Dallas Data Science Academy — Practical Training. Promising Results.

Applications Open for Summer 2026

AI Practicum

1:1 Mentorship. Real Client Projects. Industry-Ready Skills.

Work directly with senior data scientists on actual client engagements. Build portfolio-worthy AI projects. Earn industry-recognized certificates. Get personalized career guidance.

$595 · 6 weeks · delivered online · roughly 8–10 hours per week of independent project work plus a weekly 1:1 session.

Dallas Data Science Academy is an IBM Partner, Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner Network member, and Google Cloud Partner.

Why the AI Practicum is different

Real Client Project Experience

Work on actual client engagements — not course exercises. Build portfolio pieces you can demo in interviews.

Weekly 1:1 Mentorship

Six personalized sessions with a senior data scientist. Code review, architecture feedback, and career coaching.

IBM Agentic AI Certificate

Earn the IBM: Agentic AI: Developing AI Agents Certificate upon successful completion.

Dallas Data Science Academy Certificate of Completion

Official certification from Dallas Data Science Academy recognizing your project contributions.

Reference Letter

Strong, personalized reference documenting your technical skills and project outcomes for college and career applications.

GitHub-Ready Codebase

Production-quality, documented code you own and can showcase publicly in your portfolio.

How the Practicum Works

A structured 6-week program that transforms you into job-ready AI talent.

1. Match to a Real Project

We pair you with an active client engagement based on your interests — finance, healthcare, education, real estate, or workforce management. No two projects are the same.

2. Build Real Solutions

Work independently on your portion of the project — pulling real data, building models, creating dashboards. You’ll contribute to a live client deliverable, not a mock exercise.

3. Weekly 1:1 Check-Ins

Meet weekly with your assigned senior data scientist for code review, architecture guidance, and career coaching. Six sessions total, one hour each.

4. Deploy & Certificate

Deliver a working application to the client, receive your IBM Agentic AI certificate, Dallas Data Science Academy certification, and a personalized reference letter for your portfolio.

Real Projects Across Industries

Every engagement is customized to real client needs. Choose your focus area.

  • Finance — build predictive models for market analysis, risk assessment, and investment insights.
  • Healthcare — develop analytics platforms for patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and clinical insights.
  • Education — create learning analytics systems, student performance dashboards, and engagement tools.
  • Real Estate — build investment intelligence platforms, property valuation models, and market analytics.
  • Workforce Management — design HR analytics platforms, talent assessment tools, and workforce planning systems.

What your $595 investment covers

Everything you need to go from curious to career-ready.

  • Active client project assignment
  • 6 weekly 1:1 mentorship sessions (1 hour each)
  • IBM Agentic AI: Developing AI Agents Certificate
  • Dallas Data Science Academy Certificate of Completion
  • Client reference letter (for strong performers)
  • Deployed application in your portfolio
  • GitHub-ready, documented codebase you own
  • Career coaching and portfolio review
  • Independent project work on your own schedule

Who this is for

Whether you’re exploring AI or looking to level up — this program meets you where you are.

High School & College Students

Want something real on your college application or resume? A client project with certificates and references stands out.

Career Changers & Early Professionals

Looking to break into AI? Get hands-on experience with real deployments that hiring managers can verify.

Curious Learners

Passionate about AI but not sure where to start? Get guided, structured experience that transforms curiosity into capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need programming experience to apply?
No prerequisites required. We meet you where you are. However, having some basic exposure to programming or data concepts is helpful. We’ll assess your background during the application process and match you with an appropriate project.
How much time should I expect to commit weekly?
Plan for 8–10 hours per week for independent project work, plus your weekly 1:1 mentorship session. The time investment is flexible — you can work on your own schedule, just complete milestone check-ins.
What happens after I complete the program?
You’ll have a deployed AI application, industry-recognized certificates, a reference letter, and portfolio pieces you can showcase. We also provide career coaching to help you leverage your new experience.
How is this different from a bootcamp?
Unlike traditional bootcamps with pre-recorded content and group sessions, this is a personalized 1:1 mentorship with a senior data scientist on a real client engagement. You get individual attention, real project experience, and deliverables that are actually used by real companies.

Apply

Tell us about yourself and we’ll be in touch within 24–48 hours. Upon submission, we review your application and reach out to discuss next steps and schedule your first session.

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