Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL from Coursera

In this course, you'll get a big-picture view of using SQL for big data, starting with an overview of data, database systems, and the common querying language (SQL). Then you'll learn the characteristics of big data and SQL tools for working on big data platforms. You'll also install an exercise environment (virtual machine) to be used through the specialization courses, and you'll have an opportunity to do some initial exploration of databases and tables in that environment.

By the end of the course, you will be able to

• distinguish operational from analytic databases, and understand how these are applied in big data;

• understand how database and table design provides structures for working with data;

• appreciate how differences in volume and variety of data affects your choice of an appropriate database system;

• recognize the features and benefits of SQL dialects designed to work with big data systems for storage and analysis; and

• explore databases and tables in a big data platform.

To use the hands-on environment for this course, you need to download and install a virtual machine and the software on which to run it. Before continuing, be sure that you have access to a computer that meets the following hardware and software requirements:

• Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system (iPads and Android tablets will not work)

• 64-bit operating system (32-bit operating systems will not work)

• 8 GB RAM or more

• 25GB free disk space or more

• Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization support enabled (on Mac computers with Intel processors, this is always enabled;

on Windows and Linux computers, you might need to enable it in the BIOS)

• For Windows XP computers only: You must have an unzip utility such as 7-Zip or WinZip installed (Windows XP’s built-in unzip utility will not work)

What's inside

Syllabus

Data and Databases

In this week, you'll get an overview of this Specialization and of Course 1. Then you'll learn about database systems and the distinction between operational and analytic databases.

Relational Databases and SQL

Big Data

SQL Tools for Big Data Analysis

Introduction to the Hands-On Environment

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores data and databases, which is a foundational skill for data scientists

Examines big data, which is highly in demand in the industry

Provides hands-on practice with SQL tools for big data analysis, which is essential for data scientists

Teaches relational databases and SQL, which are core concepts for data scientists

Reviews summary

Big data analysis with sql fundamentals

Learners say Cloudera's course provides a solid foundation for understanding big data and its tools. The course begins by discussing traditional database systems and relational databases, and then introduces concepts such as big data analysis and non-relational databases. Instructors walk learners through the hands-on learning in later courses, which have been praised for their clear explanations and engaging content. However, some learners who already have experience with SQL may find the foundational content in this course to be too basic.

Provides practical experience through assignments and projects.

"The quizzes are well-drafted and logical, and the course does prepare you for that, unlike in many other courses!"

"The hands on exercise is a good first step towards connecting to Big Data sources from within a user friendly environment of Hue."

"This course provides an overview of the different types of databases and how they are structured"

Offers a well-structured and informative course.

"This course is very engaging and informative. Being a Data Analysis beginner, I could grasp the concepts as the explanations were quite clear."

"Very well constructed and presented course! Gives you all the basics of the techniques and technologies behind accessing and using Big Data using Impala and Hive."

"All the learning material was really well thought out. The lecturer or host, Glynn Durham was very easy to understand."

Introduces learners to SQL concepts and tools.

"This course is one of the best in developing the foundations of BIG DATA for beginners. I am highly impressed by the teacher's well-versed knowledge and detailed explanation."

"The course is really helpful and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do it fro free. After getting the Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL certificate I am a step closer for to become a professional data analyst"

"This course gave me a super overview of, what is relevant in Hadoop's world of Big Data with SQL engines. Many known areas have been refreshed, and many new aspects were mentioned."

Covers fundamental concepts of big data and its applications.

"This is an excellent course to learn about the foundations of big databases. It provides a solid platform to enable you to advance seamlessly to practical applications using big data tools."

"Great overview of big data analysis with SQL. Learned by practicing on the assignment. Awesome instructor and course."

"I already have experience with SQL and databases due to my work activities and this course did a great job by teaching the theory behind Big Data and analytical databases."

Downloading and installing VMware may cause technical issues.

"Completed the first four weeks of the course with no issue. Found the content interesting and engaging."

"Followed the link, took me to a website riddled with pop up ads that looked highly distrustful."

"Downloaded the required program and when I ran it, the program caused an instillation error and I couldn't get it off my device."

May be too basic for experienced learners.

"The contents are rather basic, having to wait to the last week to see some applied concepts."

"Really great introductory course to the conceptualization of SQL databases and the varying kinds."

