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Native American and Indigenous Studies Nexus

Undergraduate

The Native American and Indigenous Studies Nexus allows students to gain experience with collaborative endeavors, informed by the insights of Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS), in preparation for work in STEM fields, the arts, education, public administration, social service, law, food systems, health care, media, and more.

Program Overview

This Nexus departs from traditional approaches to career tracks, offering instead a decolonial approach to career opportunities informed by Indigenous perspectives on knowledge, work, and community. It allows students to gain experience with collaborative endeavors, informed by the insights of Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS), in preparation for work in STEM fields, the arts, education, public administration, social service, law, food systems, health care, media, and more. It can prepare students for future work with organizations and initiatives addressing, among other things, Indigenous rights, governance and sovereignty, cultural and language revitalization, entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, and epidemics of violence, on Turtle Island and in global Indigenous contexts. And it will prepare students to approach their work as collaborative members of a community with a strong foundation in Indigenous ethics.

Courses and Requirements

Nexus 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

  • 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 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.

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.

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