Get Started

Follow these steps to enroll in DATS 5990 (Practicum) or DATS 9990 (Thesis).

Two ways to do a project for credit. The steps below cover the faculty-advised Practicum and Thesis, where you find a Penn advisor and propose your own project. If you'd rather work on a company-proposed project through the new Industry Capstone (DATS 5990-002), it has a separate application process — see the Industry Capstone page.

Before You Begin

Students typically pursue a thesis or practicum in their 2nd year (2nd or 3rd semester). You should complete at least one elective course in your project's application domain before starting.

Start one semester early. Begin thinking about your project area and identifying potential advisors the semester before you plan to enroll. This gives you enough time to explore options, have early conversations with faculty, and scope the project well before the add/drop deadline. Before writing your proposal, read 2–3 past reports from the Resources page — they're the best way to calibrate what a realistic scope looks like.

Enrollment Steps

Identify a faculty advisor
Find a Penn faculty member willing to supervise your project. Two approaches that work well: (1) approach a faculty member whose course you took and whose expertise aligns with your interests, or (2) search "upenn research <your domain>" and email faculty in your area. See the DATS Focus Areas Handbook for campus research groups. When reaching out cold, briefly describe your background, what you've read of their work, and what you'd like to explore — one short paragraph is enough.
Define your project scope
Discuss the topic and scope with your advisor. Identify the research questions you'll explore and your specific role. For a thesis, you should lead the project end-to-end. For a practicum, your contribution can be a distinct piece of a larger effort. See What Makes a Good Project below for guidance on scope.
Prepare your proposal
Write a 2-page project proposal. A strong proposal covers:

• Problem statement: What question are you answering, and why does it matter?

• Background: What already exists, and where is the gap?

• Your approach: What will you do, and what is your specific role?

• Success criteria: How will you know the project succeeded?

• Timeline: Key milestones mapped to the semester calendar.

The proposal doesn't need to be final — it's a planning tool and a scope agreement between you and your advisor.
Get the advisor agreement signed
Download the Advisor Agreement Form, have your faculty advisor sign it, and keep the signed copy ready for upload.
Submit the project form
Fill out the Project/Thesis Submission Form. You'll upload your signed advisor agreement and project proposal as part of this form.
Present your proposal to the Projects Director
Share your proposal with Sharath Chandra Guntuku (in-person or via email). This must happen before your enrollment is approved — the permit will not be issued until the Projects Director has reviewed and signed off on your proposal. Beyond this required step, the Projects Director is also available for consultation at any point: when identifying a potential advisor, scoping your project idea, or if questions come up during the project itself.
Request the course in Path@Penn
Request either DATS 5990 (Practicum) or DATS 9990 (Thesis) in Path@Penn. Once approved, Staci Kaplan (Program Manager) will issue your permit.

Timing matters. Ideally, submit your form and advisor agreement at the start of the semester. The add/drop deadline is the absolute last date — not the target. Check the Timeline for current semester dates.

What Makes a Good Project

Not all project ideas are equally well-scoped. Strong projects are:

Open-ended — there is no predetermined answer; you have to figure it out
Research-driven — the work involves genuine analytical or methodological decisions, not just implementation
Decomposable — you can break it into milestones and make measurable progress each month
Deep enough — the core problem can sustain a full semester (or two) of focused work

Projects that tend to struggle:

Pure data cleaning or pipeline work with no analytical output
“Just implement X and apply it” — a pre-specified algorithm with no research component
Consulting-style deliverables (dashboards, reports) without a research question underneath
Projects where the answer is already known and you’re only verifying it

If you’re unsure whether your idea crosses the line, email the Projects Director before committing to an advisor.

What to Expect in the First Few Weeks

After enrollment, the first four weeks should focus on:

Literature and context — read papers in your area; understand what already exists and where your project fits
Data and feasibility — identify your data sources, check access, and run preliminary experiments to validate your approach is tractable
Refine your research questions — use what you learn in steps 1–2 to sharpen the questions in your proposal
Establish a working rhythm with your advisor — agree on meeting cadence, how you’ll share progress, and what a good update looks like

Don’t wait until month two to discover that your data doesn’t exist or your approach doesn’t work. The first few weeks are for finding out.

Choosing Your Path

Choose Thesis (DATS 9990) if you want to lead an entire research project from start to finish, your work could result in a peer-reviewed publication, and you’re ready for a two-semester commitment.

Choose Practicum (DATS 5990) if you want to contribute meaningfully to a research project (potentially as part of a larger team) or prefer a shorter engagement (one semester, one CU). Industry-based projects are also an option here, as long as they produce an academically evaluable product.

Choose Industry Capstone (DATS 5990-002) if you want to work on a company-proposed problem with an industry sponsor, meet the eligibility bar (GPA ≥ 3.6, at least one semester completed), and are ready for a structured weekly cadence. See the Industry Capstone page for details and how to apply.