WELCOME TO
HUMANITIES RESEARCH . . . Learning to think critically,
speak and write intelligently,
collaborate effectively,
research and develop ideas,
make decisions,
and then do something great!
Marguerite Hefferon Therese VonSteenburg
Politics and World Affairs
History(oral history)
The Fine Arts Literature
Psychology
Philosophy Law
Independent Project
WHAT WE STUDY
The American Religious Identity Science and Bioethics Athletes, Drugs and Eating Disorders Addressing Poverty in African Nations Defining a New American Nationalism Impact of Social Networking on Teens Social Networking and Iran’s Revolution Creating a Viable Climate Change Policy Defining a “New” Musical Theater
The Ethics of Orphan Drug Laws
China’s Global Economic Strategies
Internet’s Effect on Global Music
An Analysis of U.S. Voting Patterns
Effects of War on Women’s Rights
The Truth about Internet Gaming
Understanding the Mechanisms of Self-Deception
Rethinking Drug Education
The Children of War and PTSD
STUDENT PROJECTS SAMPLE TOPICS
Long EssayCollection of essays
Play (stage)Screenplay and filmDocumentary film
Anthology of stories and artworkWebpages/Blogs
PAST TOPIC FORMATS
Students’ sophisticated projects help them with college interviews and college
admission
Students have been offered research scholarships at colleges and universities
(Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Hamilton)
Students have been offered positions in research programs with college
professors
Alums of the program report that the work they did in HR prepared them well
for college . . . and careers!
REPORTED BENEFITS OF THE HR PROGRAM
Hello from Zambia Ashley Feuchs
I came to the Peace Corps Zambia after graduating from the World Arts and Cultures Program at UCLA.
I am doing work to mobilize my village and surrounding villages regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, malaria prevention, improved child and maternal health, and improved food security.
The work I did in Humanities facilitated my independent thinking and helped me gain confidence in my ability to be a self-motivated self-starter.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM THE ALUMS. . .
Hello from Tufts! WYATT CADLEY
For me, Humanities Research was a transformational academic experience. It was through Humanities Research that I learned howto research and write at a college-level, skills that gave me a significant advantage over my peers at Tufts.
I first met my Tufts academic advisor through HR. I read a book by a Tufts professor when I was a junior and contacted her via email. Now, five years later, she is my academic advisor and a fantastic professional resource. It’s clear that we’ll stay in touch long after I graduate.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM THE ALUMS. . .
Hello from Los Angeles! EMMA WISDOM
I’m not sure I realized how much HumRe served me until I got to college, started to pursue film more seriously, and began to apply for internships in the industry. All those presentation skills came rushing back, the public speaking strategies -- and of course the film I’d made for HumRe proved my interest in the industry. I now work as an intern at a start-up film production company in Santa Monica.
HumRe gave me the room and the encouragement to think on my own.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
Hello from Harvard! MICHAEL MITCHELL
As a public school graduate heading to a university populated by the graduates of elite prep schools, I expected to be at a major disadvantage. To my relief and delight, I was wrong: thanks to Humanities Research, I was ready to take advantage of opportunities and resources that my peers here are only now, in their third years, beginning to discover.
From how to use databases like JSTOR to how to craft an argument across dozens of pages, Humanities Research offers its students skills they'll need to flourish in college . HumRe imbued me with a spirit of inquiry and a passion for discovery. As a student of both philosophy and international affairs, I see HumRe is an investment in the values that our school district aspires to represent and advance.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
Hello from Cornell! EMMA SCHNUR
The research skills I learned in Humanities Research absolutely set me up for success. I'm convinced that my HumRe project on global climate change policy was my ticket into Cornell. And while my friends atCornell struggled with how to find peer-reviewed articles or structure lengthy papers, I already had the skills to do so.
I spent this past summer as a research intern at the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts, studying forest landowner conservation awareness. I am continuing this research as a part of my senior honors thesis.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
Hello from Colgate! KATIE RAPP
My work in Humanities Research definitely sparked an interest for what I want to do with the rest of my life. After graduation, I will be working at the Eileen Fisher Foundation with their summer leadership program for high school girls. My interest in social issues, the study of minority groups, finding ways to have individuals' voices heard, all originate from my Humanities project in high school.
Humanities Research was the most valuable course I took in high school. It gave me the opportunity to be creative and to learn to trust myself and self-guide my work.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
Hello from Princeton! MAX SIEGEL
Now in my junior year, I've taken several graduate seminars, and I attribute my ability to be competitive with the graduate students to the early start I had in academic research.
I soon will publish two papers in philosophy: one in a journal and another in an edited volume. This wouldn't have been possible if I had only begun independent work here two years ago. In short, Humanities Research was, I think, the most valuable preparatory experience I had in high school.
Hello from Brown! Chelsea Feuchs
This last semester, I participated in a Global Independent Research Project, studying the history of women in the Israeli military. Because of the skills I learned in HumRe, I was able to read hundreds of pages each week, synthesize that information into critical response papers, and finish with a 25 page final paper. I was so proud of the work I did, and I have HumRe to thank for a lot of my motivation and work ethic.
HumRe raised expectations for us beyond that of traditional classes; it challenged us to grapple with work from fields across the humanities, and it exposed us to culture, literature, and critical thinking.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
Hello from Johns Hopkins University!
Although my current studies have little to do with the project I did in Humanities Research, I regularly tell my friends that nothing prepared me more for college than Humanities Research. I have a lot of friends here who take only science and applied math classes and spend time doing research in labs. But while their accomplishments are certainly impressive, their educations are strikingly incomplete. Humanities Research taught me how to consider questions that aren't solved by experimentation -- and that has inspired me to think in different ways.
NOW A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ALUMS. . .
CHARLIE SIEDELL
OUR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:
Create small classes
Cultivate each students' individual passions and interests
Nurture inquiry
Build a collaborative community of researchers
Expect excellence
Thanks for your continued support and interest!