University of California, Merced
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Environmental engineers are distinguished from other environmental professionals through their focus on problem solving, design and implementation of technological or management systems. Environmental engineers search for creative and economical ways to use resources efficiently, limit the release of residuals into the environment, develop sensitive techniques to track pollutants once released, and find effective methods to remediate spoiled resources. They serve as the vital link between scientific discovery, technological development, and the societal need for protecting human health and ecological integrity. In the coming decades, environmental engineers will increasingly be called upon to address broader issues of environmental sustainability by minimizing the release of residuals through altered production processes and choice of materials; by capturing the resource value of wastes through recovery, recycling and reuse; and by managing natural resources to meet competing societal objectives.

The Earth Systems Science major prepares students to understand and solve critical challenges facing our environment, such as climate change, pollution, conservation and resource management. UC Merced operates an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of fundamental physical, chemical and biological processes that shape our environment with practical applications to real-world problems. Our students receive a firm foundation in the fundamentals of chemistry, biology, hydrology, ecology and Earth sciences, while upper division elective courses allow students the flexibility to pursue a variety of topics related to Earth and environmental systems.

The undergraduate major in Civil Engineering prepares students for careers in both private and public organizations concerned with managing air quality, water quality and supply, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, infrastructure, energy systems, public health, and the long-term social, economic, and environmental welfare of our society. The program is also a good foundation for further study in engineering, earth science, business, management, law, policy, planning, and public health.

The curriculum provides students with a quantitative understanding of the physical, chemical, ecological, economic, and biological principles that govern the quality of our natural and engineered environment and focuses on the design, development, implementation, and assessment of sustainable engineering solutions to society’s complex environmental, social, and technological challenges. The program teaches a holistic or systems approach to problem-solving and emphasizes four areas: (1) Hydrology and water resources, (2) Environmental Engineering, (3) Geomatics, and (4) Sustainable structures.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that focuses on application of concepts and methods from the physical, chemical, biological and social sciences to the study of the natural environment and seeks solutions to environmental problems. Sustainability science aims to improve the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems.

The Environmental Science and Sustainability minor at UC Merced will allow students from diverse backgrounds to pursue interests in earth and environmental sciences in some depth without requiring the breadth of coursework and extensive laboratory and field time required for the Earth System Science major.

The Management Analytics and Decision-Making (MAD) Minor will immerse you in interdisciplinary courses that foster analytical skills, communication skills, and critical thinking about managing data and analytics in complex environments. It will teach you skills that will help you succeed in interdisciplinary environments, solve problems, and manage resources mindful of risk, uncertainty, human dimensions, and sustainability. It will cultivate skills for managing people, data, and the natural world – the interface of all three can help you explore sustainable growth in human and built environments. The MAD Minor will provide you the tools to collect, analyze, manage, visualize and communicate data for diverse management focusing on People, Planet, and Profit.

The programs listed above were offered academic year 2019-2020. The campus new Civil Engineering Program was offered for the first time Academic Year 2021-2022.