"When it said foundations they weren't kidding. I enrolled thinking I would be learning basic SQL coding skills but none of that is taught in this course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL with these activities:

Read 'SQL for Data Science' by John Foreman

Show steps

Gain a comprehensive understanding of SQL for data science applications.

View Data Smart on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Connect with experienced SQL professionals

Show steps

Seek guidance and advice from experts in the field to enhance your learning journey.

Show steps

Reach out to SQL professionals through LinkedIn or industry events.
Request mentorship or guidance on SQL-related topics.

Review relational database concepts and SQL syntax

Show steps

Refresh your foundational knowledge of relational databases and SQL to prepare for the course.

Browse courses on SQL

Show steps

Review online articles or tutorials on SQL.
Take practice quizzes on SQL syntax.
Create a simple database and practice basic SQL commands.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Attend a workshop on SQL for big data analysis

Show steps

Learn about advanced SQL techniques and tools for handling big data.

Show steps

Search for upcoming SQL workshops in your area.
Register for the workshop and attend all sessions.
Participate in hands-on exercises and discussions.

Solve SQL problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank

Show steps

Challenge yourself by tackling real-world SQL problems and improve your problem-solving abilities.

Show steps

Register on a coding platform and search for SQL problems.
Select a problem and analyze its requirements.
Write efficient SQL queries to solve the problem.
Submit your solution and review the feedback.

Practice SQL queries on sample datasets

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of SQL syntax and commands by working through practice exercises.

Show steps

Create a table and populate it with sample data.
Write queries to retrieve specific data from the table.
Filter and sort the data using various SQL clauses.
Practice joining tables to combine data from multiple sources.

Build a data visualization dashboard using SQL and a visualization tool

Show steps

Apply your SQL skills to create interactive visualizations that communicate insights from data.

Show steps

Choose a dataset and define the visualizations you want to create.
Write SQL queries to extract and transform the data.
Import the data into a visualization tool and create charts, graphs, and other visualizations.
Refine the dashboard based on user feedback.

Contribute to open-source SQL projects on GitHub

Show steps

Gain practical experience and contribute to the SQL community by working on real-world projects.

Show steps

Find open-source SQL projects on GitHub that align with your interests.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Fork the project, make your changes, and submit a pull request.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst gathers, cleans, and interprets data to help organizations make informed decisions. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides a strong foundation for Data Analysts by teaching them how to use SQL to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Data Analysts who want to learn how to use SQL to analyze data on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst uses data to help organizations improve their performance. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Business Analysts with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Business Analysts who want to learn how to use SQL to analyze data on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to build models that can predict future trends. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Data Scientists with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Data Scientists who want to learn how to use SQL to analyze data on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Database Administrators with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Database Administrators who want to learn how to use SQL to manage and maintain big data databases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Software Engineers with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Software Engineers who want to learn how to use SQL to develop software applications that work with big data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Engineer

A Data Engineer builds and maintains data pipelines. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Data Engineers with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Data Engineers who want to learn how to use SQL to build and maintain data pipelines for big data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer builds and maintains machine learning models. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Machine Learning Engineers with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Machine Learning Engineers who want to learn how to use SQL to build and maintain machine learning models for big data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Statistician

A Statistician collects, analyzes, and interprets data. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Statisticians with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Statisticians who want to learn how to use SQL to analyze data on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Quantitative Analyst

A Quantitative Analyst uses data to make investment decisions. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Quantitative Analysts with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Quantitative Analysts who want to learn how to use SQL to analyze data on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Actuary

An Actuary uses data to assess risk. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Actuaries with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Actuaries who want to learn how to use SQL to assess risk on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Epidemiologist

An Epidemiologist studies the causes and distribution of disease. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Epidemiologists with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Epidemiologists who want to learn how to use SQL to study the causes and distribution of disease on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst uses data to improve the efficiency of organizations. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Operations Research Analysts with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Operations Research Analysts who want to learn how to use SQL to improve the efficiency of organizations on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Market Researcher

A Market Researcher studies the behavior of consumers. This course, Foundations for Big Data Analysis with SQL, provides Market Researchers with the skills they need to work with big data. This course is especially helpful for Market Researchers who want to learn how to use SQL to study the behavior of consumers on a large scale.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher