Bachelor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at University of California, Merced

The Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at University of California, Merced is a Bachelor program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the university's main campus in Merced , United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 4 years to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 16, 2026.

About Bachelor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES) is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to understand the ways society is culturally and institutionally constituted by ideas of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, and nation. The program provides an innovative, multidisciplinary paradigm that employs global (Western and non-Western), relational, and intersectional methods for producing knowledge about power and inequality, including systems of knowledge that have emerged from racialized and indigenous communities. In using race, ethnicity, and indigeneity as ideological frameworks, CRES aims to scrutinize cultures of power and domination as well as highlight and imagine struggles for liberation and self-determination.

UC Merced Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Program

With outstanding faculty who already teach in programs across campus, undergraduates in the CRES program have a valuable opportunity to create a course of study that gives them strong theoretical grounding and a wide range of topics to explore. Students will engage in a multidisciplinary and supportive academic environment. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies is an exciting and valuable degree that prepares students to enter the workforce as informed citizens in a diverse and challenging society. The major offers a strong liberal arts education for students considering admission to graduate or professional schools and careers in education, law, medicine, public health, social work, counseling, journalism, business, city planning, politics, psychology, international relations, creative writing, and the arts.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at University of California, Merced

Entry Requirements

When filling out your coursework and marks/grades, refer to the Intermediate School Certificate (Shahadat Al Kafa’at Al Mutawassita) and the General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) (Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat) for accuracy.

Submitting official documents (after you are admitted to UC)

After you are accepted to UC, you must submit both of the following documents by July 1 to the UC campus where you plan to enroll:

An official Intermediate School Certificate (Shahadat Al Kafa’at Al Mutawassita) with courses listed and grades received for each course; and
An official General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) (Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat) with courses listed and grades received for each course, indicating completion of required high school courses with above average grades.

Both certificates must:

Indicate completion of the following subjects in an academic, non-vocational secondary program: history/economics, Arabic, foreign language (English), laboratory science, mathematics (including geometry and second year algebra at a minimum);
Include course title and grades received; a minimum average of 75 percent is needed for consideration with no grade lower than 60 percent.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

City and urban planner
Community and housing developer
Education policymaker
Environmental activist
Family and school social worker
Immigrant rights advocate
Journalist
Legislator
Nonprofit organization manager
Policy analyst
Professor
Public interest or legal advocate
Union organizer
Youth minister

Fee Information

Application Fee 80

How to Apply

To apply, go to the University of California Application website during the priority filing periods for fall (October 1 through November 30) or Spring (July 1 through 31).
In the Campuses & Majors section of the application, select UC Merced.

Important Reminders:

You do not need to submit the SAT or ACT. UC Merced will not use them for admission or scholarship selection.
You are not required to submit transcripts to apply; however, it's a good idea to have a copy of your unofficial records to help you complete your application.

Bachelor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at University of California, Merced

University of California, Merced

United States of America, Merced