Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights
Eleanor Townsley, Nexus Director
Katie Walker, Associate Director
108 Daniel L. Jones Building
413-538-3010
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/law-public-policy-and-human-rights
Overview and Contact Information
Nexus is an 18-credit interdisciplinary pathway that demonstrates interest in a career field. Courses are selected by students in consultation with the Nexus track chair.
The Nexus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights aims to provide students with both an academic and experiential lens to explore complex and layered processes that go into legislation, policy making, human rights politics, and social justice advocacy. Students choose courses from several departments to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of social, political, economic, cultural, and historical dynamics that shape the national and international contexts in which regulation, administration, and resistance takes place.
See Also
Faculty
This area of study is administered by the following Nexus track chair:
Elif Babül, Professor of Anthropology
Requirements for the Nexus
A minimum of 18 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Four courses chosen from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair | 16 | |
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-211 | Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education | 2 |
| A presentation at LEAP Symposium | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTHR-216GH | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Case Studies in Global Health' | 4 |
| ANTHR-216HP | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Feminist Health Politics' | 4 |
| ANTHR-216HR | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Anthropology and Human Rights' | 4 |
| ANTHR-316LW | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Ethnographies of Law' | 4 |
| Art History | ||
| ARTH-352LW | Topics in Modern and Contemporary Architecture: 'Spaces of Law' | 4 |
| College(Interdeptmnt) Courses | ||
| COLL-211 | Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education | 2 |
| COLL-212 | Reflecting on Your Summer Internship or Research Experience Education | 2 |
| Critical Race & Political Econ | ||
| CRPE-208 | Introduction to Twentieth-Century Critical Race Theory | 4 |
| CRPE-244 | The Historical-Grammar of Black Feminist Thought Across the Caribbean and the Americas | 4 |
| CRPE-261 | Race, Racism, and Power | 4 |
| CRPE-339 | Abolitionist Dreams and Everyday Resistance: Freedom Memoirs, Struggles, and Decolonizing Justice | 4 |
| CRPE-374 | Latinx Immigration | 4 |
| Data Science | ||
| DATA-350TE | Advanced Topics in Data Science: 'Technology, Ethics, and Public Policy' | 4 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON-213 | Economic Development | 4 |
| ECON-220 | Introduction to Econometrics | 4 |
| ECON-320 | Econometrics | 4 |
| English | ||
| ENGL-226 | Black Before the Law | 4 |
| Environmental Studies | ||
| ENVST-212 | Global Environmental Politics | 4 |
| ENVST-216 | Global Environmental Justice | 4 |
| ENVST-347 | Environmental Geopolitics and Security | 4 |
| Entrepreneurship, Orgs & Soc | ||
| EOS-299ND | Topic: 'Individuals and Organizations' | 4 |
| Film Media Theater | ||
| FMT-330CA | Advanced Courses in History and Theory: 'Cases in Media Law' | 4 |
| French | ||
| FREN-331FE | Courses on Social and Political Issues and Critical Approaches: 'Fabulous Feasts: French Cuisine and Food Culture' | 4 |
| Geography | ||
| GEOG-206 | Political Geography | 4 |
| GEOG-328 | Climate Migration | 4 |
| Gender Studies | ||
| GNDST-206BF | Women and Gender in History: 'The Historical-Grammar of Black Feminist Thought Across the Caribbean and the Americas' | 4 |
| GNDST-241HP | Women and Gender in Science: 'Feminist Health Politics' | 4 |
| GNDST-333AD | Advanced Seminar: 'Abolitionist Dreams and Everyday Resistance: Freedom Memoirs, Struggles, and Decolonizing Justice' | 4 |
| History | ||
| HIST-230 | History and Law | 4 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL-225 | Symbolic Logic | 4 |
| PHIL-350EA | Special Topics in Philosophy: 'Intention and Action' | 4 |
| PHIL-350TE | Topics in Philosophy: 'Technology, Ethics, and Public Policy' | 4 |
| Politics | ||
| POLIT-235 | Constitutional Law: The Federal System | 4 |
| POLIT-236 | Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLIT-247 | International Law and Organization | 4 |
| POLIT-248TE | Topics in Politics: 'Science, Technology and Public Policy' | 4 |
| POLIT-255PA | Gender and Power in Global Contexts: 'The Politics of Abortion in the Americas' | 4 |
| POLIT-273 | Public Policy | 4 |
| POLIT-277 | Dislocation: Class and Politics in the U.S. | 4 |
| POLIT-314 | Political Violence: Causes and Solutions | 4 |
| POLIT-334 | Black American Political Thought | 4 |
| POLIT-366 | Global Migration | 4 |
| POLIT-384 | Ending War and Securing the Peace: Conflict Mediation and Resolution in the 21st Century | 4 |
| POLIT-385 | Global Security | 4 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYCH-201 | Statistics | 4 |
| PSYCH-219DH | Topics in Social Psychology: 'Social Determinants of Health' | 4 |
| Religion | ||
| RELIG-209 | Disability and Religion | 4 |
| RELIG-267 | Buddhist Ethics | 4 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOCI-216DU | Special Topics in Sociology: 'Schooling in American Society' | 4 |
| SOCI-225 | Social Science Research and Data Analysis | 4 |
