May 12, 2024

2014-2015 Catalog

2014-2015 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. Note: For all 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. 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.

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.

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

Course Filter
Filter this list of courses using course prefix, course code, keywords or any combination.
Prefix:	Code or Number:	Keyword or Phrase:
Choose Course Prefix	Choose Course Number	Choose Keyword
Find whole word or phrase only.


Physics
	PHYS 109: Soft Matter Physics [3.0 units] An introduction to the physics of soft materials designed for upper level undergraduate students in physics. In this course we will use a physics based approach to study the structure and assembly of a variety materials including liquid crystals, polymers, colloidal systems and surfactants including biological examples. Prerequisite: PHYS 108 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 110: Electrodynamics Core [4.0 units] Intermediate Electrodynamics. Topics covered include vector calculus including divergence, curl and vector field theorems; Electrostatics including field, potential, work and energy; Laplace’s equation including solutions in different geometries, separating variables, method of images and multiple expansions; Electrostatics in media including polarization and dielectrics (linear/nonlinear); Magnetostatics including the Biot-Savart Law, Ampere’s Law and vector potentials; Magnetic fields in matter including magnetization, linear and non-linear media; and Electrodynamics including EMF, induction and Maxwell’s equations as well as conservation of charge, energy, and momentum in EM fields. Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ) and MATH 023 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 111: Electromagnetic Radiation Minicourse [2.0 units] This half-semester minicourse covers plane electromagnetic waves including polarization, reflection, refraction and dispersion. Electromagnetic waves in wave guides and cavities also are covered. Additional topics include radiation, both dipole and multiple as well as scattering and diffraction. Prerequisite: PHYS 110 and PHYS 122 , which may be taken concurrently. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 112: Statistical Mechanics [4.0 units] Covers the fundamental concepts of statistical mechanics, which form the microscopic basis for thermodynamics. Topics include applications to macroscopic systems, condensed states, phase transformations, quantum distributions, elementary kinetic theory of transport processes, and fluctuation phenomena. Prerequisite: PHYS 108 . Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 116: Mathematical Methods [4.0 units] Covers essential mathematical methods for physicists, with an emphasis on Linear Algebra, Partial Differential Equation, and Fourier Transform. The subjects covered in this course are the standard tools for quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, and electrodynamics. This course satisfies the Physics Programmatic Learning Outcomes #2: Mathematical Expertise. Prerequisite: MATH 023 and MATH 024 and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ). Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 120: Physics of Materials [4.0 units] Electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of solids. Free electron model, introduction to band theory. Crystal structures and lattice vibrations. Mechanisms and characterization of electrical conductivity, optical absorption, magnetic behavior, dielectric properties, and p-n junctions. Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ) and CHEM 112 . Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 122: Waves Minicourse [2.0 units] This half-semester minicourse covers wave phenomena and associated mathematical methods in Physics. Topics include: coupled oscillations and normal modes, polarization, Fourier analysis, superposition, interference, and diffraction. Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ) and MATH 024 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 124: Atomic Structure Minicourse [2.0 units] This half-semester minicourse develops the quantum theory of atomic structure, focusing on the hydrogen atom. It builds on PHYS 137 and gives students a chance to see quantum mechanics “in action”. Material covered includes: angular momentum and spin, spherical harmonics, hydrogen eigenstates, spin-orbit coupling, radiative transitions, and the Stark effect. Prerequisite: PHYS 137 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 126: Special Relativity Minicourse [2.0 units] This half-semester minicourse introduces the exciting and thought-provoking physics of special relativity. Topics include hallmark experiments; Lorentz transformations; time dilation and length contraction; relativistic optics; tensor techniques; mass, energy, and momentum; relativistic mechanics; and relativistic electricity and magnetism. Prerequisite: PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 137: Quantum Mechanics Core [4.0 units] Covers the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, which forms the foundation of our modern understanding of matter at the atomic and molecular level. Topics include the Schroedinger equation, Hilbert spaces, the operator formalism, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, tunneling, pertubation and WKB theory, fermions, and bosons. Prerequisite: PHYS 010 and MATH 023 and MATH 024 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 141: Condensed Matter Physics [4.0 units] An introduction to the physics of materials designed for upper level undergraduate students in physics or chemistry. The course will cover traditional solid state physics and include topics in soft matter. This class will examine the relationship between microscopic structure and bulk properties in different materials. Prerequisite: (PHYS 137 or CHEM 112 ) and (PHYS 112 or CHEM 113 ). Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 144: Modern Atomic Physics [4.0 units] The description and calculation of the properties of atomic energy levels based on the central field approximation. Modern experimental methods in atomic physics and some of the important physics obtained from them. Examples include magnetic resonance, lasers and masers, ion and neutral atom traps, optical pumping and beam foil spectroscopy. Prerequisite: PHYS 124 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 148: Modern Optics [4.0 units] We will discuss light from the electromagnetic and geometrical perspectives. Students will learn about reflection and refraction, revisit and then expand upon geometrical optics, gain a deeper understanding of interference, and learn about polarization. Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ) and MATH 023 and MATH 024 . Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 150: Energy Sources [3.0 units] Fossil energy resources, nuclear energy, solar energy, and other renewable energy sources (wind, hydro, geothermal). Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or MATH 022 ) and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ). View course scheduling information
