Leadership Experience Certificate

The Leadership Experience Certificate provides students with a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that focuses on leadership theory, practice, and development. Participants will have opportunities to learn about leadership foundational theories and their day-to-day application, explore social responsibility and citizenship, and develop a personal leadership philosophy and vision for continued development as a leader. The Leadership Experience is a great opportunity for you to enhance your existing leadership skills. You will gain critical leadership and personal development skills that will help you excel personally and professionally, inside and outside the classroom. At the end of the program, you’ll have a professional portfolio documenting your experiences that you can share with potential employers or graduate schools as well as an official notation on your Southern Miss transcript. The Leadership Experience is open to all USM students with a desire to further develop and hone their leadership skills. Special scholarships or memberships are not required.

Academic Policies and Requirements for Certificates:

See University Academic Policies for Certificates

Hours to Certificate: 15 hours

Certificate Curriculum

Required Courses (5-6 hours)

Select one course:

IDS 110 - Citizenship Seminar in Service Learning 3 hrs.
IDS 181 - Introduction to Leadership and Practice 3 hrs.
UNV 120 - Leadership Seminar 1 hr. (should be taken in both the Fall and Spring semesters for 2 hours total)

Required Course:

IDS 450 - Practicum in Leadership Development 3 hrs.

Electives (9-10 hours)

Select courses as needed to complete 15 total hours for the certificate. (limit to 8 hours per prefix):

ANT 101 - The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity 3 hrs.
ANT 428 - Political Anthropology 3 hrs.
AOS 101 - Foundation of the United States Air Force I 1 hr.
AOS 101L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 103 - Introduction to the Air Force Today 1 hr.
AOS 103L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 201 - Evolution of USAF Air and Space Power I 1 hr.
AOS 201L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 203 - Evolution of USAF Air and Space Power II 1 hr.
AOS 203L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 312 - Air Force Leadership Studies I 3 hrs.
AOS 312L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 313 - Air Force Leadership Studies II 3 hrs.
AOS 313L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 412 - National Security Affairs 3 hrs.
AOS 412L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
AOS 413 - Preparation for Active Duty 3 hrs.
AOS 413L - Air Force Leadership Laboratory 1 hr.
APT 400 - Applied Technology Leadership 3 hrs.
BA 310 - Professional Ethics 3 hrs.
CMS 111 - Public Speaking 3 hrs.
CMS 305 - Interpersonal Communication 3 hrs.
CMS 320 - Professional Communication 3 hrs.
CMS 340 - Intercultural Communication 3 hrs.
DPH 101 - Personal Wellness 3 hrs.
DPH 305 - Introduction to Public Health 3 hrs.
DPH 321 - Community Health 3 hrs.
DPH 436 - Stress Management Techniques 3 hrs.
ECO 101 - Basic Economics 3 hrs.
HPR 323 - Leadership in Recreational Therapy 3 hrs.
MCJ 463 - Media Management and Economics 3 hrs.
MGT 454 - Organizational Behavior 3 hrs.
MGT 480 - Leadership 3 hrs.
MSL 101 - Introduction to the Army 3 hrs.
MSL 102 - Foundation of Agile and Adaptive Leadership 3 hrs.
MSL 201 - Leadership and Decision Making 4 hrs.
MSL 202 - Army Doctrine and Team Development 4 hrs.
NPS 407 - Nonprofit Board and Volunteer Development 3 hrs.
NSG 464 - Leadership and Management 4 hrs.
NSG 488 - Leadership 3 hrs.
PHI 171 - Ethics and Good Living 3 hrs.
PHI 351 - Critical Thinking 3 hrs.
PS 101 - American Government 3 hrs.
PS 201 - Great Issues of Politics 3 hrs.
PS 496 - Washington Leadership Forum 3 hrs.
PSY 110 - General Psychology 3 hrs.
SM 342 - Sport, Management and Leadership 3 hrs.
SOC 101 - Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology 3 hrs.
SOC 405 - Nonprofits and Social Change 3 hrs.
UNV 110 - University Studies 3 hrs.
UNV 301 - Transfer Student Success at Southern Miss 3 hrs.
UNV 312 - Mentoring Students in the University 1-3 hrs.
UNV 315 - Paraprofessionals in Resident Hall Environment 1 hr.
UNV 325 - Peer Educators as Paraprofessionals 3 hrs.

Co-Curricular Requirements

Complete Two Independent Leadership Reflections: In addition to coursework, the certificate also requires two independent leadership reflections. Students have a variety of options available to do their leadership reflections, including but not limited to:

A reflection on a book on a leadership topic and how it relates to leadership style and goals
A reflection on a significant leadership development experience such as a leadership conference or series of workshops
A reflection on a service immersion experience (work in a community outside of Hattiesburg or home community)
A reflection on a significant nonprofit service project or volunteer hours
A reflection on a practicum, internship or other experience with a leadership component (may be with a for-profit, non-profit, or governmental organization)
A reflection on lessons learned from coursework taken and overall impact of the leadership certificate

Students should discuss this requirement with the program advisor for options, guidelines, and approval.