The Capstone Project is a collaborative program designed in partnership with the MIDS (Master in Interdisciplinary Data Science) program. It allows statistical science master's students to join teams with MIDS students and work together on applied data science and statistical problems using real-world data. The collaboration between the two programs started in 2021 and has seen an increasing number of statistical science students participating in Capstone projects. These projects involve direct interaction with clients who own the data, all under the guidance and supervision of a faculty member.
To pursue the Capstone Project, students must join the project pitching process in the Spring semester of their first year. During the early summer, project assignments are announced based on students' preferences and team availability. As part of the Capstone Project, students are required to take the 2-credit graded course STA 698 - Capstone Project both in the Fall and Spring semesters of their second year. At the end of the Spring semester, Capstone teams will present their projects and submit final project reports, assessed by a Statistical Science committee of three faculty members. These assessments will count as the students' completion exams.
For more detailed information, students are encouraged to visit the Capstone page of the MIDS program. For any inquiries or questions, students should reach out to the Capstone Directors: Dr. Gregory Herschlag and Dr. Andrea Lane. They will be able to provide further assistance and guidance.