The Lexia semester program culminates with the independent Field Research Project, which offers students an opportunity to independently and deeply examine a particular aspect of culture in the host country.  The project can be on any topic from among the disciplines of the social sciences, humanities, fine arts and physical sciences, though students are encouraged to avoid broad subjects such as "Italian Society" or "Contemporary Latin American Literature" in favor of those with a more narrow and manageable focus, such as "Urban Redevelopment in Rome" or "Buenos Aires in the work of Jorge Luis Borges"

The actual process of choosing a topic begins upon acceptance, when Lexia asks each student to submit a preliminary topic proposal and, if possible, to have it approved by a home institution faculty advisor. Lexia's Resident Directors overseas may, in fact, contact students in advance of their arrival to advise on bibliographic resources as well.  Some students may have a clear and specific topic from the beginning; others may indicate a general area of interest and select a concrete topic after doing some initial exploration in the Research Methods Seminar. Either way, during the Project course, students draw on the fieldwork skills and knowledge gained in the Research Methods Seminar, and work closely with the Resident Director and/or faculty adviser to develop appropriate research breadth. It is expected that students will write short reports and analyses throughout the research course, culminating in a 15-25 page analytical paper that is presented in a group discussion at the conclusion of the program. Students in the fine arts or media may, with prior approval from Lexia, substitute a material project or performance for the paper.