Timeline & Key Dates
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 |
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 |
Fall 2026 (dates to be posted by August 2026)
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Submit project/thesis form & advisor agreement | By September 8, 2026 Aim to submit before the add/drop deadline. |
| Mid-term check-in with advisor & Projects Director | By October 15, 2026 Brief PowerPoint, progress demo, or report outline. |
| Final check-in with advisor & Projects Director | Before November 24, 2026 Project report due. |
| Thesis submission deadline | December TBD, 2026 Submit completed/signed thesis electronically to grad-affairs@seas.upenn.edu. |
| DATS Presentation Day | December TBD, 2026 Thesis talks 10:30–11:30 AM, Lunch, Practicum posters 12–1:30 PM. |
What to Expect at Each Milestone
1. Project/Thesis Submission
Submit your Project/Thesis Submission Form and signed Advisor Agreement before the add/drop deadline. Request DATS 5990 or DATS 9990 in Path@Penn.
2. Mid-Term Check-In
Meet with your faculty advisor and the Projects Director to review progress. Prepare a brief PowerPoint, progress demo, or report outline.
3. Final Check-In
Submit your project report to your faculty advisor and the Projects Director before the withdrawal deadline.
4. Thesis Submission (Thesis students only)
Submit your completed, signed thesis electronically to grad-affairs@seas.upenn.edu.
5. DATS Presentation Day
Thesis students give 5-minute talks. Practicum students present posters. All students upload their presentations/posters to the shared Google Drive folder before the event.