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Honors Programs

Jackson College offers an honors curricular program and the opportunity to join the world’s largest, most prestigious, oldest honors society for community college students; Phi Theta Kappa.  The PTK Honors program provides you with enhanced educational opportunities, optimal class sizes, innovative curriculum, individual advising and unique opportunities for internships, scholarships and transfer with four-year colleges and universities. As an honors student, you can help shape the program for the students who follow. You will enter into a community of students, faculty and administrators committed to the shared ideals of academic excellence, leadership, intellectual curiosity, and mutual respect.

commencement students in cap and gown

PTK Honors @ Jackson College

PTK Honors @ Jackson College enriches the classroom experience.  Students will explore leadership profiles, be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, and have access to transfer scholarships.  PTK Honors is for students who seek to achieve a competitive edge within their pathway.

  • About PTK Honors

    The Honors Program

    • Rewards students’ intellectual curiosity through deepening research methods, special speakers, and co-curricular events where students practice and hone service learning skills to the college and community.
    • Enhances major/career pathway scholarship through honors components and adds a collaborative capstone project.
    • Engages with the College and Community through projects in which students will enhance their skills as thinkers, writers, and leaders.
    • Honors students develop a close-knit cohort within the program. Besides attending honors courses together, honors students attend social and academic events through the Phi Theta Kappa chapter at Jackson College.
    Honors Semester I Honors Semester II

    SEM 250 Studies in Leadership Development (3 BCH)
    Late Start 12-week course

    SEM 251 – 1 credit (1 BCH)
    7-week course
    Pathway Driven Course

    Independent Study – 2 credit Capstone (2 BCH)
    7-week course
    Pathway Driven Course Pathway Driven Course
    Pathway Driven Course Pathway Driven Course
    Pathway Driven Course

Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honorary society for students of two-year colleges.  The society is comprised of more than 1400 chapters internationally and our college chapter, Alpha Rho Lambda, is in the top 100.  Phi Theta Kappa is centered around four hallmarks: Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship, and Service.

Phi Theta Kappa

Program Comparison

Areas of Comparison PTK Honors @ Jackson College Phi Theta Kappa

Mission

 PTK Honors @ Jackson College supports academically motivated students, emphasizing critical thinking, research, and leadership development. The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders.

History

 PTK Honors @ Jackson College is newly launching in Fall 2021, with a streamlined curriculum. Founded in 1918, PTK is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious honor society serving two-year college students around the world. JC has had a PTK Chapter since 1965.  Our college President, Daniel Phelan, sits on the PTK Board of Directors.

Membership

 To join PTK Honors @ Jackson College a student must have 12 credit hours at JC, achieve a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA, and enroll in SEM 250.

One-time fee of $25.00 at the time of enrollment in SEM 250 to be applied toward Phi Theta Kappa membership.  Each student that enrolls in PTK Honors @ Jackson College receives a $70 to pay for the remainder of their PTK membership fee.
  • Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is offered to eligible students by invitation only.
  • Eligibility is based on 3.5 or above GPA and completion of 12 credit hours at Jackson College.
  • Cost: one-time $95.00 fee for lifetime membership.
  • 1,400 Phi Theta Kappa chapters at two-year colleges with over 3.5 million members.

Benefits
  • As a member of PTK Honors @ Jackson College, students receive all of the benefits of being a member of PTK while receiving an honors level education with innovative curriculum and enhanced advising.
  • Choosing and creating an individual capstone research project while working with a professor in a pathway of your choice.
  • Being active in student life and the opportunity to attend regional and/or national Phi Theta Kappa conferences.
  • PTK membership only costs $25 instead of the normal $95 thanks to the Jackson College Foundation scholarship.
  • Recognition during college induction ceremony.
  • Official seal of Phi Theta Kappa placed on your college diploma.
  • Notation of membership on your college transcript.
  • Recognition by wearing Phi Theta Kappa commencement regalia during college graduation.
  • Scholarship and transfer opportunities.
  • Exclusive PTK programs that provide self-paced professional development & insight into a variety of fields, such as:  Employment, Professional Development, Healthcare, Transfer, and Research.

Time Commitment

 Students are required to take 6 honors credits:  SEM 250 (3 credits), SEM 251 (1 credit), & Capstone Independent Study (2 credits). Our chapter does not require participation in activities.  The time a member devotes to Phi Theta Kappa is a matter of individual choice.  Some members choose to devote many hours to chapter activities; others may not participate at all.

Success Rates

 91 percent of Phi Theta Kappa members complete their associate degrees and/or transfer to a four-year college compared to 38 percent of non-PTK students within the US.