DATS Practicum & Thesis
Everything you need to know about pursuing independent research through DATS 5990 (Practicum) or DATS 9990 (Thesis) in Penn's Data Science MSE program.
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Practicum
An independent study where you lead one or more parts of a research project. Your contribution is similar to that of a co-author on a publication — you lead a distinct piece of the work within a larger collaborative effort.
- Credits: 1 CU (2 CU possible with approval)
- Advisor: Any Penn faculty member
- Report: 5–10 pages
- Presentation: Poster session
- Industry projects: Allowed with academic product
Industry Capstone
A sponsor-proposed project mentored by your industry sponsor and DATS teaching staff, with admission by application and interview.
- Credits: 1 CU per semester (max 2 total)
- Sponsor: Industry partner + DATS teaching staff
- Admission: Application + interviews (GPA ≥ 3.6)
- Report: Sponsor deliverables + final presentation
- New: Launching Fall 2026
Thesis
A deeper research endeavor where you lead all aspects of a project — problem formulation, materials, methods, results, and interpretation — with the goal of answering a research question that could result in a peer-reviewed publication.
- Credits: 2 CU (1 CU per semester, two semesters)
- Advisor: Any Penn faculty member
- Report: Full thesis (SEAS format)
- Presentation: 5-minute talk
- Reader: Additional Penn faculty reader required
Both courses count as technical and depth area electives toward the ten required credits for the MSE degree.
Find What You Need
Planning & Enrolling
Doing the Work
Finishing & Beyond
Current Semester: Summer 2026
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Submit project/thesis form & advisor agreement | By June 5, 2026 June 10, 2026 is the last day to add a course and last day to drop for full refund. |
| Mid-term check-in with advisor & Projects Director | By June 24, 2026 Brief PowerPoint, progress demo, or report outline. June 24th is the last day to drop for 50% refund. |
| Final check-in with advisor & Projects Director | Before August 2, 2026 Project report due. August 2 is the last day to withdraw from a course. |
| Deliverables Due | August 7, 2026 |
Quick Links
Project/Thesis Submission Form →
Submit your project details and proposal
Advisor Agreement Form →
Download, get signed by your advisor, and upload
Guidelines →
Report requirements, grading, check-ins, and presentation details
Poster Resources →
Templates, design tips, and CETS printing info