Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science

Practical Work Experience

Effective Fall 2025

Practical work experience is invaluable for Master’s students in the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science, as it bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. This experience may come from part-time research assistantships during the academic year or summer internships between the first- and second-years. These opportunities allow students to collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge projects or to work in a broad range of settings, such as government agencies, private industry, or research institutions. Through these experiences, students enhance their understanding of complex methodologies, refine their technical skills, and expand their professional network and their knowledge about various applications of survey and data science. These experiences not only augment the academic curriculum by contextualizing learning within practical environments but also significantly boost students’ employability and readiness to tackle the challenges of the evolving survey and data science landscape upon graduation.

We encourage students to pursue these practical training opportunities. Over the duration of their Master’s study, students must complete a minimum of 400 hours in practical work experience.

    1. If MPSDS places a student in a paid research assistant position, the student can assume this work will count toward the practical training requirement. Placement in these opportunities is coordinated by the Student Administration Manager.
    2. If a student finds a position on their own, it must be approved by the program in order to count toward the practical training requirement. Students should provide a copy of a job description and describe how the position is relevant to survey and data science to the Student Administration Manager. The decision will be made by the Student Administration Manager and the Academic Program Associate based on the following criteria:
      • The position must be relevant to survey and data science.
      • The experience will count towards the 400 hours of the student’s effort before the end of their final term of study, unless combined with another practical training applied toward fulfilling the program’s requirement.
      • The position can start at any point during the academic year and can continue over the summer.
      • The position should be a paid experience.

    1. If a student plans to continue their academic-year practical training at ISR over the summer, they must confirm the position’s availability with their supervisor by April 1. If they do NOT plan to work over the summer, they must also inform their supervisor by April 1. Please communicate the end result with the Student Administration Manager.
    2. Each student is responsible for securing their own summer practical training opportunities with the following guidelines in mind:
      • The position must be relevant to survey and data science.
      • The experience will count towards the 400 hours practical training requirement, unless combined with another practical training applied toward fulfilling the program requirements.
      • The position should begin after the end of winter term of the first-year and end prior to the start of fall term of the second-year.
      • The position should be paid at the current student temporary research assistant rate.
    3. When external organizations will contact the program with summer employee needs, the Student Administration Manager will collect resumes from all students and distribute those that best match specific opportunities to potential employers. Potential employers will contact students directly if they are interested in considering a student for an opportunity.
    4. Students are encouraged to apply directly to organizations for summer positions. When initiating contact with an organization, students must check the suitability of the potential work with the Academic Program Associate in advance of making final arrangements for employment. The student is responsible for sending a resume to the employer, negotiating wage rate (recommended hourly rate is $20), and keeping the program informed about contacts and decisions.
    5. The program strongly encourages students to work with the program during the application process. If they have not done so, they must have their summer practical training opportunity approved by the Academic Program Associate. Students should provide a copy of a job description, describe how the position is related to survey and data science or the job offer for approval.
    6. Students must notify the Program when they have accepted a summer practical training opportunity with the following details:
      • The start and end dates,
      • the location of employment,
      • the company name, and
      • direct supervisor and human resources contact information.

    1. All first-year Master’s students are required to attend an MPSDS practical training requirement session in October to discuss the requirements and guidelines.
    2. Each Master’s student is required to participate in an MPSDS practical training feedback and presentation session in September of their second-year to share their practical training experience with the new cohort of Master’s students.
    3. Students with F-1 or J-1 visas are eligible for on-campus work while attending classes for 20 hours per week. However, during the academic year, off-campus work is not recommended due to the requirements of the Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Academic-year CPT involves different criteria than a summer CPT. All requests for the academic-year CPT must be submitted one week prior to the first day of class, and there will be no extensions to this deadline. Please contact the Academic Program Associate to discuss further if you find yourself in this situation.
    4. Students with F-1 or J-1 visas are eligible to work on-campus and off-campus in the U.S. during the summer break. If working off-campus in the U.S. during the summer, a student must apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). This does not involve enrolling in a class since the summer practical work experience is part of the program’s requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to resolve all visa issues. Check with the University of Michigan International Center with questions.
    5. Maintain high standards of professional behavior in practical training. Remember you represent the University of Michigan and MPSDS. We depend on you to represent us well so that future students enjoy the opportunities you have. Please refer to the Student Temp Research Assistant 101 Workplace Norms for important best practices/expectations for a professional workplace.
    6. By January 4 of the second-year of study, each Master’s student must complete and submit the Practical Training Experience Completion form. The form is a part of the practical training requirement. You will be asked to provide the following information:
      • Name of the organization(s)(s) you worked for to complete the practical training requirement.
      • Name of your supervisor of your practical training. If you have more than one position, provide information about all your supervisors.
      • Name of the project(s) you worked on. If more than one project, provide information about all projects.
      • The dates that you worked to complete each of the practical training experiences.
      • How the training is related to your study of survey and data science.
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