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Prospective Students

UC Merced students working lab

Are you ready to make a difference? We're looking for solution-driven students ready to think differently about societal issues.

Science and mathematics hold the key to solving society's most pressing concerns. Whether the problem is human health, energy, sustainability or the environment, the answer lies in the broad areas of life, physical and environmental sciences. At UC Merced, undergraduate and graduate students work side-by-side with faculty and researchers to develop novel and creative approaches to solving these global challenges.

The academic and research programs in the School of Natural Sciences create a culture of excellence in student achievement and cutting-edge advancements in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics and physics. We are committed to educating and training the next generation of scientists through the use of the latest technologies. Our research and teaching programs serve as an economic engine for the region and for the state. Upon graduation, our alumni posses both the practical skills necessary to immediately enter the competitive job market and the fundamental scientific skills to pursue advanced academic and professional degrees.

Choosing science and mathematics at UC Merced means choosing to think differently. We break barriers by collaborating across disciplines to put theory into practice. Explore the possibilities in the School of Natural Sciences and discover your passion here.

"It is my students who are changing the world, NOT my colleagues."

– Richard Tapia, Recipient,

The President's National Medal of Science (2010)