Academic Research Program 11 One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: None
The Celebration of Research The Celebration of Research caps off the Academic Research Program for seniors as they showcase their work and reach the end of their University Liggett School academic journey. The celebration consists of three evening events open to the public, where students discuss their findings through poster presentations, demonstrations, and other exhibitions of their discovery and understanding.
This semester-long course promotes independent inquiry while developing the research and writing skills to complete a prospectus and annotated bibliography. Students will explore interests to decide on one topic that is sustainable, feasible, and engaging. During the second half of the course, students will commit to deep exploration of one self-selected topic. By the conclusion of the course, all students will complete a prospectus describing the project to be carried out during their senior year.
Academic Research Program 12 Full Year (Two Semesters) Prerequisites: Academic Research Program 11 or equivalent
In this culminating phase of the Academic Research Program, students further explore their research topic. They will engage in sustained, independent study, writing annotations and literature reviews while speaking with experts, creating products, and sharing ideas with their peers. Students will present their work to the Liggett community, refine their work in consultation with their ARP advisor and mentor, and ultimately present their findings and final product to experts, peers, and members of the community through the Celebration of Research. The Senior Scholars Program Full Year (Two Semesters) Prerequisites: Academic Research Program 11 and review committee selection Students with especially ambitious, resource-intensive, or unconventional ARP projects may apply to be Senior Scholars in the Academic Research program. The Senior Scholars work with great independence on their projects, so the course requires more initiative and self-sufficiency than the standard ARP 12 class, but it offers greater flexibility and personalization. With approval, some of the Senior Scholars may meet at alternative times, such as after school or during lunch, if their schedule requires it and their project allows it. They may complete significant work outside of class, in internships, archives, labs, or other venues. In ARP 11, students may apply to be Senior Scholars. The application includes a narrative project proposal and work sample, similar to applications for the fellowships and grants available to professional researchers. A committee of faculty members will review applications and select a group of students whose projects will benefit from greater flexibility and independence—and who have demonstrated an ability to use those assets well.
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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