Modern atmospheric science is a quantitative science that is reflected in the major's curriculum. In addition to the study of daily weather events, the program deals with fundamental dynamical and physical processes that involve the general circulation of the atmosphere; turbulent mass and energy transfer at the planetary surface as well as within the free atmosphere; the transfer of solar and terrestrial radiation throughout the atmosphere; atmospheric interaction with the biosphere; climate variations; and developments in remote sensing using satellites with modern meteorological instrumentation. In addition, the program has significant expertise in the areas of air quality and its related atmospheric chemistry. As well as providing a broad background in meteorology, the major includes an informal minor area to be chosen from mathematics, computer science, environmental studies, resource management or a physical or biological science. For more information, see Atmospheric Science.

Offering both an undergraduate major and minor, our curriculum emphasizes multidisciplinary, comparative, transnational, and intersectional perspectives; original empirically-based scholarship; cultural production and analyses; and community engagement.

In consultation with our faculty and staff advisors, students in the major have the exciting opportunity to select an emphasis or specialty organized around our faculty’s core areas of intellectual focus including—Immigration, Labor, and Transnationalism; Visual, Literary, and Cultural Studies; and Public/Community-Engaged Scholarship. The department is also developing an emphasis on Health through its emerging   partnerships. Each emphasis incorporates a diverse array of thematic, theoretical, disciplinary, and methodological approaches—as well as a focus on a broad range of Asian American communities—allowing students to  choose a course of study that aligns with their particular academic and career interests.

The Art Studio program is designed to deliver a broad range of hands-on studio practices to the art major. Areas of focus include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and time-based media. Course choices/sequences are determined by the student according to major distribution requirements. Students are encouraged to explore a broad range of disciplines and are expected to take advantage of beginning classes which provide a critical introduction to the research possibilities within the major, across disciplines. In addition to studio classes, students are encouraged to participate in a distinguished visiting artist lecture series, professional practice seminars, student exhibitions/competitions, internships, and benefit from exposure to cultural events and exhibitions in Davis, Sacramento, and the Greater Bay Area.

The major begins with a series of courses that surveys major landmarks in the history of visual culture, art and architecture in Asia, Europe, and the United States. More advanced lecture courses and seminars focus on particularly important periods and issues. Students are encouraged to personalize their training with internships, independent study, and focused upper division study. Top students considering graduate study are encouraged to engage in more advance study by pursuing a senior honors thesis.

The Department of Physics & Astronomy offers a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and two Bachelor of Science degree programs: in Physics (which also offers an emphasis in Astrophysics), and in Applied Physics. The A.B. degree provides broad coverage of classical and modern physics while permitting a broader liberal arts education than is possible with the other two programs. The B.S. degree in either Physics or Applied Physics should be followed by the student who plans to enter physics as a profession, and also provides excellent training for a wide variety of technical career options. The B.S. in Applied Physics provides the student with a solid introduction to a particular applied physics specialty. For the student who plans to enter the job market upon completing a B.S. degree, the applied physics orientation would be an asset. Either B.S. program provides a solid foundation in physics for the student interested in graduate work in either pure or applied physics.

After completing basic introductory courses such as calculus and linear algebra, students plan an upper division program in consultation with a faculty advisor. Upper division courses include real analysis, probability, modern algebra, as well as a variety of other courses that allow students to further mathematical knowledge and skills that feature their research or career interests. This individualized program can lead to graduate study in pure or applied mathematics, elementary or secondary level teaching, or to other professional goals. It can also reflect a special interest such as computational and applied mathematics, computer science, or statistics, or may be combined with a major in some other field.

The Department of Chemistry offers two Bachelor of Science degree emphases under the heading of Applied Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry. The B.S. emphasis in Applied Chemistry falls outside of the classical chemistry degree and instead draws on significant course material from areas relevant to their particular fields. The Environmental Chemistry program provides students with tools to understand the processes governing chemical transformations in soil, air, and water, analyze key substances in the environment, and make meaningful predictions about the fates of these chemicals. The Forensic Chemistry program involves the identification and quantification of scientific evidence both in the natural environment and in urban settings, including substances sometimes available in only trace amounts.

