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Advanced Research Coures:
Advanced Research Coures:
+AP Seminar GT-500-1
+AP Research GT-510-1
+GT Independent Research GT-400-1
+GT Intern Mentor GT- 430-1 (1 credit) or GT-430-2 (2 credits)
The mission of the Advanced Research Program is to empower students to contribute to the larger community by applying, creating, and evaluating knowledge in a specialized are of study. The Advanced Research courses provide opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills as they engage in college-level coursework. All of these courses provided weighted elective credit.
The AP Capstone Diploma & AP Seminar and Research Certificate
AP Capstone is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. AP Capstone comprises two AP courses—AP Seminar and AP Research—and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses.
+ Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma.
+ Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
What kind of student should participate in the AP Capstone Program?
Students who are motivated and prepared for college-level coursework are best suited for the program.
The program also benefits those students who may have an interest in or show potential for AP coursework but have not yet enrolled in AP courses.
Students should demonstrate curiosity about real-world issues, a willingness to take intellectual risks, and a dedication to acquiring the skills that colleges and universities value—critical inquiry, analysis, and research.
Planning for the AP Capstone Diploma
It is strongly recommended for students to start on the AP Track with AP Human Geography in 9th grade.
Students in grades 10-12 can enroll in AP Seminar and AP Research- but keep in mind, it will take 2 years at minimum to complete the AP Capstone Diploma course work.
Planning for the AP Capstone Diploma
It is strongly recommended for students to start on the AP Track with AP Human Geography in 9th grade.
Students in grades 10-12 can enroll in AP Seminar and AP Research- but keep in mind, it will take 2 years at minimum to complete the AP Capstone Diploma course work.
Students must take AP Seminar BEFORE enrolling in AP Research (they cannot be taken simultaneously).
It is strongly recommended that students take AP Research simultaneously with GT Intern Mentor.
The AP Research course provides a framework for students to participate in extracurricular internships of any discipline to receive credit for their research under guidance of their mentor and AP Research instructor.
More Information can be found at:
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-capstone
Research has found that students who take AP Capstone courses are more likely to persist in college and earn higher first-year college GPAs compared to their peers.
Information Nights: Three Opportunities To Learn More
HCPSS county-wide Advanced Research Program Information Night: Tuesday, December 9th 2025 (7:00pm) Virtually. Register in advance for the information session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Hammond High Advanced Research Program Information Night: Tuesday, December 16th 2025 (7:00pm) Virtually. This information night will be with Mr. Livieratos, the Hammond High GT Resource Teacher. Use this Google Meet Code to attend: https://meet.google.com/wta-svue-sjs
Hammond High's Scheduling Night: Tuesday, January 6th (6:00-8:00pm) in-person at Hammond High. Mr. Livieratos will also be in attendance.
If you have any questions regarding the Advanced Research Program, please feel free to contact me at alec_livieratos@hcpss.org
Advanced Research GT Applications
Thank you for your interest in Hammond’s Advanced Research programs AP Seminar, GT Independent Research, and GT Intern Mentor. AP Seminar and AP Research do not need applications. Just sign up in Synergy course requests (please make sure you only sign up for AP Research if you have first taken AP Seminar as a prerequisite. To be considered for GT Independent Research or GT Intern/Mentor, you must:
Fill out one of the class applications posted below
Sign up for your selection on your course registration in Synergy as if you have already been accepted.
If there are any acceptance issues, your student services counselor will be contacted by Mr. Livieratos. The program enrollment is limited, so please get your application in ASAP. Applications open on Monday, December 8th and the deadline for applications is Friday, January 30th, 2026.
GT Independent Research:
This course is for students in grades 10, 11 or 12. It is an on-site course taught by Hammond teacher Mr. Alec Livieratos and focuses on learning the research process, writing skills, presentation skills, creative problem solving and synthesis of information. Students will gain skills necessary for college and receive a weighted credit. Although not a prerequisite, it is recommended that students take IR prior to taking IM.
Independent Research Application Link
GT Intern/Mentor:
This course is for students in grades 11 & 12. Intern-Mentor is an off-site course that focuses on learning the research process, writing skills, presentation skills, creative problem solving and synthesis of information. Students will gain skills necessary for college and receive a weighted credit. Different from Independent Research, in Intern-Mentor, students leave the building and attend an internship (live or virtual) for four hours per week in addition to learning the research process and completing a final research project.
Intern/Mentor Application Link
AP Seminar:
AP Seminar engages students (grades 9-12) in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas. This course serves as a prerequisite for AP Research.
AP Research:
AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual student interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. It is strongly recommended that students take AP Research simultaneously with GT Intern Mentor. The AP Research course provides a framework for students to participate in extracurricular internships of any discipline to receive credit for their research under guidance of their mentor and AP Research instructor.
There is no application needed for AP Seminar or AP Research
30 Years-11/11/2025, 8:08 AM.mp4GT Resource Teacher for the Advanced Research Program: Mr. Alec Livieratos
Email: alec_livieratos@hcpss.org
Phone: 410-313-7615
Mr. Livieratos has taught at Hammond high for 20 years and is a product of the Howard County Public School System. He then went on to graduate Magna cum laude from Towson University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Social Studies with a focus in Education. Next, he went on to earn his Master's degree in Political Science from American Military University. Most recently, he finished a Graduate Certificate Program in Teacher Leadership from Dominican University of California. He loves reading, sports, podcasts, travel, cooking, and being outdoors- hiking, kayaking, and camping. He has helped lead four trips to Europe for the Hammond community, taking over 230 students to 16 different countries. He currently resides in Howard County with his wife and three young children.
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