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.
Concepts of computer operating systems including concurrency, memory
management, file systems, multitasking, performance analysis, and security.
Offered spring only.
Prerequisite:CSE 031.Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Design concepts and implementation features of computer networks. Concepts of network robustness, scalability, addressing, routing, and security. Several contemporary networking protocols are analyzed.
CSE 165: Introduction to Object Orientated Programming
[4.0 units]
Topics include object-oriented programming concepts, such as classes, objects, methods, interfaces, packages, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.
Prerequisite:CSE 020 and CSE 021. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Basic algorithms in computer graphics enabling students to understand and experience the process of implementing modern computer graphics applications. The topics covered are: rasterization, clipping, hidden surface removal, transformations, rendering pipeline, scene graphs, graphics libraries, interpolation, curves and surfaces, constructive solid geometry, boundary representation, spatial partition methods, texture mapping, color models, illumination and shading.
Prerequisite:CSE 031.Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Covers the main algorithms and techniques used in the implementation of interactive 3D Graphics, such as in Computer Games, Robotics Simulators and Virtual Reality. Topics covered are: keyframe animation, articulated figures, direct and inverse kinematics, physically-based simulation, path planning, behavior-based animation, scripting behaviors, and other advanced topics.
Prerequisite:CSE 170.Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Design and analysis of computational simulations of human behavior and brain function. Techniques for modeling active membranes, individual neurons, the dynamics produced by recurrent excitation and lateral inhibition, synaptic plasticity, and the computational role of neurotransmitters. Formal models of perception, attention, learning, memory, language, categorization, and cognitive control.
Prerequisite:COGS 001 and one upper division COGS course or consent of instructor. Laboratory included.
An overview of the main concepts and algorithms underlying the understanding and construction of intelligent systems: agents, problem solving, search, representation, reasoning, planning, communication, perception, robotics, neural networks. Includes practical experimentation of algorithms in computer labs.
Prerequisite:CSE 020 and CSE 021 or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Survey of techniques for the development and analysis of software that learns from experience. An introduction to computational learning theory. Bayesian approaches to learning. Instance-based methods and case-based learning. Decision tree learning. Inductive logic. Artificial neural networks. Kernel methods. Reinforcement learning. Learning from demonstrations and explicit instruction.
Prerequisite:MATH 032 and CSE 175 or consent of instructor. Laboratory included.
Studies the internals of a database management system, with emphasis on query execution. The final goal of the class is to build a fully-functional database execution engine consisting of all the standard components: storage manager, buffer manager, query execution engine, query optimizer, and query compiler.
Prerequisite:CSE 031 and CSE 111. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Introduces fundamental concepts in the design and development of secure computer networks. It will cover security threats, secret-key and public-key cryptography and algorithms, digital signatures, authentication, Electronic mail, Public-key infrastructure, viruses and worms.
Prerequisite:CSE 150. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Parallel computing is pervasive. From embedded devices, laptops, to high-end supercomputer, and large-scale data centers, parallel computing is widely employed to achieve performance and efficiency targets. This course introduces the foundations of parallel computing, including parallel architectures, parallel programming methods and techniques, parallel algorithm designs, and parallel performance analysis.
Prerequisite:CSE 140 and CSE 100, or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade Only.Laboratory Included.
Covers the basic of robotics focusing on the algorithmic side, rather
than technology. Students will be introduced to basic computational techniques concerning spatial modeling, planning, and sensor processing. The course has a strong hands-on component. Implementation of different techniques in simulation will complement the theoretical lectures.
Prerequisite:CSE 031. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Overview of fundamental image processing and pattern recognition techniques including image formation, edge detection, image segmentation, optical flow, recovery of three-dimensional structure from shading or stereo information, shape representations, and issues in object recognition.
Prerequisite:Junior standing and CSE 031 or equivalent programming skills. Mathematical background commensurate with upper division engineering students. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Provides foundation for UC Merced’s general education program with a strong emphasis on writing, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and understanding events in their historical and cultural contexts. CORE 001 is a first year course designed to introduce students to UC Merced’s faculty, our research, and the academic fields in which we work. A grade of C- or better is required to pass CORE 001.
Prerequisite: Freshman or Sophomore standing only and (
CORE 100: The World at Home: Planning for the Future in a Complex World II
[4.0 units]
Second half of the Core course sequence, building on the foundation of UC Merced’s general education program and has a strong emphasis on writing, quantitative literacy, critical thinking, and understanding events in their historical and cultural contexts. The inaugural theme is a study of how individuals and societies can make the best choices in preparing for an uncertain future. The unifying theme in these modules is contemporary California which acts as a common reference point highlighting the regional implications of global events or the global consequences of seemingly local choices. A wide range of interdisciplinary perspectives from the arts, humanities, social sciences, life and physical sciences, and engineering are brought to bear on the course topics. Upper-division-level quantitative literacy skills and writing ability is expected.