	PHYS 151: Topics in Solar Energy Physics [3.0 units] The physics of solar energy production and utilization. Specific topics may be emphasized according to instructor, including: the solar energy resource, modeling and simulation, thermal and photovoltaic collectors, solar energy systems, nonimaging optics, and special applications (solar lasers, material processing, etc.) Prerequisite: MATH 022 and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ). View course scheduling information
	PHYS 159: Particle Physics [4.0 units] Tools of particle and nuclear physics. Properties, classification, and interactions of particles including the quark-gluon constituents of hadrons. High-energy phenomena analyzed by quantum mechanical methods. Quantum number determination of resonances, hardon structure functions, introductory electroweak theory with dirac matrices, Standard Model (overview), grand unified theories. Prerequisite: PHYS 137 . Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 160: Modern Physics Lab [4.0 units] Provides a rigorous foundation in physics laboratory techniques, with an emphasis on hands-on laboratory training. The nature of the experiments available to students cover a range of modern topics, from nonlinear dynamics and chaos through nonlinear optics and spectroscopy. Emphasis is placed on error estimation, data analysis, and interpretation. Prerequisite: PHYS 010 or consent of instructor. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 161: Astrophysics and Cosmology [3.0 units] Elements of general relativity. Physics of pulsars, cosmic rays, black holes. The cosmological distance scale, elementary cosmological models, properties of galaxies and quasars. The mass density and age of the universe. Evidence for dark matter and concepts of the early universe and of galaxy formation. Reflections on astrophysics as a probe of the extrema of physics. Prerequisite: MATH 022 and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ). View course scheduling information
	PHYS 180: Nonlinear Dynamics [4.0 units] Most processes encountered in nature are inherently nonlinear. This course introduces the main topics of low-dimensional nonlinear systems, with applications to a wide variety of disciplines, including physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Specific topics include maps and flows in one and two dimensions, phase portraits, bifurcations, chaos, and fractals. Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 ) and MATH 023 and MATH 024 . Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 192: Special Topics in Physics [1.0-4.0 units] Treatment of a special topic or theme in Physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019 or consent of instructor. Course may be repeated for credit. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research [1.0-5.0 units] Supervised research. Course may be repeated for credit. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 196: Undergraduate Thesis [2.0 units] This is the final capstone component for the undergraduate thesis in Physics. Students will complete their faculty-supervised thesis research, write up and submit their theses, and give a final oral presentation on their thesis work. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Physics majors only. Normal Letter Grade only. Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 199: Upper Division Individual Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 201: Teaching and Learning in the Sciences [1.0 unit] Students will be introduced to ‘scientific teaching’ - an approach to teaching science that uses many of the same skills applied in research. Topics will include how people learn, active learning, designing, organizing and facilitating teachable units, classroom management, diversity in the classroom and assessment design. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 204: Biophysics [4.0 units] Aims to give students an understanding of relevant physical principles for biological systems, introduce them to experimental and theoretical techniques of biophysics and to communicate the excitement of cutting-edge biophysics research. Topics include diffusion, fluids, entropic force, motor proteins, enzymes, nerve impulses, networks and evolution. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 205: Classical Mechanics [4.0 units] Topics in classical mechanics, including Lagrangian and Hamiltoninan formulations, Conservation Laws and Symmetry and the relationship, Calculus of variations and variational principle, Euler angles and rigid body dynamics, Oscillations and normal modes. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 209: Soft Matter Physics [3 units] Introduction to the physics of soft materials designed for graduate students in physics. Uses a physics based approach to study the structure and assembly of a variety of materials including liquid crystals, polymers, colloidal systems and surfactants including biological examples. Normal Letter Grade only. Tutorial Included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 210: Electrodynamics and Optics I [4.0 units] Introduction to electrodynamics. Electrostatics including Poisson and Laplace Equations, Green’s Theorem and different Boundary Value Problems, Polarizibility, Susceptibility and dielectric media. Magnetostatics, Maxwell’s equations, Plane Electromagnetic Waves, Polarization of light, Electromagnetic radiation in different media. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 211: Electrodynamics and Optics II [4.0 units] Continuation of electrodynamics. Wave guides and resonant cavities, Multipole radiation, Relativistic charged particles in electromagnetic fields, Collisions between charged particles and radiation from moving charges with relativistic corrections, introductory magnetohydrodynamics. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 212: Statistical Mechanics [4.0 units] Topics include: General principles of statistical mechanics including microcanonical, macrocanonical and grand canonical ensembles, fluctuations and equilibrium. Thermodynamics including Legendre transforms and Maxwell relations, fluctuations and stability and Landau theory. Quantum statistical mechanics including Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 237: Quantum Mechanics I [4.0 units] Introductory Quantum Mechanics starting with simple Quantum two-state systems and one-dimensional problems, Uncertainty relations, Solution of Schrodinger’s equation for important two and three dimensional physical situations, Angular momentum, identical particles and spin statistics. Hydrogen and multi-electron atoms. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 238: Quantum Mechanics II [4.0 units] Perturbation methods, both stationary and time-dependent, Scattering, interaction with electromagnetic fields, Stark effect, Measurement theory and decoherence, Quantum Hall effect. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 241: Condensed Matter Physics [4.0 units] An introduction to the physics of materials designed for graduate students in physics or chemistry. The course will cover traditional sold state physics and include topics in soft matter. This class will examine the relationship between microscope structure and bulk properties in different properties. Prerequisite: Students should have taken classes in electrodynamics, thermal physics and introductory quantum mechanics. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 244: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics [4 units] Covers modern topics in the atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. The interaction of atoms with radiation, laser cooling and trapping, Bose-Einstein condensation, atom interferometry, and ion trap quantum computing. Quantitative understanding of the physics effects is required for graduate students. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion Included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 248: Quantum Optics [3.0 units] Covers the quantum nature of light, atom-light interaction and experimental quantum optics. It will provide a basis for research in the field of quantum optics. Fundamental concepts and techniques will be linked to modern experimental research. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 249: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory [4.0 units] Introduces quantum field theory with a special emphasis on quantum electrodynamics (QED). Topics include canonical quantization of scalar fields, electromagnetic fields, perturbation theory and renormalization methods among others. Prerequisite: PHYS 238 . Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 270: Academic Writing in Graduate Studies [2.0 units] Designed to increase the writing proficiency of graduate students, with a focus on strategies for reading critically, organizing and developing thoughts, choosing appropriate vocabulary, and generating and revising writing in a given scientific field. Topics address scientific disciplines. Projects may include writing abstracts, research reports, literature reviews, posters, and grant proposals. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 280: Nonlinear Dynamics [4.0 units] Most processes encountered in nature are inherently nonlinear. This course introduces the main topics of low-dimensional nonlinear systems, with applications to a wide variety of disciplines, including physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Specific topics include maps and flows in one and two dimensions, phase portraits, bifurcations, chaos, and fractals. Normal Letter Grade only. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 290: Current Topics in Physics and Chemistry [3.0 units] Exploration of current research directions, problems, and techniques in molecular and materials chemistry, physics and engineering. Course format emphasizes student-led presentation, analysis, and discussion of reading assignments from the current and recent scientific literature. Topics determined by the instructor and changes each semester. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 291: Physics and Chemistry Seminar [1.0 unit] Graduate seminar on current research in molecular and materials chemistry, physics, and engineering. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 292: Special Topics in Physics [1.0-4.0 units] Treatment of a special topic or theme in Physics at the graduate level. Course may be repeated for credit. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium [1.0 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 [1.0-15.0 units] Supervised research. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 298: Directed Group Study [1.0-12.0 units] Group project under faculty supervision. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 299: Directed Independent Study [1.0-12.0 units] Independent project under faculty supervision. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 399: University Teaching [1.0 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 [4.0 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. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 002: Controversies in American Politics [4.0 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. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 003: Introduction to Comparative Politics [4.0 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. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 005: Introduction to International Relations [4.0 units] Introduction to the study of the politics of conflict and war, diplomacy, international cooperation, and international institutions. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 006: Global Issues [4.0 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. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 009: Community Mobilization and Politics [4.0 units] Examination of political and social mobilization at the local level, including strategies for organization and advocacy. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 010: Understanding Political Controversies [4.0 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. Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 090X: Freshman Seminar [1.0 unit] Examination of a topic in political science. Course may be repeated 1 time for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 092: Internship in Political Science [1.0-4.0 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. Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research [1.0-5.0 units] Supervised research. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 099: Lower Division Individual Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 100: Congressional Politics [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ). Discussion included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 101: The Presidency [4.0 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. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. View course scheduling information
	POLI 102: Judicial Politics [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ) View course scheduling information