Evolutionary anthropologists are united by their common application of science and evolutionary theory to understand the behavior, ecology, history, and evolution of humans & non-human primates, as individuals and as  societies. These topics may be approached through archaeology, human behavioral ecology, paleoanthropology, primatology, genetics, and conservation biology. Archaeology is the study of history or prehistory by analysis of a people's artifacts, or their material culture, with the goal of reconstructing culture history and human behavior. Human behavioral ecology is the study of how variation in ecology and social organization can help us understand variation in human behavior. Paleoanthropology is the study of human evolution through the fossil and archaeological records, drawing on relevant studies in biological anthropology, Paleolithic archaeology, genetics, and  geology. Primatology is the study of behavior, ecology, and morphology of primates to address questions about the evolution and function of behavioral & morphological patterns in nonhuman primates and to test models of the origins of human morphology and behavior. Genetic anthropology uses DNA to address anthropological questions about population histories, migrations, mixing, and adaptations to local contexts. Conservation biology explores the causes of loss of biological diversity—in this department, it focuses on threatened non-human primates and the conservation of natural resources by a rapidly growing population. A Bachelor of Science degree, in addition to core evolutionary anthropology courses, includes the introductory sequences of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and calculus, as well as genetics and ecology.

Anthropology is the systematic study of humans. The student of anthropology learns about human biology, ecology, and social life—past and present—and gains a broad understanding of humans and societies. It is a diverse field, and the courses, faculty, and degree programs at UC Davis are subdivided into two wings—Evolutionary and Sociocultural.

Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician is a registered apprenticeship program offered in partnership with Sheet Metal Local 104 and Bay Area Training Fund. This 5-year apprenticeship program provides students with 216 hours per year of day or evening class instruction and paid on-the-job training with a sheet metal contractor. This is a "green" construction field that is growing due to the need for indoor air quality and energy efficiency compliance. The type of work performed can range from pressure testing, adjusting, and balancing of duct systems for energy efficiency to commissioning and completing documentation of HVAC systems in residential and commercial buildings. The work condition ranges from light physical activity to maneuvering into limited access areas with tools and equipment. Good communication skills are needed to interact with clients. Technicians are held to a code of conduct to assure quality measurements. The program offers a solid career opportunity with livable wages along with retirement and health benefits and provides highly trained and skilled workforce for students/apprentices in the HVAC industry. Per California Code of Regulations, this program is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Local 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund’s Test, Adjust, and Balancing (TAB) Technician program.

The Associate in Science in Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician degree builds upon the Certificate of Achievement in Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician by adding requirements for general education courses. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to receive an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), and a Test and Balance Certification from International Certification Board (ICB). Career opportunities include, but are not limited to: Test, Adjust and Air Balancing technician; TABB certified supervisor; service technician; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) inspector; sheet metal fabricator; compliance tester; entrepreneur; HVAC educator; business agent; and training coordinator.

Learn more about the program on the Apprenticeship website.

Program Learning Outcomes

🗸 Students will be able to read plans and equipment performance data to determine the system design.
🗸 Students will be able to measure airflow in HVAC systems using various instruments.
🗸 Students will be able to adjust airflow values to achieve specified pressure differentials.
🗸 Students will be able to make adjustment to system component for optimum efficient performance.
🗸 Students will be able to prepare an IAQ report.
🗸 Students will be able to perform room pressure differential readings.
🗸 Students will be able to perform HEPA filter changes to industry standards.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician program, students will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement in Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician from Foothill College, an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), and a Test and Balance Certification from International Certification Board (ICB). Career opportunities include, but are not limited to: Test, Adjust and Air Balancing technician; TABB certified supervisor; service technician; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) inspector; sheet metal fabricator; compliance tester; entrepreneur; HVAC educator; business agent; and training coordinator.