Prerequisite:Junior standing and CORE 001.Normal Letter Grade only.Discussion included.
An introduction to basic principles of earth systems for non-science majors and prospective majors. A multidisciplinary approach that draws from geology, chemistry, physics, and biology to understand how the Earth functions as a complex system, and the role and impact of human beings on Earth systems.
Explores the scientific basis for a rigorous definition of the concept of sustainability and its implementation in society. Using ¿back-of-the-envelope¿ style calculations it explains major magnitudes and trends of environmental impacts and sustainable activities. It will also employ assignments and discussions that encourage communication across disciplinary barriers.
An introduction to basic principles of coupled biological and earth systems for non-science majors and prospective majors. An interdisciplinary approach that combines concepts from biology and earth science to understand how the Earth functions as a biological incubator, the origin and evolution of molecular life, the rise of complex biological and ecological earth systems, human impacts, and the sustainable Earth.
We are users and changers of our planet. This course discusses the materials and resources our planet supplies to societies, and the environmental consequences that result from consumption. We will examine the origin and use of food, water, energy, and mineral resources, and consider challenges to management and sustainability.
Introduction to the geology of California for non-science majors. A tour of the major geologic features of our state, its geologic hazards, and its natural earth resources in the context of basic plate tectonics and earth science principles.
Introduction to geology with emphasis on physical and chemical processes that have shaped the Earth through time. Topics include Earth history, plate tectonics, mineral and rock formation, mountain building and landscape evolution, and interior and surface geologic processes.
Fundamentals of ecosystem science; organization, function and development of ecological systems; energy and mass flow; biogeochemical cycling; biodiversity, population dynamics, and sustainability.
An introduction to biological, chemical, and physical oceanography, marine geomorphology, and their synthesis in the study of marine life; also including relationships with atmospheric, freshwater, and terrestrial systems. Areas of emphasis include ecosystems (from the deep sea to saltwater ponds), the integrated coastal zone, resource management, and global change.
ESS 040: Air Quality, Air Resources and Environmental Health
[4.0 units]
A survey of principles and issues related to air quality and resources from global to regional scales, including evolution of the earth’s atmosphere, urban smog formation, visibility, acid rain, stratospheric and tropospheric ozone, effects of meteorology on air pollution, air pollution transport across political boundaries, and health effects of exposure to air pollution.
An introduction to ecological principles and processes through the examination of California’s varied ecosystems; discussion of native and invasive species, land use, human impacts, and biodiversity; two Saturday field trips to a variety of California habitats.
History, causes, and consequences of anthropogenic and natural changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems; geologic evidence for glacial cycles and climate changes, modern marine and atmosphere circulation, greenhouse gases, deforestation and species extinctions, and human population growth and impacts on climate and resources.
ESS 070: Soil Foundations of Terrestrial Ecosystems
[4.0 units]
Examines the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils that influence terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Topics include processes that control soil formation, evolution, development, and chemical properties. Particular emphasis is placed on the quantitative descriptions of energy nutrient and contaminant fluxes into, out of and through soils.
Chemical principles of Earth and environmental systems focusing on environmental processes in water, soil, and air. Emphasis on acid-base chemistry, aqueous speciation, mineral and gas solubility, oxidation and reduction, and isotopes.
ESS 102: Chemical Processes in the Soil Environment
[3.0 units]
Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical process in soil systems. Topics include the formation and identification of common minerals, adsorption/desorption, precipitation/dissolution, and electrochemical reactions in soils.
Quantitative analysis of earth systems using principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and isotope geochemistry; solution-mineral equilibrium and phase relations; equilibrium and reactive transport approaches to modeling geochemical processes at ambient and elevated temperatures.
Focus on organic chemical reactions in soils and sedimentary environments. Topics include the formation and weathering of natural organic matter and reactions of natural organic matter with pollutants.
Movement, storage, and transformation of elements in the atmosphere, biosphere,
hydrosphere, lithosphere, and pedosphere, with an emphasis on nutrients, human impacts, and global change.
ESS 106: Instrumental Methods in Environmental Systems
[3.0 units]
Instrumental analytical methods and quantitative analysis applied to the study of environmental materials, including inorganic, organic, and biological substances.
ESS 108: Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Earth Materials
[3.0 units]
Surface, colloid, and interfacial chemistry related to soil, environmental, and microbial applications; properties, energetics, and reactivity of surfaces and interfaces of Earth materials; the role of mineral surfaces in promoting and catalyzing chemical phenomena at phase boundaries.