	POLI 105: Interest Groups and Political Parties [4.0 units] Formation, strategies, and effectiveness of interest groups and political parties in the U.S. Prerequisite: POLI 001 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ). View course scheduling information
	POLI 106: Urban Politics [4.0 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 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 107: California Politics [4.0 units] Examines issues and challenges confronting the State of California; uses California as a window into state politics in general. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. View course scheduling information
	POLI 108: Direct Democracy [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ) View course scheduling information
	POLI 110: Governmental Power and the Constitution [4.0 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 [4.0 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 . View course scheduling information
	POLI 120: Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections [4.0 units] Voting behavior, voter turnout, campaign strategies, and election outcomes. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. View course scheduling information
	POLI 123: Political Psychology [4.0 units] Provides an introduction to the field of political psychology. Political psychologists have applied insights from psychology to a host of questions relating to political behavior. In this course we sample from across this broad range of topics in order to discover how people think and feel about politics. Prerequisite: POLI 001 . Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 125: Public Opinion [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ) View course scheduling information
	POLI 127: Race, Gender, and Politics [4.0 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. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. View course scheduling information
	POLI 130: Institutions of Democracy [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ) View course scheduling information
	POLI 135: Political Behavior Around the World [4.0 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 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ). View course scheduling information
	POLI 140: Transitions to Democracy [4.0 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 [4.0 units] The purpose of the course is to introduce students to major issues in contemporary Chinese politics. The course will focus 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 150: Causes of International Conflict [4.0 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 ). View course scheduling information
	POLI 153: Judgment and Decision Making [4.0 units] An introduction to the 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 . View course scheduling information
	POLI 155: International Political Economy [4.0 units] The connections between politics, policy, and international economics. Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 ). View course scheduling information
	POLI 160: US Foreign Policy [4.0 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 ). View course scheduling information
	POLI 165: International Organizations & Regimes [4.0 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 [4.0 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 . View course scheduling information
	POLI 171: Politics and Film [4.0 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. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Normal Letter Grade only. View course scheduling information
	POLI 175: Advanced Analysis of Political Data [4.0 units] Advanced course on the 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 . Laboratory included. View course scheduling information
	POLI 190: Topics in Political Science [4.0 units] Topics in Political Science selected by instructor. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Course may be repeated 3 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 191: Seminar in Political Science [4.0 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 . Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 4 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 192: Internship in Political Science [1.0-4.0 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. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research [1.0-5.0 units] Supervised research. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 199: Upper Division Individual Study [1.0-5.0 units] Pass/Fail only. Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 200: Research Design in Political Science [4.0 units] Intended to give students 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. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 210: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, I [4.0 units] A graduate-level 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 an 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. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 211: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, II [4.0 units] Provides an in-depth introduction to ordinary least squares regression analysis and its use in political science. Prerequisite: POLI 210 . Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 212: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data III [4.0 units] Maximum likelihood estimation and limited dependent variable models as applied to political science data. Prerequisite: POLI 210 and POLI 211 . Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 213: Experimental Methods in Political Science [4.0 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. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 215: Introduction to Game Theory [4.0 units] This is 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 [4.0 units] Introduces the formal analytic tools that are now used extensively to model political phenomena. It is more advanced and technical than POLI 215, and covers materials not included in POLI 215. 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 or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade only. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 219: Special Topics in Political Science Methodology [4.0 units] A special, instructor-selected topic in political science methodology Course may be repeated for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 220: American Political Institutions [4.0 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. Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information
	POLI 221: Legislative Politics [4.0 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). Course may be repeated 2 times for credit. View course scheduling information

