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Journalism, Media and Public Discourse

Undergraduate

The Nexus in Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse encourages you to explore journalism and media through many venues. In the classroom, you can master the nuts and bolts of reporting and fact-checking a news story, examine the history of the New York Times, or analyze the role of media in contemporary society.

  • Nexus Track Chairs

Program Overview

Many departments, including English, history, sociology, and politics, offer hands-on and theory-based courses in journalism and public media. You will learn to examine the world with an educated, critical eye; to collect material from a wide range of sources; and to analyze and communicate information clearly and concisely. Our approach reflects the reality of the job market: employers in journalism and media want students who are knowledgeable and articulate across a wide array of subjects in the liberal arts, who are creative, flexible thinkers with superior writing and analytical capabilities.

Community Voices

Spotlight on Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse students and alums

Sarah Bell ’25, wearing a white shirt and brown vest, smiles at the camera

An experience like no other

Sarah Bell ’25

she/her

Elena Frogameni

Expanding global and local perspectives

Elena Frogameni ’22

Casey Roepke ’21

Falling in love with Physics

Casey Roepke ’21

she/her

explore more stories

Courses and Requirements

Requirements for the Nexus

A minimum of 18 credits:

Three courses above the 100 level chosen from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair12
One approved 300-level course from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair4
Completion of the UAF application stages 1 and 2 1
A substantive internship 2
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
A presentation at LEAP Symposium
Total Credits18
1

Or a fifth class with approval of the track chair

2

At least 240 work hours and responsibilities that exercise ability to think analytically and creatively, and contribute meaningfully to the organization’s stated mission and complements the student's area of focus

Additional Specifications

  • Nexus students will develop a brief proposal outlining their specific area of focus including a course outline. Students will schedule an advising meeting with a track chair to get approval and complete a Plan of Study form to be returned to the Nexus Program office.

  • The sequence of a Nexus is part of what makes it unique:

    • In preparation for the summer internship or research, students complete courses chosen in consultation with the track chair. If seeking funding through LYNK UAF, students will additionally complete orientation and advising, and online training.

    • COLL-211 is taken after the internship or research project and culminates in a presentation at LEAP Symposium.

Courses Counting toward the Nexus

Courses other than those listed below may count toward the Nexus. Students should consult the Nexus track chair for consideration of courses not on the list.

Anthropology
ANTHR-221Anthropology of Media4
ANTHR-230Language in Culture and Society4
Art History
ARTH-242History of Photography: The First Hundred Years4
Asian Studies
ASIAN-215Androgyny and Gender Negotiation in Contemporary Chinese Women's Theater4
ASIAN-312Newspaper Reading and Journalistic Practice in China4
College(Interdeptmnt) Courses
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
Critical Race & Political Econ
CRPE-228Visualizing Immigrant Narratives: Migration in Film4
English
ENGL-219CHTopics in Creative Writing: 'Climate Changes Everything: Telling Stories at the End of the World As We Know It'4
ENGL-325Victorian Literature and Visual Culture4
ENGL-349Cosmopolitanism4
ENGL-361TRAdvanced Creative Writing Topics: 'Introduction to Literary Translation'4
Film, Media, Theater
FMT-102Introduction to Film Studies4
FMT-104Introduction to Media Studies4
FMT-230CWIntermediate Courses in History and Theory: 'Androgyny and Gender Negotiation in Contemporary Chinese Women's Theater'4
FMT-230NCIntermediate Courses in History and Theory: 'Social Media: Networked Cultures'4
FMT-230TVIntermediate Courses in History and Theory: 'History of U.S. Television'4
FMT-230WMIntermediate Courses in History and Theory: 'History of World Media'4
FMT-240ADIntermediate Courses in Production and Practice: 'Audio Storytelling'4
FMT-330EAAdvanced Courses in History and Theory: 'Envisioning Apocalypse'4
FMT-330SVAdvanced Courses in History and Theory: 'Media and Surveillance'4
French
FREN-225Intermediate Level Courses in Culture and Literature: Introduction to Contemporary Culture and Media of France and the French-Speaking World4
First-Year Seminars
FYSEM-110PEPerforming the Self4
Gender Studies
GNDST-204CWWomen and Gender in the Study of Culture: 'Androgyny and Gender Negotiation in Contemporary Chinese Women's Theater'4
Sociology
SOCI-234Social Problems4
SOCI-240Collective Behavior and Social Movements4
SOCI-316LTSpecial Topics in Sociology: 'The New American Elite'4
SOCI-316PSSpecial Topics in Sociology: 'Digital Media and the Public Sphere'4
Spanish
SPAN-240CNVisual Cultures, An Introduction: 'Latin American Cinema'4
SPAN-250LMConcepts and Practices of Power: 'Making Latin America: From Independence to the Present'4

Contact us

The Nexus Program

The Nexus Program allows students to create an individual program of study combined with an internship experience in one of nine pre-professional tracks. College 211 and the annual LEAP symposium are components of the Nexus program.

Katie Walker

Katie Walker

  • Coordinator, Nexus Program

Next Steps

Apply to Mount Holyoke

Mount Holyoke seeks intellectually curious applicants who understand the value of a liberal arts education and are driven by a love of learning. As a women's college that is gender diverse, we welcome applications from female, trans and non-binary students.

Start Your Application

Financing your education

Everyone’s financial situation is unique, and we’re here to make sure cost does not get in the way of an exceptional education.

Affording Mount Holyoke Tuition and Fees