101 Feasible AP Research Topics in 2025
December 16, 2024
At first glance, AP Research might sound like a mysterious class. AP U.S. History and AP Environmental Science make their focus abundantly clear, but AP Research holds its cards close. What, exactly, do you research? How will you spend your class time? The truth is that AP Research is a class that puts you in the driver鈥檚 seat and offers a rare opportunity to delve deep into a topic that fascinates you. The options for what to research are nearly endless. For some, that鈥檚 a thrilling prospect. For others, the abundance can be overwhelming. But, have no fear, we鈥檝e gathered 101 feasible AP research topics to help you explore ideas. Below, you鈥檒l find everything you need to know to dive into the research process:
- What is AP Research?
- AP Research Topic Requirements
- How to Choose a Topic
- History
- English Language
- Society and Culture
- Science
- Technology
- Health and Medicine
- Psychology
- Education
What is AP Research?
AP Research is a true college prep class that prepares you to write the kinds of essays that you鈥檒l often be asked to write in college. As the puts it, AP Research will teach you how to:
- Conduct independent research
- Analyze sources and evidence
- Apply context and perspective
- Write a college-level academic paper
- Present research findings to an audience
Over the course of a year, your teacher will help you identify a topic of interest, find sources of information, synthesize your findings, and develop your own unique argument. Staying organized and setting milestone goals for yourself will be key to pulling off this long-term project.
AP Research Topic Requirements
According to the College Board, your final essay for AP Research should be 4,000鈥5,000 words long. At the end of the semester, you will be evaluated on:
- Content
- Structure
- Format
- Conclusions (aka your argument)
- Your ability to properly and accurately cite sources
You will also be asked to give a 15鈥20 minute presentation on your findings to a panel of trained evaluators and your AP Research teacher.
The AP Research topic requirements are fairly flexible and there are no strict rules dictating what you can and can鈥檛 choose. But, as your semester proceeds, make sure to confer with your teacher and look for a topic on which you鈥檒l be able to base a solid argument. AP Research essays might argue for or against a solution to a social issue, establish the importance of a scientific or technological development, or venture a unique interpretation of a work of literature. No matter what route you take, critical thinking, evidence, and clear analysis will be key.
101 AP Research Topics: How to Choose a Topic
Since you鈥檒l spend a year engaging with your research topic, we recommend choosing something that truly interests you. Are you a history buff? Here鈥檚 your chance to explore the causes and effects of a major historical event. Are you motivated to make social impacts? Research can help you understand the context that surrounds a social issue and best methods for enacting change.
To make sure you have enough content to draw upon, select a topic of real-world importance with substantial sources to pull from. Your job as a researcher will be to familiarize yourself with the history of the issue, read a variety of opinions on the topic, and then arrive at your own well-founded argument offering your own stance.
To get started on the research process, check out our guide to the 20 Best Websites for Research for Students.
Ready to start exploring topics? We have 101 from you to choose from below.
Feasible AP Research Topics: History
1) The effects of the Industrial Revolution on social class
2) The impact of the second wave feminist movement on gender norms and women鈥檚 rights
3) The role of propaganda in World War I and/or World War II
4) The impact of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative on Indigenous communities
5) A comparison of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter Movement
6) An analysis of what led to the fall of the Roman Empire
7) The long-term impacts of Roe v. Wade
8) The influence of Enlightenment-era philosophy on early U.S. political identity
9) The long-term economic and social impacts of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
10) The role technology played in British colonial conquests in the 18th and 19th centuries
11) The effect of the Cold War on U.S. foreign policy and relations
12) The impact of WWII on women鈥檚 rights and American domestic life
13) The long-term effects of Brown v. Board of Education
AP Research Sample Topics: English Language
14) How rhetorical appeals in political speeches influence listeners
15) The impact of Harlem Renaissance literature on 20th and/or 21st century writing
16) A comparison of the representation of mental health in 20th century vs. 21st century literature
17) A comparison of the representation of the American Dream in 20th century vs. 21st century literature
18) How dialogue influences character development in contemporary novels
19) The impact of technology and digital media on contemporary literature
20) How atmosphere, tone, and mood contribute to the meaning of Gothic literature
21) The role of nature in Romantic poetry
22) The influence of Gothic literature on contemporary horror novels
23) How unreliable narrators influence reading experience
24) How the internet has influenced slang and modern communication
25) The role of satire in literary social and political critique
Feasible AP Research Topics: Society and Culture
26) How stereotypes influence career success
27) How unequal early access to technology drives education and economic divides
28) How social media influences perceptions body image across cultures
29) The impact of globalization on endangered cultural practices and languages
30) How religion shapes social norms and legal policy
31) The representation of race and ethnicity in popular media
32) The effects of bullying on educational outcomes
33) The representation of gender in popular media
34) The impact of consumer culture on environmental sustainability
35) The social and economic contributions of immigrants
36) How music and/or film has shaped national identity
37) The ethics and consequences of cultural appropriation
38) How pop culture (social media trends, film, music, television, fashion, etc.) inspires social change
Feasible AP Research Topics: Science
39) How climate change changes biodiversity
40) How AI is transforming healthcare
41) The effects of microplastics on ocean ecosystems
42) Vaccine misinformation and public health
43) How genetically modified crops influence food security and agriculture
44) The effect of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and hydrogen) on climate change
45) The ethics of animal testing and alternative options
46) How space exploration has advanced scientific and technological innovation
47) The physics of black holes, including the role of gravity and spacetime
48) How climate change affects global weather patterns
49) How mining impacts the planet鈥檚 biodiversity and ecosystems
50) The chemistry of biodegradable plastics vs. traditional plastics
51) The biology of making decisions: how the brain processes rewards, risks, and cognitive biases
52) How vertical farming can revolutionize agriculture and improve food insecurity
53) Which chemicals contribute most significantly to atmospheric pollution
Technology
54) How the computer has altered the American workplace
55) How domestic appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher, and laundry machine have changed American domestic life
56) The impact of AI on employment opportunities and hiring practices
57) How social media algorithms influence politics and social polarization
58) The role technology can play in combating climate change
59) The benefits and ethics of surveillance technology
60) The impact of autonomous vehicles on industry and employment
61) The ethics of genetic engineering
62) How e-commerce influences retail practices and consumer behavior
63) The contributions space exploration has made to science and technological advancement
64) How 3D printing has changed manufacturing processes
65) How robotics have changed space or ocean exploration
Good AP Research Topics: Health and Medicine
66) The impact of biotechnology on human health and longevity
67) The ethics of CRISPR gene-editing technology
68) The effects of microplastics on human health
69) How nanotechnology is revolutionizing drug delivery systems and patient treatment
70) How immunotherapy innovations have transformed cancer treatment
71) How advances in medicine improve the prevention of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease
72) How immigration status or language fluency impact patient care
73) How genomics and DNA sequencing changes the way doctors provide patient care
74) How the gut microbiome affects human health
75) The impact of pollution on respiratory health
76) How the invention of artificial organs has revolutionized transplantation
Feasible AP Research Topics: Psychology
77) The psychological effects of isolation
78) How remote work impacts mental health and wellbeing
79) The effects of childhood trauma on adult mental health
80) How early behavioral intervention for children with autism affect developmental outcomes
81) The impact of regular exercise on mood and mental health
82) The psychological effects of social media addiction
83) The impact of introversion and extroversion on career success
List (Continued)
84) The impact of body dysmorphia on mental health
85) How parenting style influences academic achievement
86) How phobias develop and the role the brain plays in processing fear
87) The impact of stress on cognitive function and memory
88) How athletics contributes to social and emotional wellbeing in children
AP Research Sample Topics: Education
89) How online learning affects educational outcomes
90) The impact of AI on education and learning
91) How standardized testing has shaped curriculum development and student learning
92) How cultural inclusivity impacts student learning and engagement
93) How student-teacher ratios influence classroom engagement and education outcomes
94) How multilingual education impacts social, academic, and cognitive development
95) How gender bias influences education outcomes
List (Continued)
96) The impact of local policy on school funding and student success
97) The effectiveness of school special education programs for students with disabilities
98) How extracurricular activities impact social, teamwork, and leadership skills
99) Academic achievement in public schools vs. private schools
100) How gamification can influence student motivation and learning
101) The impact of college application stress on high school students鈥 mental health
More Resources
Have you found the perfect AP Research topic for you? Here are expert tips to help you nail your essay:
- 30 Topic Sentence Examples
- Active vs. Passive Voice 鈥 What鈥檚 the Difference?
- How to Improve Reading Comprehension 鈥 10 Expert Tips
Need to master other essay types? We鈥檝e got all you need to know:
