Apr 30, 2024

2017-2018 Catalog

2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Lower Division Courses numbered 1–99 are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores but are open to all students for lower division credit. (Graduate students requesting to enroll in lower-division undergraduate courses will not receive unit credit nor will the course fulfill degree requirements.) Upper Division Courses courses numbered 100–199 are open to all students who have met the necessary prerequisites as indicated in the catalog course description. Preparation should generally include completion of one lower division course in the given subject or completion of two years of college work.

GRADUATE COURSES

Courses numbered 200–299 are open to graduate students. (Undergraduate students must obtain the signature of the instructor, School Dean, and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Graduate level units will count towards the required 120 units for graduation; however students are urged to meet with their academic advisor in order to determine if graduate course units may be used to fulfill a graduation requirement.)

CROSS-LISTED/CONJOINED COURSES

Cross-listed Courses are the same course offered under different course subjects at the same level (either undergraduate or graduate) that share the same meeting time, requirements, units, etc. Conjoined Courses are the same course but one is undergraduate and one is graduate.

COREQUISITE COURSE

A corequisite course is a course that must be taken at the same time as another course.

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites for courses should be followed carefully; the responsibility for meeting these requirements rests on the student. If you can demonstrate that your preparation is equivalent to that specified by the prerequisites, the instructor may waive these requirements for you. The instructor also may request that a student who has not completed the prerequisites be dropped from the course. If the prerequisite for a course is not satisfied, students must obtain the approval of the instructor (or school designee) of the course they wish to take.

For all undergraduate courses a “C-” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “P/NP” grade then a “P” grade is required.

For all graduate courses a “B” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “S/U” grade then a “S” grade is required.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

No credit is allowed for completing a less advanced course after successful completion (C-or better) of a more advanced course in the foreign languages. This applies only to lower division foreign language courses, not upper division courses.

GRADING OPTIONS

Unless otherwise stated in the course description, each course is letter graded with a P/NP or S/U option (unless required for your major or graduate program). The policy regarding Grading Options , can be found in an alternate section of the catalog.

More information about Course Substitutions and Course Materials and Services Fees can be found in alternate areas of the catalog.

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Physics
	Syllabus PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium [1 unit] This is a colloquium series with talks on a wide range of research topics in Physics. Speakers for the colloquia are primarily invited researchers from other Institutions. Some of the seminars additionally showcase the research performed by UC Merced Physics faculty, post doctoral researchers and graduate students. This is a forum to introduce the undergraduate and graduate students to cutting edge research in Physics conducted on-site and elsewhere, and to give them an opportunity to meet researchers and faculty from other Universities/Research Institutions. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 295: Graduate Research [1-15 units] Supervised research. Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 298: Directed Group Study [1-12 units] Group project under faculty supervision. Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 299: Directed Independent Study [1-12 units] Independent project under faculty supervision. Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 399: University Teaching [1 unit] PHYS 399 is the counterpart to PHYS 201 , which focuses on the theory of teaching and learning. The goals of PHYS 399 are to implement and practice select elements of the Scientific Teaching approach to instruction and to identify teaching challenges and use the foundation from PHYS 201 to seek solutions. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
Political Science
	POLI 001: Introduction to American Politics [4 units] A general introduction to political institutions and political behavior in the United States. Specific topics include the U.S. Constitution, Congress, the presidency, the federal judiciary, political parties, interest groups, mass public opinion, elections, and voting behavior. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 002: Controversies in American Politics [4 units] Examination of select problems in contemporary American politics. Possible subjects include campaign finance, culture wars and party polarization, barriers to third party success, and media coverage of politics. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 003: Introduction to Comparative Politics [4 units] Introduction to the cross-national study of political institutions and behavior. Formal and informal aspects of politics in selected countries are covered, as are comparative research methods. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 005: Introduction to International Relations [4 units] Introduction to the study of the politics of conflict and war, diplomacy, international cooperation, and international institutions. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 006: Global Issues [4 units] Examination of select problems in international relations and foreign policy. Possible topics include terrorism, proliferation of nuclear weapons, and conflict in the Middle East. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 009: Community Mobilization and Politics [4 units] Examination of political and social mobilization at the local level, including strategies for organization and advocacy. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. Cross-Listed with SOC 009 . View course scheduling information
	POLI 010: Understanding Political Controversies [4 units] Overview of the application of social scientific methods to the study of politics. Covers research design, hypothesis testing, measurement, and a variety of methodological approaches (e.g. experiments, descriptive and inferential statistics, qualitative analysis) to answering political questions. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 090X: Freshman Seminar [1 unit] Examination of a topic in political science. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated 1 time for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 092: Internship in Political Science [1-4 units] Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field of political science in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of political science. Requires students to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of political science. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units] Supervised research. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 099: Lower Division Individual Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 100: Congressional Politics [4 units] Elections and representation, legislative organization and process, legislative parties and leadership, lobbying, legislative outcomes, and the determinants of these outcomes in the U.S. Congress. Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 101: The Presidency [4 units] Powers, constraints, and behavior of the U.S. president and executive branch. Includes specific topics such as legislative-executive interactions, presidential control of the bureaucracy, nomination campaigns and general elections, and public opinion and the presidency. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 102: Judicial Politics [4 units] Structure, function, and politics of the U.S. court system, with a particular focus on the selection of judges, judicial decision making, external political influences on the judiciary, and the impact of court decisions. Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 105: Interest Groups and Political Parties [4 units] Formation, strategies, and effectiveness of interest groups and political parties in the U.S. Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 106: Urban Politics [4 units] Examines urban political development and policy processes in the United States. It will trace the historical development of local government, analyze urban coalitions and the distributions of power, and tackle the relationship between politics and policy making in the areas of growth, education, cultural issues, and welfare. Prerequisite: POLI 001 or SOC 001 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 107: California Politics [4 units] Examines issues and challenges confronting the State of California; uses California as a window into state politics in general. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 108: Direct Democracy [4 units] The politics of the initiative, referendum, and recall in the American states. Specific topics may include the history and origins of direct democracy, voter support for ballot measures, the role of interest groups, the effect of initiatives and referenda on candidate elections and civic engagement, and policy implications. Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 110: Governmental Power and the Constitution [4 units] Introduces students to the manner in which Supreme Court decisions shape our political system by delineating the sources and limits of governmental power. The powers of the three branches of the federal government are covered, as is the relationship between the federal government and the states. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 111: Liberty, Equality and the Constitution [4 units] Examines the constitutional politics of landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases involving civil liberties and civil rights. Specific topics may include First Amendment freedoms, privacy, the rights of criminal suspects, and discrimination based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. Prerequisite: POLI 001 or equivalent exam. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 120: Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections [4 units] Voting behavior, voter turnout, campaign strategies, and election outcomes. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 123: Political Psychology [4 units] An introduction to the field of political psychology. Political psychologists have applied insights from psychology to a host of questions relating to political behavior. Sample from across this broad range of topics in order to discover how people think and feel about politics. Prerequisite: POLI 001 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 125: Public Opinion [4 units] An examination of the nature and origins of public opinion in the United States and the role of public opinion in the policy process. Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 127: Race, Gender, and Politics [4 units] Contemporary and historical identity politics in the U.S., with a focus on the importance of race and gender in political representation, attitude formation, and civil rights. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 130: Institutions of Democracy [4 units] Cross-national comparison of the design, evolution, and impact of democratic political institutions, such as electoral systems, legislatures, executives, courts, and parties. Prerequisite: (POLI 003 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 135: Political Behavior Around the World [4 units] Analysis of multiple forms of political behavior across a variety of countries. Includes public opinion, political culture, voting, and less conventional forms of participation. Prerequisite: (POLI 003 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 140: Transitions to Democracy [4 units] Formation of democratic institutions and norms. Particular attention is paid to nations labeled as developing democracies. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 142: Contemporary Chinese Politics [4 units] Introduces students to major issues in contemporary Chinese politics. Focuses on the major challenges confronting China today, including economic reform and development, social unrest, democratization and the Tiananmen movement, village elections, ethnic conflicts, news media, Taiwan, and China’s foreign relations. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 145: Political Violence [4 units] Investigates the determinants, processes, and effects of (mostly intra-national) political violence. Covers topics including the individual decision to join dissent activities, protest and rebellion, civil war, government repression, the relationship between dissent and repression, terrorism, and the effect of domestic and international institutions on discouraging or encouraging these behaviors. Prerequisite: POLI 003 or POLI 005 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 150: Causes of International Conflict [4 units] Investigation of the causes of international conflict and war, the conduct of war, its ultimate termination, and the possibility of its prevention. Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 153: Judgment and Decision Making [4 units] Study of human judgment and decision making. Topics include decision making under uncertainty, financial choices, health decision making, group decisions, rational theories of choice behavior, and improving decision making. The material will be related to cognitive science, psychology, economics, and other social sciences. Prerequisite: COGS 001 or ECON 001 or PSY 001 or equivalent exam. Pass/No Pass option. Cross-Listed with COGS 153 , ECON 153 , MGMT 153 . View course scheduling information
	POLI 155: International Political Economy [4 units] The connections between politics, policy, and international economics. Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 158: Politics of Human Rights [4 units] Investigates the law, politics, and practices of international human rights. Explores the development of the modern idea of human rights, the motivations of governments to violate rights, and the institutions that enable or constrain rights violations and protections. Prerequisite: POLI 003 or POLI 005 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 160: US Foreign Policy [4 units] The formation of U.S. foreign policy, with an emphasis on the modern era and an introduction to analytical tools for understanding current foreign policy issues and debates. Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam). Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 165: International Organizations & Regimes [4 units] Investigates the emergence and rise of international organizations and the network of regulation and international governance that they facilitate. The course explores the institutional structures, political processes, and impact of international organizations within three issue areas: international peace and security, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and global trade and development. Prerequisite: POLI 005. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 170: Theoretical Models of Politics [4 units] The development, utility, and limitations of theoretical models of the political world. May include rational choice theory, game theory, and psychological theories of politics. Prerequisite: POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or MATH 005 or equivalent exam. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	POLI 171: Politics and Film [4 units] Considers whether politics as portrayed on film differs from political reality as understood through political science, and further uses films as vehicles for better understanding an array of topics from political science, including legislative behavior, elections, presidential politics, local politics, war, and international relations. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 175: Advanced Analysis of Political Data [4 units] The advanced application of social scientific methods to the study of politics. Covers quantitative testing of hypotheses about political phenomena, with a particular focus on the use of regression analysis. Prerequisite: POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam. Pass/No Pass option. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 190: Topics in Political Science [4 units] Topics in Political Science selected by instructor. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated 3 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 191: Seminar in Political Science [4 units] An in-depth, research-intensive, seminar-style treatment of a specific problem, topic, or puzzle in the field of political science. Recommended for students considering graduate school in political science. Prerequisite: POLI 010 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 4 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 192: Internship in Political Science [1-4 units] Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field of political science in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of political science. Requires students to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of political science. Open only to standing(s): Junior, Senior. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units] Supervised research. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 199: Upper Division Individual Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 200: Research Design in Political Science [4 units] An introduction to designing political science research. The course will emphasize scientific method and causal inference, with special emphasis on designing strong tests, including introductory experimental and quasi-experimental design, as well as the use of natural experiments and observational data. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 210: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, I [4 units] An introduction to the theory and practice of quantitative data analysis. As the first statistics course in the department’s research methods sequence, it is intended to prepare students for future work in methodology. Aside from formal treatment of the material, students will receive a basic introduction to the use of Stata statistical analysis software. As time permits, we will also discuss substantive examples of the quantitative techniques introduced in class. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 211: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, II [4 units] Provides an in-depth introduction to ordinary least squares regression analysis and its use in political science. Prerequisite: POLI 210 . Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 212: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, III [4 units] Maximum likelihood estimation and limited dependent variable models as applied to political science data. Prerequisite: POLI 210 and POLI 211 . Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 213: Experimental Methods in Political Science [4 units] Intended to provide students with an understanding of experimental methods in political science. The first portion of the semester will emphasize concepts and tools from the experimentalist’s toolbox with a strong focus on causal inference, external and internal validity, and choosing subjects and subject’s motivations. Later weeks will focus on issues and challenges to specific types of political science experiments including survey experiments, laboratory experiments, physiological experiments, and field experiments. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 215: Introduction to Game Theory [4 units] An introductory course on game theory and its applications in social and political science. Students will learn basic concepts and tools of non-cooperative game theory, covering both complete and incomplete information games in static and dynamic settings, and see how they can be used in studying political/social phenomena. Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 216: Formal Political Analysis [4 units] An introduction to the formal analytic tools that are now used extensively to model political phenomena. It will provide students with interests in formal theory a foundation to construct serious formal models of politics in their areas of interests. Prerequisite: POLI 215 . Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 219: Special Topics in Political Science Methodology [4 units] A special, instructor-selected topic in political science methodology Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 220: American Political Institutions [4 units] Intended to provide students with a broad understanding of American political institutions (the constitution, Congress, presidency, bureaucracy, judiciary, electoral systems, and subnational governments). The first portion of the semester will emphasize concepts and tools while later weeks will examine institutions in more depth, emphasizing classic writings and contemporary research controversies. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 221: Legislative Politics [4 units] Provides an overview of the theoretical and empirical literature on legislative politics. The main focus of the course will be the U.S. Congress, but much of what we cover will have direct relevance for the study of legislatures more generally (both cross-nationally and the American state legislatures). Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 222: Executive Politics [4 units] An examination of executive politics, with special attention to the U.S. presidency and the politics of the bureaucracy. The course considers the theoretical and empirical literature on the processes of presidential selection (nomination and election), the ways in which presidents differ in their leadership styles, skills, executive management, and their roles as decision makers are also analyzed for their consequences. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 223: Judicial Politics [4 units] Development and consequences of judicial institutions; influences on judicial decision making; role of courts in political systems Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 224: Subnational Politics [4 units] An introduction to politics in American cities and metropolitan areas. We examine the historical development of local government institutions, analyze urban coalitions, investigate distributions of power, investigate the process and consequences of suburbanization, and examine local development and poverty policy. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 225: Political Parties [4 units] Provides a general overview of political parties and party systems. We investigate the goals of parties, organizational structures, and the sources of parties (including societal divisions, coordination needs, and institutional structures). We explore party competition and interaction, study the causes of party system change, and the effects of parties in electoral and policy making arenas. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 226: Interest Groups [4 units] Collective action problems, organization of interests, lobbying strategies, and the effect of advocacy activities. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 227: Media and Politics [4 units] An examination of the role of the mass media in politics. We analyze the function of media in different political settings, study the development and transformation of the media, explore sources of bias, evaluate theories of news development and analyze the effect of the media in campaigns, elections, and governance. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 228: Elections and Representation [4 units] Electoral institutions and their consequences for election outcomes. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 230: Institutions and Institutional Change in Comparative Perspectives [4 units] An exploration of the political economy of institutions and institutional change in comparative perspectives. It will analyze the causes of institutional emergence/change and the effects of institutions. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 235: International Institutions [4 units] International political institutions and their connection with international relations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 240: Political Economy [4 units] An introduction to political economy, a field of inquiry that seeks to explain political and economic behavior by characterizing the incentives of actors and the context in which these actors make decisions and influence outcomes. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 249: Special Topics in Political Institutions and Political Economy [4 units] A special, instructor-selected topic in political institutions and/or political economy. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 250: American Political Behavior [4 units] Intended to provide students with a broad understanding of American political behavior (political participation, the nature and origins of public opinion, vote choice). The first portion of the semester will emphasize concepts and tools while later weeks will examine political behavior in more depth, emphasizing classic writings and contemporary research controversies. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 251: Political Cognition [4 units] Provides an understanding of political cognition, a topic that examines political attitudes and behavior from the perspective of research from psychology and cognitive science. Each week’s readings will include research from psychology or cognitive science and research in political science informed by these disciplines. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 252: Public Opinion [4 units] An in-depth examination of American public opinion. We will cover concepts and tools, including technical issues of sampling and measurement, as well as the origins and structure of political attitudes and specific areas of public opinion research such as approval of political institutions, war attitudes, and tolerance. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 253: Voting, Campaigns, and Elections [4 units] Explores the factors that explain citizens’ vote choices and the strategies used by candidates and their campaigns to win these votes. Additional consideration will be given to the structural factors influencing elections in the United States. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 254: The Biological Bases of Politics [4 units] An overview of different avenues explored by scholars working in the bio-politics paradigm. The course covers a number of disparate topics, including: twin studies and other techniques of behavior genetics, neuroscience, psychophysiology, personality psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 255: Politics of Diversity [4 units] Examines politics through the lenses of race, ethnicity, and immigration. We consider topics such as the development of racial and ethnic identities, discrimination, voting rights, electoral mobilization, campaigns, representation, and policy debates over issues like affirmative action, immigration and naturalization, and language policy. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 260: Comparative Political Behavior [4 units] An introduction to the study of comparative mass political behavior. The seminar will focus on research questions related to cross-national differences and similarities in public opinion, voting behavior, and other forms of political participation. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 269: Special Topics in Political Cognition and Behavior [4 units] A special, instructor-selected topic in either political cognition or political behavior. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 289: Topics in Political Science [1-3 units] Under faculty supervision, group of students meets each week for a semester in a student-led study group to pursue a specific topic of their choice that is not covered in other department courses. Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 290: Political Science Research Practicum [4 units] Individual research practicum with a faculty member in the Political Science Graduate Group. Prerequisite: POLI 200 and POLI 210 and POLI 211 . Permission of instructor required. Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 297: Research for Ph.D. Dissertation [2-12 units] Research and writing of Doctoral Dissertation Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 298: Directed Group Study [1-12 units] Directed group study on a political science topic. Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 299: Directed Individual Research [1-12 units] Directed individual research on a political science topic. Permission of instructor required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
Psychology
	PSY 001: Introduction to Psychology [4 units] Introduction to psychology as a science of behavior, including history, research methods, biological bases of behavior, cognition, personality, social behavior, psychological disorders, techniques of therapy and applied science. Pass/No Pass option. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data [5 units] Design and analysis of psychological research including experimental design, correlational research, and descriptive and inferential statistics. Students in the Psychology major or minor must take this course before taking any upper division Psychology courses. Prerequisite: (COGS 001 or PSY 001 or equivalent exam) and (MATH 005 or equivalent exam). Normal Letter Grade only. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PSY 015: Research Methods in Psychology [4 units] Survey of common methodological approaches in psychological research. Students in the Psychology major or minor must take this course before taking any upper division Psychology courses. Prerequisite: PSY 010 . Pass/No Pass option. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PSY 090X: Freshman Seminar [1 unit] Examination of a topic in psychology. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated 1 time for credit. View course scheduling information
	PSY 092: Internship in Psychology [1-4 units] Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field related to psychology in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of psychology. Students are required to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of psychology. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	PSY 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units] Supervised research. Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass option. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PSY 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PSY 099: Lower Division Individual Study [1-5 units] Permission of instructor required. Pass/No Pass only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PSY 105: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology [4 units] Survey of advanced methodological approaches in psychological research. Prerequisite: PSY 015 or COGS 105 . Normal Letter Grade only. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PSY 110: History of Psychology [4 units] Covers major schools of psychology (functionalism, behaviorism, etc.) and the precursors that lead to psychology as an independent discipline. Focus will be on integration and better understanding the current state of the science of psychology. Themes include the mind/body problem, the nature/nurture debate, and the criteria for a science. Prerequisite: PSY 015 or COGS 105 . Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	PSY 120: Health Psychology [4 units] Introduces students to a breadth of topics in health psychology, behavioral medicine, and public health. Particular emphasis is placed on the roles of psychological processes in altering physical and mental health, promoting well-being, preventing illness, and treating disease. Prerequisite: PSY 001 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PSY 123: Alcohol, Drugs, and Behavior [4 units] Survey of major drugs of abuse, their mode of action, and their behavioral effects, both acute and chronic; etiology and maintenance of drug abuse and review of prominent strategies for prevention, intervention and treatment. Prerequisite: PSY 001 or equivalent exam. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PSY 124: Health Disparities [4 units] Focus on the differential effect of environmental factors and behavior on human health. In our examination of the determinants of health, we will discuss issues related to ethnic, cultural, and gender psychology, risk behavior, behavioral medicine, psychosocial epidemiology, and policy. Prerequisite: PSY 015 or COGS 105 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PSY 125: Cognition, Affect, and Health [4 units] An examination of how cognitive and emotional processes influence the body’s physiological systems in ways that increase or decrease our risk for physical illnesses. We will discuss how thoughts, emotions, and social experiences influence health behaviors such as exercise and diet, and implications for health promotion and illness management interventions. Prerequisite: PSY 015 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PSY 130: Developmental Psychology [4 units] Critical review of the research and theories on the development of infants and children. Covers cognitive, biological, social, personality, and emotional development, among others. Emphasis on integrating across areas of development, as well as the relative contributions of biology and experience. Prerequisite: PSY 001 or equivalent exam. Open only to standing(s): Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Pass/No Pass option. View course scheduling information
	PSY 133: Neurodevelopmental Cognitive, Language and Learning Disorders [4 units] An introduction to the expression and causes of a variety of cognitive disorders (e.g., reading disability, mental retardation, dementia, etc.). Genetic syndromes and neurodevelopmental origins are emphasized. Other atypical conditions are discussed as well, including giftedness. Some background in psychology and human biology is advantageous but not required. Prerequisite: PSY 015 or COGS 105 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information

