At the core of the M.S. in Analytics curriculum is the practicum: a team-based learning experience wherein students put their skills to the test and generate business value for their project sponsors. Students work in teams of 4-5, under confidentiality agreements, to understand the business problem, and then clean and analyze the data. 

The institute receives practicum proposals from a variety of organizations each year. Our faculty select the most educationally valuable projects — ones that will afford students ample opportunities to apply the skills they’re learning in the classroom. Practicum projects run concurrent with coursework during the Fall and Spring semesters. While each project is unique, all projects operate on the same basic eight-month timeline.

Practicum Teams

It’s become a tradition for each team to take a photo during their kickoff meeting

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General Practicum Timeline

• Late August: The institute’s practicum manager announces teammate assignments.
• Early September: Teams receive their practicum sponsor/project assignments and sign non-disclosure agreements.
• Mid-September: Practicum teams hold project kick-off meetings, typically onsite at the sponsor’s location.
• Fall semester: Practicum teams meet virtually every 1-2 weeks with their sponsors. Teams also meet with the institute faculty (as a group) every three weeks.
• Early December: Practicum teams deliver midpoint presentations to institute faculty, and then to sponsors. These typically happen virtually.
• Spring semester: Practicum teams meet virtually every 1-2 weeks with their sponsors. Teams also meet with the institute faculty (as a group) every three weeks.
• Late April: Practicum teams deliver final presentations to institute faculty, and then to sponsors. The latter typically occur onsite at the sponsor’s location. Teams provide sponsors with an executive-level report and any other agreed-upon work products.

Student Teams

Students are assigned to practicum teams based on the complementarity of their skills, strengths and experience, given the needs of the project. The institute appoints a leader for each team, and teams designate members to fill other specific roles. 

Hear from practicum manager Dr. Chris West about the team allocation process: