WC Grad 

A graduate program in World Culture studies has been formed to offer individualized, research-based courses of study. The program explores cultures in both their local manifestations (by focusing on the rich cultural and historical heritage of California , the San Joaquin Valley , and the Sierra Nevada), and in a global context. The program pays particular attention to world cultures in their historical, political, and literary manifestations, and to the effects of immigration and migration on society and cultural change.

Students will understand and use the methods by which historians, literary scholars, artists, philosophers, and other humanists and social scientists examine societies and cultures. The program will offer concentrations in History, Literatures and Cultures of the Spanish-speaking World, and Literatures and Cultures of the English-speaking world.

Concentrations include multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary courses, and the concentrations are conceived as mutually complementary. Since proximity to the Sierra and the other splendid natural features of California has significantly influenced the cultural and historical development of the state, students will also benefit from the intersections of interests between the World Cultures Institute (WCI) and the Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI), particularly in the area of the cultural understanding of wilderness and the environment.

Graduate study at UC Merced involves working closely with one or more professors, so prospective applicants should carefully consult the faculty list for current research topics.