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Law, Public Policy and Human Rights

Undergraduate

This Nexus provides both an academic and experiential lens. You will choose courses from several departments including politics, economics, history, and sociology in order to examine how both law and public policies are embedded in much larger social, historical, and economic realities.

Program Overview

The goal of the Nexus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights is to provide you with the tools necessary to form a deep understanding of how complex relationships between local and national political processes both create public policies and shape legislation and its interpretation.

Community Voices

Spotlight on Law, Public Policy and Human Rights Nexus students and alums

Bryn Healy ’24

Advocating for others and herself

Bryn Healy ’24

she/her

Klara Grygo ’23 standing outside on the Mount Holyoke College campus

Feeling empowered to organize a mock trial team at Mount Holyoke

Klara Grygo ’23

she/her

Tiffany Sun ’23

Becoming a better global citizen as a Mount Holyoke student

Hening Sun ’23

she/her

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Courses and Requirements

Requirements for the Nexus

A minimum of 18 credits:

Four courses chosen from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair16
At least one course at the 300 level
At least one course at the 200 level or above
One course at the 100 level or above 1
A substantive summer internship 2
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
A presentation at LEAP Symposium
Total Credits18
1

Only one course at the 100 level is permitted to count toward the Nexus.

2

The summer internship must meet College requirements for a substantial educational experience: At least 200 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

  • Students will schedule an advising meeting with a track chair to get approval and complete an online 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-216HRSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Anthropology and Human Rights'4
ANTHR-216MHSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Migration and Human Rights'4
ANTHR-216PRSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Precarious Labor'4
ANTHR-316HDSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Problematizing Humanitarianism'4
ANTHR-316LWSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Ethnographies of Law'4
ANTHR-316VNSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Violence and the State'4
College(Interdeptmnt) Courses
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
Critical Race & Political Econ
CRPE-208Introduction to Twentieth-Century Critical Race Theory4
CRPE-244The Historical-Grammar of Black Feminist Thought Across the Caribbean and the Americas4
Economics
ECON-213Economic Development4
ECON-220Introduction to Econometrics4
ECON-310Seminar in Public Economics4
ECON-320Econometrics4
English
ENGL-226Black Before the Law4
Entrepreneurship, Orgs & Soc
EOS-299NDTopic: 'Individuals and Organizations'4
French
FREN-331FECourses on Social and Political Issues and Critical Approaches: 'Fabulous Feasts: French Cuisine and Food Culture'4
Geography
GEOG-206Political Geography4
Gender Studies
GNDST-206BFWomen and Gender in History: 'The Historical-Grammar of Black Feminist Thought Across the Caribbean and the Americas'4
GNDST-333MCAdvanced Seminar: 'Latinas/os/x and Housing: Mi Casa Is Not Su Casa'4
GNDST-333PGAdvanced Seminar: 'Who's Involved?: Participatory Governance, Emerging Technologies and Feminism'4
German Studies
GRMST-231HRTopics in German and European Studies in a Global Context: 'History and Law'4
History
HIST-230History and Law4
Philosophy
PHIL-225Symbolic Logic4
Politics
POLIT-235Constitutional Law: The Federal System4
POLIT-236Civil Liberties4
POLIT-247International Law and Organization4
POLIT-248TETopics in Politics: 'Science, Technology and Public Policy'4
POLIT-273Public Policy4
POLIT-314Political Violence: Causes and Solutions4
POLIT-327Transitional Justice4
POLIT-334Black American Political Thought4
POLIT-343Law and Religion4
POLIT-366Global Migration4
POLIT-384Ending War and Securing the Peace: Conflict Mediation and Resolution in the 21st Century4
POLIT-385Global Security4
Psychology
PSYCH-201Statistics4
Religion
RELIG-209Disability and Religion4
RELIG-267Buddhist Ethics4
Sociology
SOCI-225Social Science Research and Data Analysis4

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

  • Associate Director of 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