uc merced welcomes our new students

The School of Social Science, Humanities, and Arts (SSHA) at UC Merced empowers students with the knowledge to become leaders, creators and innovators who will shape the future of California and the world.

Photo of two individuals holding a map with the words that say I WILL Explore. create. transform

Find Your Degree

Our departments offer 16 majors and 20 minors that prepare students for academic and professional success.

Top 5 UC Merced's Top 10 Enrolled Majors

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Voices of Success

" It’s SSHAwesome how supportive SSHA faculty are, and I love learning through their interdisciplinary approach while being part of a friendly, engaged community. "

-Victoria Mendez

" Public Health at UC Merced feels personal- what I learn connects to the Central Valley, and I love helping others find the resources they need to thrive. "

-Emily Lo

" As a history major, I’ve gained versatile skills I can use beyond the classroom. At a smaller campus like UC Merced, it’s easier to access research, jobs, and meaningful ways to help others. "

-Max Turkovich

" SSHA majors have a clear edge- it's easy to build real connections with professors and tap into research and job opportunities early on. "

-Anton Viray

" At SSHA, I get to explore beyond my major, connect with professors, and have meaningful conversations that make learning personal. "

-Melanie Farias-Ramirez

" I feel that the topics that are taught are expansive, and I like that I am able to take classes in different areas of study and they still count towards my major. You can get one on one time with professors and get to know them, and class sizes are smaller so there is more opportunity to get to know your professors. "

-Melanie Farias-Ramirez

" I feel that the topics that are taught are expansive, and I like that I am able to take classes in different areas of study and they still count towards my major. You can get one on one time with professors and get to know them, and class sizes are smaller so there is more opportunity to get to know your professors. "

-Melanie Farias-Ramirez

Our Impact in Action

UC Merced students and Rufus mascot at Beginnings sculpture during Scholars Bridge Crossing
August 25, 2026

A smiling throng of new faces took part Tuesday in one of UC Merced’s oldest traditions, the Scholars Bridge Crossing. Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and other campus leaders led the march over the...

Graphic with five headshots of new faculty endowed chairs
August 24, 2026

Five faculty members in the UC Merced School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts have been appointed to endowed chairs, recognizing their scholarship and contributions to research that serve...

Closeup of stone marker for townsite of Gold Rush town Agua Fria
August 12, 2026

Digging for stories in a Gold Rush town that vanished in flames 170 years ago. Pinging brainwaves for reactions from sentences that slide between Spanish and English. Fortifying students’ skills and...

Edward Flores is pictured with a word overlay: Professor Ed Flores has been honored with the 2026 PACIFIC SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S Distinguished Contribution to Sociological Praxis Award.
July 21, 2026

The Pacific Sociological Association recently honored UC Merced sociology Professor Edward Flores, faculty director of the university's Community and Labor Center, with its Distinguished...

Celebrating Achievements

July 21, 2026

Discover how UC Merced Professor Paul Almeida is helping expand community participation in climate action through research focused on equity, civic engagement, and the Central Valley.  Read...

May 20, 2026

UC Merced’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts honors 13 undergraduates for outstanding academic careers. Dean Leo Arriola said the honorees made their mark with significant...

This year's Hellman Fellows: Adeyemi Adebiyi, Qian Wang and Meredith Van Natta
September 4, 2025

As the Hellman Fellowships celebrate their 30th year, three more researchers, one from each of UC Merced’s schools, have joined the prestigious ranks of recipients. Electrical engineering...

Fabiola Perez-Lua, a recent Ph.D. graduate at UC Merced, earned a UCLA Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship.
August 13, 2025

A daughter of San Joaquin Valley immigrant farmworkers has earned the opportunity to study alongside a nationally prominent health researcher and energize her mission to improve the well-being of...

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