Academic Life
UC Merced’s graduate programs emphasize interdisciplinary research and education with individually tailored program offerings that span academic disciplines, giving graduates a scope of approaches that they can use to help solve society’s biggest challenges. Students here have the great advantage of accessing the quality of UC in a setting more similar to a small, private college.
In keeping with UC Merced’s commitment to UC quality, world-class professors have answered the call to found California’s newest research university. Through funding from national agencies and committed donors, the university has been able to build outstanding laboratory resources. Four interdisciplinary institutes: the Sierra Nevada Research Institute, the Biotechnology and Systems Biology Institute, the World Cultures Institute and the Energy Institute serve as major research centers for the university. The campus has established partnerships with nationally recognized entities such as the National Laboratories and Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. At UC Merced the cultural diversity of the San Joaquin Valley and the ecological richness of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range are all readily available for academic exploration.
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Campus Life
UC Merced rests on rolling grasslands that climb to the spectacular peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The new campus offers a quiet, close-to-nature setting adjacent to Lake Yosemite, a popular spot for water sports and celebrations. Students have already founded dozens of clubs and organizations, from student government to music to martial arts. The Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center provides fitness and recreation opportunities for the campus community, conveniently located between student housing and the academic core of campus.
Merced and its surroundings provide a wide variety of cultural and recreational activities, including live theater, music to fit every taste, dining, shopping, cultural and ethnic organizations, community celebrations and athletic competitions. Residents here enjoy a relatively low cost of living and an excellent quality of life in a setting that has maintained its small-town charm. The city boasts miles of paved, creek-side trails and a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly downtown area. Merced is only a day trip away from Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, the state capital in Sacramento, and the many attractions of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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