How the Mod System Works
Four Mods, One Year: mid-August through mid-May, each Mod is ~7 weeks of class + assessments.
Tight Focus, Real Progress: You take a smaller set of courses at once, go deep, then pivot.
Capstone Integrated: Your capstone is incorporated within your existing classes across the Mods, built into your coursework, not an extra project or end鈥憃f鈥憏ear cram.
Mod 0 : Launch & Level-Set
Start together. Start prepared.
Capstone teams and topics are assigned, and you jump straight into your first project tasks. We also offer targeted skill-refresh workshops in coding/math for those who need them; a placement test lets you opt out if you鈥檙e already proficient.
The goal: start Mod 1 confident and ready.
Mod 1: Scope the Problem, Build the Toolkit
Build the toolkit you鈥檒l use all year.
Survey of Data Science Applications is your first professional course and your capstone鈥檚 launchpad. You鈥檒l scope and define a business鈥慳ligned problem, pressure鈥憈est assumptions, and set success metrics. Core courses in programming, inference, and exploratory data analysis give you the tools you鈥檒l use all year.
Mod 2: Professional Practice & Your First Elective
Model smarter and responsibly.
Lay a responsible and solid data foundation as you advance your capstone from concept to concrete plan, scoping the problem, mapping data sources, and addressing privacy and responsibility questions. Core courses in Databases鈥�&鈥疭QL and Machine鈥疞earning reinforce that foundation and broaden your technical toolkit. This Mod is also your first chance to take an elective (the only other window is鈥疢od 4).
Mod 3: Build, Code, Iterate
Go big.
You鈥檙e actively writing the code for your capstone while learning advanced modeling techniques (GenAI, big data, algorithms). Expect fast iteration, deeper theory, and lots of debugging and experimentation as your project takes real shape.
Mod 4: Deliver, Tell the Story, Go Deeper
Communicate like a pro and build advanced skills.
You finish building your capstone and learn to present to stakeholders and leadership in Data Storytelling & Communication. Required Deep Learning, plus one final elective of your choice, lets you sharpen your edge. This Mod culminates in your formal capstone presentation.
Why Mods? (Why Not Semesters?)
Immersive learning: One theme at a time = less context switching, more mastery and focused learning objectives.鈥�
鈥疉gile methods, but for your degree: Get feedback, iterate quickly, move toward solutions.鈥�
Built for career readiness: Each Mod moves you closer to a final deliverable you can show potential employers.
- Integrated with Owen: Our Mod calendar matches Vanderbilt鈥檚 Owen Graduate School of Management, so sharing classes between both school's is easy.
The Capstone Thread
Your capstone is required (on your transcript, non-credit) and stretches across Mods. You鈥檒l ideate early, prototype mid-year, and deliver a final product with polished communication in Mod 4. Industry-sponsored options are common.
Program Start: Middle of August (Orientation + Mod 0)
Mod 1: Aug鈥揙ct | Mod 2: Oct鈥揇ec | Mod 3: Jan鈥揗ar | Mod 4: 惭补谤鈥揗补测
Graduation: May
(Exact dates post on the academic calendar each year.)