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR housing.ucmerced.edu/housing

UC Merced Office of Admissions

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You are considered an international applicant if you are not aU.S. citizen or permanent resident and you need an F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant student visa to study in the United States. INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION Requirements

First Year Students

You are considered a first year applicant if both of the following apply to you: »» You are completing (or have already completed) secondary school with very good grades and earned a certificate of completion that enables you to be admitted to a university in your home country. »» You have not enrolled in a regular session at any college or university after completing secondary school.

HowMuch Will It Cost to Attend UC Merced?

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS 1. Secondary school certificate of completion 2. GPA of 3.4 or above

3. Completion of 15 yearlong academic courses with a 3.4 GPA: • 2 years of history (in place of U.S. history, history of your country) • 4 years of composition and literature in language in which you are instructed • 3 years (four years recommended) of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry.* (Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement.) • 2 years of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, and/or physics) OR 2 years of integrated science • 2 years of a second language • 1 yearlong course (or 2 semesters) of visual and performing arts • 1 additional course from any subject area above * Math courses taken in the seventh and eight grades/intermediate school may be used to fulfill part of this requirement. Integrated math courses (e.g. Math I, Math II, etc.) with geometry content may be equated with a standard course in geometry. 4. Completion of country-specific admission requirements, as detailed at admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/international/ applying-for-admission/freshman-requirements-country/ index.html EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS ACT with Writing and/or the SAT or SAT with Essay. You are expected to complete these examinations as early as possible, but no later than December of your senior year. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS Applicants must demonstrate strong abilities in reading, writing, comprehension and verbal communication in the English language. English proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways*: »» Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): • Internet-based test: Score of 80 or better • Paper-based test (completed prior to October 2017): Score of 550 or better • Revised paper-delivered test (completed inOctober 2017 or later): Score of 60 or better »» International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules): Score of 6.5 or better * The UC will not accept English proficiency test scores that are more than 2 years old.

As an international undergraduate student, you will be required to register full-time (a minimum of 12 credits each semester). You must pay out-of-state tuition, which is higher than the amount paid by California residents, and you cannot declare residency. Check the UC Merced Registrar’s website ( registrar.ucmerced.edu ) or the Office of International Affairs website ( international.ucmerced.edu ) for a cost breakdown.

Visit admissions.ucmerced.edu/elpr for more ways to demonstrate English language proficiency.

More information on first year requirements: admissions.ucmerced.edu/international-first-year-applicant

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HOW TO APPLY Apply at universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

When to Apply

Transfer Students

The fall priority application period is Nov. 1-30.

UC Merced accepts junior-level students AND lower-division transfers. You are considered a transfer applicant if: »» You are now enrolled or previously enrolled in a regular session at a tertiary

Application Fee

The application fee for international students is $80, which entitles you to apply to one UC campus.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Junior-Level Requirements »» Complete at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of UC-transferable credit. »» Earn at least a 2.8 GPA in UC-transferable courses.* »» Complete (with grades C or better) the UC 7-course pattern. Each course must be transferable and worth at least 3 semester (4-5 quarter) units. • 2 courses in English composition • 1 course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning • 4 courses selected from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences »» Complete the courses required for your major. Lower-Division Requirements »» Enrollment at a college or university after secondary school graduation and fewer than 60 semester (90 quarter) UC-transferable units completed prior to enrollment at UC Merced »» Met requirements for the University of California upon secondary school graduation (required GPA, examinations and all “a-g” courses) »» Maintain a minimum 2.8 GPA in all UC-transferable coursework* »» Please note that at UC Merced, major-specific courses are required for selection.* *Some majors require a higher GPA for admission selection.

KEY DATES AND DEADLINES

Nov. 1-30 Filing period for fall. Submit your application online by 11:59 p.m. PST Nov. 30. Dec. 1-31 Deadline for the first year students to take their ACT with Writing and/or the SAT or SAT with Essay. Deadline for all students to complete their examinations to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. March 1–April 1 Check the UC Merced student portal at my.ucmerced.edu to find out your fall admission decision. May 1 Deadline for first year students admitted for fall to submit their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). June 1 Deadline for transfer students admitted for fall to submit their SIR. July 1 Final official transcripts AND final test scores must be postmarked or electronically submitted to the Office of Admissions for students admitted for fall.

More about the pathway to transferring to UC Merced: admissions.ucmerced.edu/ transfer-requirements

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS Transfer students can demonstrate English proficiency by completing one UC-transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in English composition with a grade of C or better at an accredited U.S. college or university.

Note: UCMerced does not accept English composition courses from international universities where the language of instruction is not English.

More about international transfer requirements: admissions.ucmerced.edu/ international-transfer-applicants

If you are enrolled at a California Community College, you can use ASSIST.org to determine if you college courses are transferable. Students transferring from a California Community College also are eligible to participate in the UCMerced Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program . TAG contracts specify the courses to be completed and GPA you must earn at a California Community College to be guaranteed admission to UC Merced in the major of your choice. admissions.ucmerced.edu/tag

UC Merced Office of Admissions

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University of California, Merced 5200 N. Lake Road Merced, CA 95343

APPLY AT: at universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

COME SEE US! Contact us to arrange a guided tour of campus. Tours are available every weekday and most Saturdays throughout the year. Visiting campus will give you firsthand knowledge of UC Merced’s academic programs, housing and student life.

VISIT CAMPUS:

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR:

tours.ucmerced.edu

admissions.ucmerced.edu/virtualtour

Office of Admissions w | admissions.ucmerced.edu e | iwant2be@ucmerced.edu t | +1-209-228-7178 international 1-209-228-7178 domestic

International Student and Scholar Services Office of International Affairs

w | iss.ucmerced.edu e | iss@ucmerced.edu t | +1-209-228-4722 international 1-209-228-4722 domestic

5200 N. Lake Road Merced, CA 95343

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