So how old are you, how much compsci background do you already have, what is the class supposed to include, what is the teacher's background (especially WRT microcontrollers as opposed to desktop programming), and is this supposed to be more of a "thesis" or a "project" ?
"Interfacing Real World Sensors to using Arduino" seems like a pretty catch-all title that might work well and give you a broad space to explore in more or less detail as time and interest dictate...
I've graduated from Comp Sci with a distinction average 
and am 21 years old. It's supposed to be more of a thesis then a project, (ie. a project can be built to prove the theories in your thesis, but it's the piece of paper in the end that counts.)
I like the idea of a "Interfacing real world sensors to using Arduino", but feel it'd be more of a project then it would research. My supervisor, although specializes in 3D graphics did the equivalent of a double degree in Comp Sci and Electrical engineering so is pretty able to help give advice and direction (once the idea is there anyway :P)