Page: 1 <- Back 10 … 7 \| 8 \| 9 \| 10 \| 11 \| 12 \| 13 \| 14 \| 15 \| 16 \| 17

Contract All Courses | Print this page.

Print this Page

Additional Links

Academics

Administration

University of California, Merced

Course Descriptions

PHYS 109: Soft Matter Physics

PHYS 110: Electrodynamics Core

PHYS 111: Electromagnetic Radiation Minicourse

PHYS 112: Statistical Mechanics

PHYS 116: Mathematical Methods

PHYS 120: Physics of Materials

PHYS 122: Waves Minicourse

PHYS 124: Atomic Structure Minicourse

PHYS 126: Special Relativity Minicourse

PHYS 137: Quantum Mechanics Core

PHYS 141: Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 144: Modern Atomic Physics

PHYS 148: Modern Optics

PHYS 150: Energy Sources

PHYS 151: Topics in Solar Energy Physics

PHYS 159: Particle Physics

PHYS 160: Modern Physics Lab

PHYS 161: Astrophysics and Cosmology

PHYS 180: Nonlinear Dynamics

PHYS 192: Special Topics in Physics

PHYS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research

PHYS 196: Undergraduate Thesis

PHYS 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study

PHYS 199: Upper Division Individual Study

PHYS 201: Teaching and Learning in the Sciences

PHYS 204: Biophysics

PHYS 205: Classical Mechanics

PHYS 209: Soft Matter Physics

PHYS 210: Electrodynamics and Optics I

PHYS 211: Electrodynamics and Optics II

PHYS 212: Statistical Mechanics

PHYS 237: Quantum Mechanics I

PHYS 238: Quantum Mechanics II

PHYS 241: Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 244: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

PHYS 248: Quantum Optics

PHYS 249: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory

PHYS 270: Academic Writing in Graduate Studies

PHYS 280: Nonlinear Dynamics

PHYS 290: Current Topics in Physics and Chemistry

PHYS 291: Physics and Chemistry Seminar

PHYS 292: Special Topics in Physics

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