Academic Research Program
The signature experience of the Upper School curriculum is the Academic Research Program (ARP), a four-year sequence that prepares each student to conduct a yearlong, in-depth academic research project on a topic of their choice. Ninth grade students take a course called ARP 9, which, in close coordination with the core disciplines, begins to equip students with the skills and habits of mind necessary to conduct meaningful independent research, competencies which are further developed in sophomore year core classes. Juniors enroll in a one-semester course called ARP 11, which serves as a formal tutorial in research approaches and academic writing. Students shape questions within their chosen topics and complete formal prospectuses that guide the projects to be carried out during senior year. The diverse range of recent projects includes topics like effects of social media vernacular on world English and the use of wastewater to generate clean electricity. In the senior year course, ARP 12, each student conducts a sustained study, with guidance from appropriate faculty and, in many instances, an expert mentor from outside the ULS community. Students write a significant, thorough, and insightful paper regarding their research and findings, and share their learning with authentic audiences locally, regionally, and, in some cases, nationally.
Academic Research Program 9 One Semester (Offered First and Second Semesters) Prerequisites: None In this semester-long course, students develop the foundational data science skills that will support their work across the Academic Research Program. Using Pyret software, students learn to collect, clean, and analyze structured data sets, applying computational tools to uncover patterns, trends, and insights in real-world information. The course emphasizes asking good questions and pursuing rigorous answers. Students learn to approach problems with precision, identifying what the data shows, what it doesn’t show, and what conclusions are actually warranted. Through individual and group projects, they practice communicating their findings clearly and honestly to peers and other audiences. By the end of the
course, students are equipped to bring a data-driven perspective to research in any content area, and to engage responsibly with information.
Academic Research Program 10 (United States History 10) Full Year (Two Semesters) Prerequisites: World History 9 or equivalent
ARP is embedded in our US History curriculum. Students learn close reading of source materials, artifact analysis, debates, point-of-view exercises, topical projects, and essay writing. During the second semester, students develop and defend a thesis as part of a formal research paper. To learn more, please see the United States History 10 course description.
2026-2027 ULS Curriculum Guide
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