Nonprofit Organizations

Eleanor Townsley, Nexus director

Katie Walker, coordinator


108 Daniel L. Jones Building
413-538-3010
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/nonprofit-organizations

Overview and Contact Information

The Nonprofit Organizations Nexus focuses on the study of organizational settings in the nonprofit sector. The word “nonprofit” refers to a type of business—one which is organized under rules that forbid the distribution of profits to owners. The Internal Revenue Service describes nonprofit organizations as serving charitable, religious, scientific, or educational purposes. Nonprofit organizations include global nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Oxfam and Greenpeace as well as local community organizations such as the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Historic Northampton Museum. Students may pursue internships with nonprofit organizations to complete the experiential requirement for this Nexus.

See Also

Faculty

This area of study is administered by the following Nexus track chairs:

Rick Feldman, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Organizations and Society; Entrepreneurship Coordinator

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-212Shopping and Swapping: Cultures Consumption and Exchange4
College(Interdeptmnt) Courses
COLL-211Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education2
Economics
ECON-110Introductory Economics4
ECON-215Economics of Corporate Finance4
ECON-249METopics in Economics: 'Introduction to Managerial Economics'4
ECON-307Seminar in Industrial Organization4
ECON-310Seminar in Public Economics4
English
ENGL-219BCTopics in Creative Writing: 'Building Literary Community'4
Entrepreneurship, Orgs & Soc
EOS-210Opportunities, Impact and Social Entrepreneurship4
EOS-229Enterprise Startups and Social Entrepreneurship4
EOS-239Fundamentals of Business Organizations and Finance4
EOS-249Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Business4
EOS-299NDTopic: 'Individuals and Organizations'4
Mathematics
MATH-339PTTopics in Applied Mathematics: 'Optimization'4
Psychology
PSYCH-212Individuals and Organizations4