M.S. DACSS Concentrations

The Data Analytics and Computational Social Science master’s degree program (DACSS) offers a “Field Experience” concentration. This concentration expands and formalizes internships and other applied learning opportunities for DACSS students, allowing that experience to show on their transcript.

Completion of the Field Experience concentration entails:

• Completing all DACSS MS requirements (30-32 DACSS MS credits and at least 2 additional Field Experience Concentration internship credits as described below) 

AND:

• Finding one (or more) full-time (20+ hrs/week) experiential learning activity (an internship, co-op, or practicum) which lasts at least twelve weeks, at a company, agency, or other suitable organization. The internship can be  completed over the course of a fall or spring semester (depending on the student’s start date), over  two consecutive six-week summer sessions, or over one six-week summer term and one six-week winter term.
• The experience should use the knowledge, skills and abilities the student is learning as part of the DACSS MS.
  • During the field experience, students must sign up for a total of at least two credits of DACSS 698 Practicum (whether as a single 2- or 3-credit enrollment or spread out over multiple terms.
  • Students may request to add the Field Experience Concentration after finding an approved position or experience.

If you are an international student on a visa who will need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for your internship, please contact DACSS advisors.

DACSS Master Thesis Concentration

The Master’s thesis concentration is a 36 credit degree track intended for students planning to continue their training at the doctoral level. In addition to the standard 30 credit requirements of the MS DACSS degree, the DACSS Research Concentration requires students to complete a research thesis during the second year of the MS DACSS program. Students are not expected to attend the DACSS 691P professional development seminar, but are expected to participate in a regular research workshop in the field of their choosing during the time they are enrolled in DACSS.

Concentration Requirements:

Students in this concentration must complete:

• 30 credits of coursework of the base degree requirements (do not need to take the DACSS 691P professional development seminar)
• Complete an additional 2 terms - 6 credits - of research thesis (DACSS 699).  This would be split into one 3 credit course in the fall of their second year and another 3 credit course in the spring of their second year. 
• Students will participate regularly in a research workshop in the field of the student's choosing. 

Concentration Deadlines:

1. Declare the thesis concentration with DACSS academic advisors by the beginning of the second semester in the program. 
2. Students must work in conjunction with the DACSS Academic Advisor and Graduate Program Director to form a thesis committee no later than the start of their third full term in the program. It is recommended to form a committee by the end of the first year in the program. 
3. Students must complete a thesis proposal (a document, typically 10-12 pages in length, that lays out the scope and methodology of the thesis), which must be approved by their committee by November 15 or 4 months prior to their thesis defense.  
4. Oral Defense of the Thesis must take place by March 15 of their second year. 
5. Thesis must be submitted electronically to the Graduate School by April 1st.