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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

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
A substantive internship 1
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
A presentation at LEAP Symposium
Total Credits18
1

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

  • 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-216HRSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Anthropology and Human Rights'4
ANTHR-216MHSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Migration and Human Rights'4
ANTHR-316LWSpecial Topics in Anthropology: 'Ethnographies of Law'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
CRPE-356Latinas/os/x and Housing: Mi Casa Is Not Su Casa4
Economics
ECON-213Economic Development4
ECON-220Introduction to Econometrics4
ECON-310Seminar in Public Economics4
ECON-320Econometrics4
Entrepreneurship, Orgs & Soc
EOS-299NDTopic: 'Individuals and Organizations'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
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-273Public Policy4
POLIT-314Political Violence: Causes and Solutions4
POLIT-327Transitional Justice4
POLIT-343Law and Religion4
POLIT-366Global Migration4
POLIT-384Ending War and Securing the Peace: Conflict Mediation and Resolution in the 21st Century4
Psychology
PSYCH-201Statistics4
Religion
RELIG-209Disability and Religion4
RELIG-267Buddhist Ethics4
Sociology
SOCI-216WKSpecial Topics in Sociology: 'Sociology of Social Work'4
SOCI-225Social Science Research and Data Analysis4
SOCI-231Criminology4
SOCI-234Social Problems4
SOCI-316VNSpecial Topics in Sociology: 'Violence and Intimacy'4
Spanish
SPAN-350MGAdvanced Studies in Concepts and Practices of Power: 'Spanish Migrations'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