Data Science Practicum Design

2 credits · Undergraduate

The Data Science Practicum capstone sequence is DATASCI 192D (Autumn, optional), 192A (Winter), and 192B (Spring). 192D is not required for entry to 192A-B. 192D gives students the opportunity to identify their own capstone partner. Students research government agencies, community organizations, companies, or research labs working on problems that interest them and identify partners they would like to work with. Organizations also interested in a potential partnership define a question the capstone project would address, based on a need in their own work. Students study the organization's proposal to understand the question, connect it to the statistical and computational methods they have studied in the major, and assess whether the available data can support the work. Throughout the quarter, students study principles and practices of community engaged scholarship and reflect on how they can contribute to an ethical and reciprocal partnership. Project scoping is iterative among students, potential partners, and the Data Science program, which approves the project as the basis for the student's work in 192A-B. Students who do not take 192D, or who do not establish a partnership during 192D, are matched with an organization and project identified by the Data Science Program in DATASCI 192A. Students enroll as a self-formed group of two or three who share a common interest and who intend to work as a team in 192D, 192A, and 192B. All members of the group must enroll in 192D. Students should enroll in 192D the Autumn quarter preceding their enrollment in 192A-B. Open to declared Data Science majors, with preference given to juniors and seniors. Required meetings held on selected Fridays from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Letter grade.