All Data Minor students will take CSSS 490 Data Science Community Seminar before graduating - most likely during senior year. CSSS 490 is taught yearly only in Spring Quarter. CSSS 490 counts for 1 credit towards the minor requirements and is graded credit/no credit.

In Spring 2026, CSSS 490 will be held Wednesdays from 4:30-5:50 PM.

• CSSS 490 is restricted to students in the Data Science minor. 
• Priority is given to students who are graduating before the next offering of CSSS 490. Students are guaranteed a seat in the class during their senior year.
• No prerequisites.
• Direct questions about CSSS 490 to Data Science Advising at dataminor@uw.edu. Do not contact CSSS Advising.

You will not be able to register for the course on your own. If you would like a seat in the class, you must submit a request form, which will be available here in Winter 2026. Students who are graduating before Spring 2027 will be registered for the course first. If you are graduating in Spring 2027 or later and would still like to be considered for a seat in the class this spring, please complete the form and we will register you based on space available in March. There is no guarantee you can take the course this year. ​​​​​​

Alternative Capstone Petitions

The capstone is a required course for all students to complete the minor. This course is only offered in Spring quarter once per year. The exact day and time of this course is announced in Winter quarter. If you are unable to take the capstone course, you can submit a petition for an alternative capstone experience for the following reasons: 

• Time conflict with a required major course
• You are graduating before spring quarter 
• Another reason (ex. studying abroad during spring quarter) 

If you need the alternative capstone for a reason other than graduating before spring, your petition must include a letter (can be a PDF of an email) from your major adviser supporting your reason. If you are graduating before spring, please make sure you have applied to graduate so we can verify your graduation quarter. If you have not applied to graduate, you are welcome to provide a letter from your adviser as well. We recommend you submit the petition at least one quarter prior to your graduating quarter.

The alternative experience is online and asynchronous and will be due by week 1 of the quarter in which you are graduating. In the form, you will be asked to explain your reason and upload the letter from your major adviser. 

CSSS 490 Petition

A data science minor adviser will review your request and then send you the alternative capstone instructions.

Note: The alternative capstone assignment does not give credit. This means you must reach the 25-credit minimum for the minor through alternative coursework.

Data Science Minor

Leverage familiarity with data science in fields outside of data science, and gain skills and fluency to work with data in your major domain of study.

Drop-in advisingInformation Sessions