Chemical principles, structure, and bonding of minerals and Earth materials, including crystallography (symmetry, space groups, group theory), coordination chemistry, bonding models (valence bond, crystal field, and MO theories), and electronic and magnetic properties.
Basics of the hydrological cycle and the global climate system. Fundamentals of surface water hydrology, hydrometeorology, evaporation, precipitation, statistical and probabilistic methods, unit hydrograph, and flood routing.
Hydrologic and geologic factors controlling the occurrence and use of groundwater on regional and local scales. Physical, mathematical, geologic and engineering concepts fundamental to subsurface hydrologic processes. Introduction to ground-water flow and transport modeling, with emphasis on model construction and simulation.
Prerequisite:ENVE 110 or ESS 110. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
ESS 120: Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Microbiology
[4.0 units]
Fundamentals of microbiology in ecological and environmental systems, including the distribution of microbial diversity throughout terrestrial, extreme, and marine environments; microbial control of global biogeochemical cycles; and environmental services provided by microorganisms. Both classical and contemporary biochemical, molecular, and genomic approaches to microbial physiology, metabolism, and ecology will be discussed.
Ecosystem ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. Focus on energy, water and nutrient flows through the living (plants, animals, microbes) and nonliving (soils, atmosphere) components of ecosystems. Examines both natural and human-modified terrestrial ecosystems.
Prerequisite:BIO 148 or ESS 025 or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade only.
Introduction to the principles and methods of genomics as applied to the understanding of ecosystems. Topics include population genetics, adaptation to environmental change, and genomic analysis of environmental microbial communities; experimental and computational methods relevant to environmental genomics.
Prerequisite:BIO 141 or ESS 120. Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
Advanced study of the application of theoretical and quantitative methods for the analysis and interpretation of populations, communities and ecosystems.
Prerequisite:BIO 145 and (MATH 012 or MATH 022).Normal Letter Grade only.Discussion included.
Introduction to the relationships of fossil organisms to one another and to their physical environment, focusing on terrestrial paleoecology of the past 2.5 million years. This class will introduce past environments, discuss common proxies for studying paleoecology, and examine ecological principles as applied to the past.
Prerequisite: Any BIO or ESS course and (BIO 148 or ESS 148) or consent of instructor. Normal Letter Grade only.
Introduces students to the basics of plant biology. Topics covered include plant biochemistry and metabolism, anatomy, reproduction, evolution, and ecological interactions, as well as the interactions between plants and humans in the context of agriculture, medicine, and global change.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and BIO 001 and (CHEM 002 or CHEM 002H). Normal Letter Grade Only.Laboratory Included.
Spatial and temporal patterns in climate and their association with land surface characteristics and processes. Methods for exploiting these for hypothesis testing, modeling, and forecasting. Applications include seasonal forecasting, ecological modeling, and analysis of processes such as flooding and wildfire.
Prerequisite:ENVE 110 or ESS 110 or consent of instructor. Laboratory included.
Introduces students to the plant diversity of California. It consists of lectures, discussions, and field trips. The field trips focus on plant identification in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada and help illustrate concepts presented in lecture such as endemism, plant/soil interactions, and vegetation types.
Prerequisite:Junior standing and BIO 001 or ESS 001 or BIO 148 or ESS 050 or consent of instructorDiscussion included.
In depth-analysis of environmental case studies. Focus on science critical to policy development and implementation, the policy-making process, and policy outcomes. Special emphasis on interaction between scientific information and policy-making. Example topics include Western water resources, biodiversity conservation, and global warming. Emphasis on written and oral communication and critical analysis.
Prerequisite:WRI 010 and any course in BIO, ECON, ENVE, ESS, POLI, or PUBP course or consent of instructor. Discussion included.
Astrobiology refers to the study of the origin and evolution of life in the cosmos. It is an integrative, multidisciplinary field that includes areas of biology, astronomy, geology, chemistry and physics. Students in the class face some of the most fundamental topics addressed by science today such as who we are, where we came from, and where we might go. We cover three main themes: How did life begin and evolve? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe? What is life’s future on Earth and beyond?
Detailed examination of the evolutionary, ecological, management, and policy issues related to the conservation of ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity. Theory and practical aspects of biological conservation are presented, with special reference to case studies from California.
Prerequisite:BIO 001 and (MATH 018 or MATH 032). Normal Letter Grade only.Discussion included.
Observation and analysis of earth surface processes and the development of landforms and landscape. The interaction between surficial processes and tectonic, biologic, hydrologic, climatic, and atmospheric processes. Evaluation of environmental hazards and engineering solutions.
Examines the soil as a natural resource and soils as ecosystems. Soil science explores the major physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils, and fundamental processes that regulate interaction of the terrestrial biosphere with other components of the earth system.
Field techniques in chemistry, hydrology, geology, ecology, and microbiology, emphasizing principles of measurement, observation, and interpretation; integration of diverse data sets.
Introduction to economics principles and methods, including microeconomics (operation of the economy at the individual and firm level) and macroeconomics (nature and functions of the national economy in a global context).
Provides an introduction to the modern business enterprise. It covers the role of the business enterprise in the global economy; financial tools, including the time value of money and capital budgeting; product pricing and marketing; and personal financial management.
Introduction to the application of social scientific methods to the study of economics, politics, and management. Covers research design, random sampling, descriptive and inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, and the linear regression model with an emphasis on applications.
Prerequisite:MATH 005 or MATH 011 or MATH 021 or equivalent score on the Math Placement exam. Laboratory included.
Covers tools of financial accounting, including accounting for revenues and costs in the income statement; cash flows; and assets, liabilities, and equity in the balance sheet. There will be in-depth coverage of accounting for cash, receivables, inventories, property, plant and equipment, depreciation, and intangible assets.
Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field related to Economics in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of Economics. Students are required to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of Economics.
Pass/Fail only.Course may be repeated 2 times for credit.
Analysis of output, employment, interest rates, and the price level. A survey of trends in the American economy; emphasis on factors explaining economic growth and on the changing distribution of the gains and losses associated with growth.
Discussion of critical issues in the design and functioning of effective organizations. Topics covered include: the boundary of the firm, firm structure, arrangements within the firm, alliances and contracts between firms, and trust and culture in the firm.
Marketing Strategy examines how to create customer value, target the correct
market, and build customer relationships. Topics include customer behavior,
creating brand loyalty, advertising strategy, new product development, media strategy, pricing strategy, the industrial organization of retail markets, and the social, ethical and regulatory environment for marketing.
ECON 120: Economics of the Environment and Public Policy
[4.0 units]
Provides a systematic analysis of environmental policy issues using microeconomic theory. Topics covered include elements of welfare economics, theories of environmental policy instruments, the law and economics of environmental regulation, economics of recycling, and international environmental issues.
Prerequisite:ECON 001 or ESS 001.Normal Letter Grade only.Laboratory included.
ECON 121: The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions
[4.0 units]
Addresses issues of money, banking, and financial institutions. Topics covered include: the structure of central banks and the Federal Reserve system, theories of money demand and money supply, the relationship between money supply and overall economic activity, and the role the Federal Reserve plays in economic stabilization.
Introduction of problems of observation, estimation, and hypotheses testing in economics through the study of the theory and application of linear regression models, critical evaluation of selected examples of empirical research, and exercises in applied economics.
Analysis of the economic forces that shape labor markets, institutions, and performance in the United States and other countries, with special attention to the determinants of labor supply and demand, human capital investment, and government policy.
ECON 141: Industrial Relations and Human Resource Economics
[4.0 units]
Examination of how firms make decisions involving human resources. Topics covered include employee hiring and recruitment, compensation and use of incentives, and employee motivation and teamwork. Builds on both economic theory and practical examples to illuminate key concepts.
Analysis of the economic issues pertaining to gender with an emphasis on studying and evaluating U.S. policy. Topics include work-life balance, occupational choice, the gender earnings/wage gap, housework, and changing social norms. The intersection between gender and poverty is also discussed, particularly as it pertains to U.S. welfare policy.
An economic analysis of policies and institutions in the U.S. health care sector: supply and demand for health services, conceptual and policy issues relating to health insurance, and economic analysis of efficient regulatory policies toward the health care sector.
The influence of governmental revenue and expenditure decisions on economic performance. Examines such issues as public goods and externalities, as well as specific expenditure and taxation programs.
The economic analysis of legal rules and institutions, including property, contract, and tort law. We also consider issues surrounding crime and punishment.
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.
Tools of political economics: preferences and institutions, electoral competition, agency, partisan politics. Redistributive politics: general interest politics, special interest politics. Comparative politics: electoral rules, separation of powers, political regimes. Dynamic politics: fiscal policy, growth.
Discussion of urban and regional economies focusing on the interactions of individuals and firms in markets. Topics include the size and distribution of cities, location decisions of households and firms, housing, labor, and real estate markets, transportation, environment, and regional growth and development.
This is a course in international microeconomics at the intermediate level. Standard microeconomics is the study of decision-making by various types of agents under various constraints and in various environments. International microeconomics examines such decision-making in a world of many different decision-makers, objectives, outputs, and countries.
Examines the determination of exchange rates, managing exchange rate risk, and the international macroeconomy. Topics may include the balance of payments mechanism, international banking and credit risk, the economics of foreign direct investment, international financial crises, and policy issues in international finance such as fixed versus floating exchange rates.