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Capstone Research Project

Ready to put your skills into practice? The Data and Decision Sciences Capstone is the culminating experiential learning opportunity for DSci master’s students. It engages you in every stage of a real data science project—from gathering and analyzing data to communicating results with impact.

In this course, students partner with organizations—including non-profits, corporations, and other university units—that bring real challenges to the table. Students then deliver theoretically sound, analytically rigorous, and creative solutions. Capstone projects apply the foundations, theories, and methods of data science to problems across industry, government, and the non-profit sector.

Students practice:

  • Communicating findings clearly
  • Working collaboratively with clients and peers
  • Applying professional ethics in real-world settings

A central theme is integrity: producing honest work and providing clients with correct answers, not just the answers they might expect.

Capstone projects vary by sponsor but are always data-driven with clear deliverables, such as a policy recommendation, a data visualization, a coding script, or an app. The Capstone is the perfect opportunity to apply your skills in a collaborative environment, gain hands-on experience with real-world data science projects, and prepare for a professional career.