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Capstones

Experiential learning at its finest

𝔻Sci capstone courses offer distinctive collaborations between undergraduate education and the real world. This opportunity is intended for advanced 𝔻Sci majors (i.e., seniors and juniors).

Partnerships originate from a widely varying array of sectors including:
IndustryGovernmentNon-profitAcademia

Partners each bring unique, proprietary challenges to faculty-led teams of student investigators who apply data science skills and substantive expertise to the questions they are presented. The 𝔻Sci capstone is your opportunity to synthesize everything you have learned in your classes and make a real impact.

 Over the course of the spring semester, student teams will...
  • learn the relevant background information and business constraints in order to define the research problem
  • collaborate to bring theoretically sound, analytically rigorous, creative solutions and insights to specific challenges
  • provide partners periodic updates and incorporate feedback
  • make concluding formal presentations of findings/insights, applicable models/code, and recommended courses of action to partner stakeholders and university guests
All of this happens with the generous support and oversight from...
  • dedicated faculty leads
  • departmental staff
  • partner liaisons
  • university units

Frequently Asked Questions

No, DSci capstones are only offered during the spring semester.

No, DSci capstone projects/partners change every year.

No, you cannot do the capstone course if it meets at the same time as a required class you need to graduate.

If you’re in the Data Science track, DATASCI 498RW will count as your experiential elective. And just a reminder: you may only count one Capstone-style course (DATASCI 498RW, DATASCI 495BW, or another capstone) toward your electives. 

No! Any DSci student can apply. The seats are extremely limited  and student applications are considered wholistically—including your success in previous coursework relevant to the particular project to which you are applying. Exactly which courses and experiences are most relevant for your application change every year as our projects change.

If you applied before the deadline and weren’t placed, you were automatically waitlisted (no notification is sent). You may still be added to the course any time before classes start. Let us know if you’d like to be removed from the waitlist.