Academics

Honors Leadership Courses

Strengthen your leadership potential with the following exclusive honors-level classes designed to provide additional training to help you grow into leadership roles. Note: courses are listed by suggested semester. However, scheduling may vary based on individual course loads and availability.

Semester 1 Courses

• HNL 150: Introduction to Honors

  This course introduces students to the values and opportunities of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for community colleges. Students will learn about PTK and how the PTK initiatives align with the Honors Program at Jackson College.

• HNL 200: Leadership Foundations for Community Impact

  This course provides a comprehensive framework for students in the Honors Leadership program to plan, organize, and execute a large-scale community project or event. Students will explore leadership theories, project management principles, and strategies for stakeholder engagement. Students will work closely with the PTK advisors and Honors Leadership faculty mentors to identify an area of focus, conduct in-depth research, and engage in project execution and evaluation. As part of the project, students will apply their leadership and problem-solving skills to create a plan in which to drive meaningful change and community impact. By the end of the course, students will have a detailed project plan and the confidence to lead a transformative initiative.

• PSY 152: Social Psychology

  Theoretical synthesis of social influences, including attitude formation, social and cognitive development, aggression, prosocial behavior, prejudice, conformity, culture and gender differences, influences, group processes and interpersonal attraction will be studied.

Semester 2 Courses

• HNL 250: Community Leadership in Action

  In this course, students will apply their leadership skills and project plans developed in the foundational course to bring their vision to life. Emphasis will be placed on adaptive leadership, effective teamwork, real-time problem-solving, and impact evaluation. With the guidance of mentors, students will navigate the challenges of executing their initiatives, fostering community collaboration, and ensuring project sustainability. The course concludes with a reflective assessment of the project’s outcomes and its influence on the community.

• HNL 300: Honors Leadership Capstone

  The Honors Leadership Capstone is the culminating experience for students in the honors program, designed to showcase their leadership development and real-world impact. In this course, students will present their capstone projects, detailing the inspiration behind their initiatives, the planning and implementation process, and the challenges they faced. Through reflective discussions and formal presentations, students will analyze the outcomes of their projects and assess their impact on the community. In addition to presenting their work, students will develop a professional employment portfolio highlighting their project, leadership experiences, and key accomplishments. This portfolio will include project documentation, reflections, resumes, and other materials that demonstrate their skills and readiness for future career or academic opportunities. Emphasis is placed on leadership growth, problem-solving, and civic engagement. This course fosters a collaborative environment where students learn from each other’s experiences, celebrate successes, and consider ways to sustain or expand their initiatives beyond the classroom.

• PSY 344: Organizational Psychology & Leadership

  Apply the behaviorally based principles of organizational and leadership psychology to workplaces. Develop practical skills needed to apply evidence-based strategies to enhance individual and organizational performance. Key topics include performance management, employee motivation, job satisfaction, compensation strategies, rewards and recognition, managing employee behaviors, and effective leadership behaviors.