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University of California, Merced

Course Descriptions

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

GRADUATE COURSES

CROSS-LISTED/CONJOINED COURSES

COREQUISITE COURSE

PREREQUISITES

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

GRADING OPTIONS

PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium

PHYS 295: Graduate Research

PHYS 298: Directed Group Study

PHYS 299: Directed Independent Study

PHYS 399: University Teaching

POLI 001: Introduction to American Politics

POLI 002: Controversies in American Politics

POLI 003: Introduction to Comparative Politics

POLI 005: Introduction to International Relations

POLI 006: Global Issues

POLI 009: Community Mobilization and Politics

POLI 010: Understanding Political Controversies

POLI 090X: Freshman Seminar

POLI 092: Internship in Political Science

POLI 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research

POLI 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study

POLI 099: Lower Division Individual Study

POLI 100: Congressional Politics

POLI 101: The Presidency

POLI 102: Judicial Politics

POLI 105: Interest Groups and Political Parties

POLI 106: Urban Politics

POLI 107: California Politics

POLI 108: Direct Democracy

POLI 110: Governmental Power and the Constitution

POLI 111: Liberty, Equality and the Constitution

POLI 120: Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections

POLI 123: Political Psychology

POLI 125: Public Opinion

POLI 127: Race, Gender, and Politics

POLI 130: Institutions of Democracy

POLI 135: Political Behavior Around the World

POLI 140: Transitions to Democracy

POLI 142: Contemporary Chinese Politics

POLI 145: Political Violence

POLI 150: Causes of International Conflict

POLI 153: Judgment and Decision Making

POLI 155: International Political Economy

POLI 158: Politics of Human Rights

POLI 160: US Foreign Policy

POLI 165: International Organizations & Regimes

POLI 170: Theoretical Models of Politics

POLI 171: Politics and Film

POLI 175: Advanced Analysis of Political Data

POLI 190: Topics in Political Science

POLI 191: Seminar in Political Science

POLI 192: Internship in Political Science

POLI 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research

POLI 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study

POLI 199: Upper Division Individual Study

POLI 200: Research Design in Political Science

POLI 210: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, I

POLI 211: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, II

POLI 212: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, III

POLI 213: Experimental Methods in Political Science

POLI 215: Introduction to Game Theory

POLI 216: Formal Political Analysis

POLI 219: Special Topics in Political Science Methodology

POLI 220: American Political Institutions

POLI 221: Legislative Politics

POLI 222: Executive Politics

POLI 223: Judicial Politics

POLI 224: Subnational Politics

POLI 225: Political Parties

POLI 226: Interest Groups

POLI 227: Media and Politics

POLI 228: Elections and Representation

POLI 230: Institutions and Institutional Change in Comparative Perspectives