Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights
Eleanor Townsley, Nexus director
Elif Babül, track chair
217G Dwight Hall
413-538-3010
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/nexus/law_public_policy
Overview and Contact Information
The goal of the Nexus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights is to provide students 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. This Nexus provides students with both an academic and experiential lens. Students will choose courses from several departments including politics, economics, history, and sociology in order to examine how both law and public policies are imbedded in much larger social, historical, and economic realities.
See Also
Faculty
This area of study is administered by the following Nexus track chair:
Elif Babül, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Teaching Spring Only
Requirements for the Nexus
A minimum of 18 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Three courses above the 100 level chosen from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair | 12 | |
| One approved 300-level course from the list of courses approved for this Nexus or selected with approval of the track chair | 4 | |
| Completion of the UAF application stages 1 and 2 1 | ||
| A substantive 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 | 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 and provide a course outline for approval from the track chair. A Plan of Study form must 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 (stages 1 and 2).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Africana Studies | ||
| AFCNA-208 | Introduction to Twentieth-Century Critical Race Theory | 4 |
| AFCNA-341EM | Topics in Africana Studies: 'The Age of Emancipation' | 4 |
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTHR-216HR | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Anthropology and Human Rights: Between Devil's Advocate and Rights Advocacy' | 4 |
| ANTHR-316LW | Special Topics in Anthropology: 'Ethnographies of Law' | 4 |
| College(Interdeptmnt) Courses | ||
| COLL-211 | Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education | 2 |
| Critical Social Thought | ||
| CST-249BE | Topics in Critical Social Thought: 'Buddhist Ethics' | 4 |
| CST-249TJ | Topics in Critical Social Thought: Culture: 'Transforming Justice and Practicing Truth to Power: Critical Methodologies and Methods in Community Participatory Action Research and Accountability' | 4 |
| CST-349MC | Advanced Topics: 'Latinas/os/x and Housing: Mi Casa Is Not Su Casa' | 4 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON-213 | Economic Development | 4 |
| ECON-220 | Introduction to Econometrics | 4 |
| ECON-310 | Seminar in Public Economics | 4 |
| ECON-320 | Econometrics | 4 |
| ECON-345 | Corporate Governance | 4 |
| Entrepreneurship, Orgs & Soc | ||
| EOS-299ND | Topic: 'Individuals and Organizations' | 4 |
| Gender Studies | ||
| GNDST-333MC | Advanced Seminar: 'Latinas/os/x and Housing: Mi Casa Is Not Su Casa' | 4 |
| GNDST-333PG | Advanced Seminar: 'Who's Involved?: Participatory Governance, Emerging Technologies and Feminism' | 4 |
| History | ||
| HIST-230 | History and Law | 4 |
| HIST-301EM | Colloquium: 'The Age of Emancipation' | 4 |
| International Relations | ||
| IR-337 | International Human Rights Advocacy in Theory and Practice | 4 |
| Latina/o Studies | ||
| LATST-350MC | Special Topics in Latina/o Studies: 'Latinas/os/x and Housing: Mi Casa Is Not Su Casa' | 4 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL-225 | Symbolic Logic | 4 |
| Politics | ||
| POLIT-235 | Constitutional Law: The Federal System | 4 |
| POLIT-236 | Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLIT-247 | International Law and Organization | 4 |
| POLIT-327 | Transitional Justice | 4 |
| POLIT-343 | Law and Religion | 4 |
| POLIT-353 | The Politics of Work | 4 |
| POLIT-366 | International Migration | 4 |
| POLIT-384 | Ending War and Securing the Peace: Conflict Mediation and Resolution in the 21st Century | 4 |
| POLIT-385 | International Security | 4 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYCH-201 | Statistics | 4 |
| Religion | ||
| RELIG-267 | Buddhist Ethics | 4 |
| Russian & Eurasian Studies | ||
| RES-242 | Oil and Water Don't Mix: Geopolitics, Energy, and the Environment | 4 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOCI-225 | Social Science Research and Data Analysis | 4 |
| SOCI-231 | Criminology | 4 |
| SOCI-234 | Social Problems | 4 |
