PhD in Management of Complex Systems at University of California, Merced

The Management of Complex Systems at University of California, Merced is a PhD 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 PhD in Management of Complex Systems

The Ph.D. in Management of Complex Systems (MCS) is designed to educate a new generation of management scholars with depth in analytical methods and a focus on complexity as the driving force behind issues in management of human-technology systems and in management of coupled human-natural systems.

The program draws upon the multidisciplinary composition of Management of Innovation, Sustainability and Technology (MIST) faculty and the interdisciplinary spirit of UC Merced to deliver a distinctive educational experience – one that provides students the flexibility to cross-breed coursework and mentorship with other domains of engineering, science, and social science. Likewise, the program does not require prospective students to have any particular undergraduate degree.

Courses are directly taught by MIST core faculty who have expertise in various facets of adaptive management of complex coupled human and natural systems, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and public and private enterprises. As such, coursework and thesis projects are aimed at developing management skills tailored for ‘wicked problems’ – those of indeterminate scale and scope requiring interdisciplinary collaboration – that are so often encountered in complex adaptive systems.

Both the sources and solutions to the grand challenges of the 21st century are at the intersection of people, organizations, information, technology, and the natural world. By focusing on this nexus, this program will prepare our students with a valuable skillset for working with other scholars, practitioners, and policy makers in order to address challenges of monitoring, analysis, modeling, entrepreneurship, adaptive management and change leadership that managers and leaders are faced with across a diverse array of public and private organizations.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Management of Complex Systems at University of California, Merced

Entry Requirements

International applicants should hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The Graduate Admissions Office will determine the equivalence based on the academic record submitted by the applicant. All academic records must show dates of enrollment, courses taken, class rank (if applicable), description of grading scale used, and degree awarded or expected date of conferral.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Fee Information

Application Fee 150

How to Apply

Online Application and Fee: Submit the online admission application. After you have completed the application, make the application fee payment using the online payment system. NOTE: If you applied for a fee waiver, please finalize and submit your application in order for your fee waiver request to be reviewed (do not make a payment at this time)
Transcripts: For the initial reiew process, upload a scanned copy of all college level course work. If recommended for admissions, official transcripts will be required. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes issued by the institution(s) you have attended. All academic records submitted to our office become the property of the University, and cannot be return.
GRE scores: The GRE requirement is up to the individual graduate program. Please visit our Application Requirements Page and review your program's requirements under the "Indivdidual Program Requirements" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit your verified GRE scores if your program requires the test score. The GRE institution code for UC Merced is 4129. The GMAT institution code for UC Merced is Z9H-CF.
Letters of Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation are required for graduate admissions. Preferably from professors or instructors in the proposed field of study.
TOEFL/ IELTS (International applicants only): Please select institution code 4129 to have your official score sent to UC Merced. Please visit our International Applicants Information page for more information.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Submit by March 2 to meet priority processing. This form may be filled out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. UC Merced's federal code is 041271.
Statement of Purpose and Personal History

Send required documents to:

UC Merced
Graduate Division
5200 North Lake Road, SSB 230
Merced, CA 95343

PhD in Management of Complex Systems at University of California, Merced

University of California, Merced

United States of America, Merced