UC Merced’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts made a splash in the latest rankings of university graduate programs compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
The university’s Political Science program ranked 52nd in the nation, tied with UC Riverside, Purdue University-West Lafayette, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Arizona State University.
UC Merced’s Psychological Sciences graduate program tied for 95th, alongside institutions such as UC Santa Cruz, the University of Massachusetts-Boston and the University of Alabama.
U.S. News’ rankings of social sciences and humanities programs for 2025 were based on peer assessment surveys in which top officials rated programs of other institutions.
Students who pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science at UC Merced can choose from two concentrations: Political Institutions/Political Economy and Political Cognition and Behavior. This structure encourages interdisciplinary research and takes advantage of one-on-one mentoring by faculty.
“Our program resonates with students because our faculty conduct world-class research and invest significant time and energy into our students’ education,” said Professor Christopher Ojeda, who chairs the graduate program.
Ojeda said recent Political Science Ph.D. graduates have taken positions at institutions such as Stanford University, the University of Kentucky and Gettysburg College, along with the political survey firm Morning Consult.
“We hope to build on these successes as we look to the future,” Ojeda said.
The university's Psychological Sciences Ph.D. program offers three areas of emphasis: Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, and Quantitative Methods, Measurements and Statistics.
Psychology Professor Eric Walle, the department’s graduate program chair, said: “It is great to see, once again, that Psychological Sciences is listed as one of the top programs in the nation. Each of our areas of research is committed to bringing our expertise to address issues facing the Central Valley and the world.”
Walle said current research includes studying how children navigate different cultures, the lingering effects of the pandemic on children and families, health outcomes and disparities in various groups, and the methods for studying these issues.
“This sustained recognition demonstrates the research excellence of our faculty and students, the high-quality training we provide, and the impact our department has on the field,” Walle said.
School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Dean Leo Arriola said the national rankings “affirm the strong foundation our faculty has built for graduate education. Students are challenged intellectually, supported in their scholarly development, and prepared for impactful careers across sectors.”
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