Capstone Projects: Student Guide
A cornerstone of our graduate program, the Capstone sequence fosters a two-semester collaboration between students and external sponsors.

Are you interested in learning more about research undertaken during the M.S. in Applied Urban Science and Informatics program at CUSP? We invite you to attend the Applied Urban Science Showcase on April 25, 2025.
Overview
The Capstone Project is a cornerstone of the M.S. in Applied Urban Science and Informatics program, allowing students to apply advanced skills in AI, machine learning, and data science from their first year to address real-world urban challenges. Spanning the second-year required Urban Science Intensive I and II courses, the Capstone Project enables students to collaborate directly with a sponsoring company, government agency, nonprofit, or academic institution. This hands-on experience enhances both academic and professional development, ensuring a smooth transition into a successful career after graduation.
Schedule
2025-26 Project Timeline
The dates below are tentative and subject to change.
08.01.25 | Announcement of 2025-26 Capstone Sponsors |
09.03.25 | Capstone (Urban Science Intensive I)Course Begins |
09.04.25–09.12.25 | Meet-and-Greet Sessions between Sponsors, Mentors, and Students (virtual allowed) |
Sept 12, 2025 | Deadline for Students to Submit Project/Sponsor Preferences |
Sept 24, 2025 | Announcement of Student Teams and Sponsor Matches |
Dec 2025 | Student Teams Deliver Spring Milestone Presentations |
Jan 20, 2026 | Capstone (Urban Science Intensive II) Course Begins |
April 2026 | Applied Urban Science Showcase |
May 5, 2026 | Deadline for Final Deliverable Submission |
Sponsor and Faculty Support
Capstone sponsors and faculty mentors play a key role in guiding students through their projects. Sponsors provide real-world challenges and insights, while faculty offer technical expertise. Through regular check-ins, students receive mentorship that helps them refine their ideas and develop high-impact projects.
Deliverables
Deliverables are tailored to each project, ranging from analytic reports and web-based interactive visualizations to digital tools (hardware and software), technical reports, and policy solutions.
Example projects include:
- Smart Pedestrian Counter: Class of 2022 graduates Abdulaziz Alaql, Alec Bardey, Turbold Baatarchuluu, and Branden DuPont developed a machine learning model that counts pedestrians on low-powered devices for the Smart Cities + IoT Lab in the NYC Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer.
- Augmented Reality Bus Locator App: Class of 2023 graduates Shantanu Anikhindi, Wanlingyi Lan, and Tianyi Li built an augmented reality app to streamline bus identification during morning departures for NYCSBUS.
Previous Sponsors
We've collaborated with leading organizations across industries to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges facing cities.
Government agencies
City of Bogotá
City of New Orleans, LA
City of Paterson, NJ
Moulton Niguel Water District, CA
New York County District Attorney’s Office
New York Police Department
New York State Office of the Attorney General
NYC Dept. of Buildings
NYC Dept. of City Planning
NYC Dept. of Design and Construction
NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection
NYC Dept. of Finance
NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene
NYC Dept. of Information Technology and Telecommunications
NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation
NYC Dept. of Sanitation
NYC Dept. of Small Business Services
NYC Dept. of Transportation
NYC Economic Development Corporation
NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Coordination
NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations
NYC Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency
NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (now the MOCEJ)
NYC Office of Technology and Innovation
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
The World Bank
Private companies
Academic Institutions and Nonprofits
Academic Institutions
Louisiana State University
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
New York University
Politecnico di Milano
University of California Berkeley
University of Delaware
University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Non-Profit Organizations and Think Tanks
Applied Research in Government Operations (ARGO)
Audubon New York
Brooklyn Defender Services
California Data Collaborative
California Forward
Child Poverty Action Lab
CIV-LAB
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Fondazione Transform Transport ETS
Institute for Development Impact
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
National Community Stabilization Trust
National Resource Network
New York Downtown Alliance
NYCSBUS
QueensLink
Results for America
Schmidt Futures, on behalf of the Reimagine New York Commission
Transform Transport
TransitCenter
US Ignite
Women In Need NYC
Showcase
The Applied Urban Science Showcase, hosted annually in April, celebrates the exceptional work of graduating students from the M.S. in Applied Urban Science and Informatics program. Through a poster session or talk, students share their work with the CUSP community and the public.
Professional Development
As part of the Capstone curriculum, students gain access to career panels and entrepreneur workshops designed for expanding professional networks and exploring career opportunities. These events provide practical advice and guidance to enhance your post-graduation success, whether you're interested in pursuing a career in the public sector, private industry, or academia.
FAQ
When do I enroll in Urban Science Intensive?
Second-year students will enroll in Urban Science Intensive I during the Fall semester and Urban Science Intensive II in the Spring semester. Both courses are required and must be taken consecutively. Course registration dates are announced via email. Part-time students should plan accordingly to complete both courses consecutively in their final Fall and Spring semesters.
Can I select what project I'd like to work on?
At the start of the Fall semester in your second year, we will introduce a list of project sponsors, share videos that highlight their research questions, and organize meet-and-greet sessions. After completing a survey to assess your skills and preferences, you’ll be paired with a team of 3-5 graduate students and matched with a project sponsor. Assignment to one of your preferred projects is not guaranteed.
Can I select my teammates?
Student teams are carefully formed to ensure a mix of skills and experience. While you may submit requests, team assignments based on your submitted preferences are not guaranteed.
How often does this class meet?
Class meetings are determined by the instructor, and are typically scheduled once a week from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
How much time is spent on projects outside of class?
Students should expect to dedicate at least 75 hours per semester to their Capstone Project outside of regularly scheduled class time.
Contact
Still have questions? Contact us at cusp.capstone@nyu.edu.