The Booth Honors Program at Utah Tech University is a program for students who go above and beyond academically. The program provides students with a curriculum that is engaging, along with a community of peers, faculty and staff who share similar interests.
Some of the perks students in the program get include priority registration, scholarship opportunities, small class sizes, a dedicated study room and even honors housing. The dedicated space, The Booth, is located on the 4th floor of the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons & Library building on campus. Students utilize the quiet room to be productive and focus on their work. They also have access to free printing, which is a perk in itself.
Kei Hale, a senior individualized studies major from Layton, said: “I have used [The Booth] for hours of studying and homework, as I find that the mindset of being in there is completely different. I am able to focus a lot more, and my productivity seems to skyrocket.”
Honors courses are more discussion-based than regular courses; they focus on collaborative experiences that make students think outside of their majors. The small class sizes allow students to form a bond with their classmates and professors.
While a few of the classes are the typical class size, most are capped at five students. However, honors courses are open to all students, even if they aren’t enrolled in the honors program. There are a handful of seminars listed every semester with topics like Bioethics, Embodiment and Technology and Multicultural Literature.
In one of the courses being taught this semester by John Wolfe, associate professor of philosophy and humanities and philosophy program director, Wolfe is bringing in former honors students to talk about how emerging technologies relate to their line of work.
Wolfe said: “I had one [former student] come in who got a degree in psychology and was talking about the intersection between AI and psychology. I have another speaker come in and talk about the ethics of deepfakes and feminism in deepfakes. Another person talked about space travel and the work of setting up.”
Wolfe said how these topics allow him and his students to have new conversations about things they’ve never really thought about before. The wide range of topics discussed in his class also gives his students insight into what role technology can play in their careers. This approach to learning reflects the Booth Honors Program’s commitment to encouraging students to think creatively and broaden their understanding of how knowledge applies to real world contexts.
There is no deadline to apply to the honors program, but to get priority registration, students must apply before March 16 at noon for fall semester or Nov. 1 for spring semester. To graduate from the honors program, students must be enrolled as full-time students here at Utah Tech, meet and maintain a grade point average of 3.25 or higher, and complete all of the honors coursework requirements.
The program has not only helped students grow academically but also personally. Being part of a close-knit, driven community helps students develop leadership abilities and build a strong support network that can benefit them in the future.
Chasta Chamberlain, a junior English major from St. George, said: “I definitely feel like the program has helped me academically in the way that I am getting the education that I want and doing it at a pace that matches my own desires. Personally, I am fulfilling my strive for an academic challenge in the way that I get to take more upper-division classes and expand my learning through other topics.”
The Booth Honors Program is more than just an academic program. It’s a community that empowers students to reach their full potential. For those eager to push beyond the typical learning experience, the Booth Honors Program opens doors to personal growth, academic achievement and lasting connections.
