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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.

Applications will be accepted until January 5th at 11:59 PM. However, reviews will begin on October 21st, and students who apply by this date will receive top consideration. Priority is given to the early applicants who are closer to graduation and whose college-level training substantively matches the projects offered.

The students who are selected during the initial review will receive emails about their capstone project by October 22nd. Any students who apply by October 21st, but do not place in the primary evaluation, will be considered first for any remaining spots until the beginning of the semester.​ Applications received after October 21st will be considered last.

Course Enrollment
  • Students selected for a capstone project must enroll in DATASCI 498RW during the spring semester.
  • Capstones are only offered in Spring—there are no fall capstone opportunities
Elective & GER Eligibility
  • As of Spring 2024, DATASCI 498RW may count as one upper-level DSci elective.
  • Most DSci tracks require three 300-level (or above) DSci electives; one may be fulfilled by DATASCI 498RW or DATASCI 499R.
  • For Data Science track majors, DATASCI 498RW counts as the experiential elective.
  • Students may only count one capstone-style course toward the major (except in the Data Science track).
  • Beginning Spring 2026, DSci Capstone courses carry the Communication-Intensive designation and may satisfy the Continuing Communication & Writing GER.

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

  • Are capstones available during the fall semester?

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

  • Are the projects/partners the same every year?

    No, DSci capstone projects/partners change every year.

  • I want to do a capstone, but I have a class that I need to graduate that meets at the same time. Can I still do the capstone?

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

  • Is there a GPA or specific course completion requirement to be eligible for capstone consideration?

    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.

  • I submitted my application but haven’t heard back about a seat in a course yet.

    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.