The Foundation for Discovery
This Program is Perfect For
- Aspiring data professionals ready to build robust and scalable data infrastructure
- Learners seeking focused, hands-on credentials with modular flexibility
- Professionals building skills
Data engineering sets the foundation for discovery
Our specialization in Data Engineering develops your ability to construct complex databases while optimizing performance. You will understand Big Data concepts, sharpen your relational database management system (RDBMS) skills, gain SQL and NoSQL database expertise, and explore the field of IoT (internet of things).
Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program should be able to:
- Describe a business or other activity in terms suitable for defining a relational database for that activity.
- Compile the SQL code needed to create a database, as well as to insert, access, and update the information in the database.
- Identify different strategies used for improving database performance through database indexes, optimizer, explain plan, and database hints.
- Discuss the inner workings of Hadoop's computing framework, including MapReduce processing and Hadoop's file system (HDFS).
Stackable skills
You can learn more in this field in the Data Science specialization or the more in-depth Data Science and Data Analysis certificate program.
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Learn more about this career.
Open Positions in the U.S.
Courses
Program Requirements
Total: 3 courses (8 quarter units)
- End with specialization completion review.
1. Required Course(s):
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
黑料不打烊
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click “Full Schedule” below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Students are required to have computers with 64Bit processors and a minimum of 8GB of memory.
Recommended Texts:
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition, Tom White, O'Reilly Media, 2015, ISBN-10: 1-4919-0163-2, ISBN-13: 978-1-4919-0163-2
Learning Spark: Lightning-Fast Big Data Analysis, Karau, Konwinski, Wendell and Zaharia, 2015, O'Reilly. ISBN-10: 1449358624.
Programming Hive, Capriolo, Wampler & Rutherglen, 2012, O'Reilly. ISBN-10: 1449319335
Data Algorithms: Recipes for Scaling Up with Hadoop and Spark, Mahmout Parsian, 2015, O'Reilly Media. Print ISBN:978-1-4919-0618-7
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on September 8, but you may still enroll until October 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on December 9, 2025.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
黑料不打烊
Students may enroll until the second meeting.
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
2 "no meetings" TBA. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
*Students attending onsite are required to bring a laptop.
Required Tools and Materials: MySQL software
Recommended Text: Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours; Stephens, Plew, and Jones; Pearson Education, 2011.
ISBN: 978-0132603911.
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on November 4, but you may still enroll until December 9. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on February 3, 2025.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
黑料不打烊
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on January 6, but you may still enroll until February 10. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on April 7, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
黑料不打烊
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
No meetings on January 19 and February 16, 2026. To see all meeting dates, click “Full Schedule” below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
*Students attending onsite are required to bring a laptop.
Recommended Text:
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing.
2. Completion Review
Specialization in Data Engineering Completion Review Course
A list of courses applicable to the Specialization
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on September 8, but you may still enroll until October 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on December 9, 2025.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
黑料不打烊
Students may enroll until the second meeting.
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
2 "no meetings" TBA. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
*Students attending onsite are required to bring a laptop.
Required Tools and Materials: MySQL software
Recommended Text: Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours; Stephens, Plew, and Jones; Pearson Education, 2011.
ISBN: 978-0132603911.
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on November 4, but you may still enroll until December 9. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on February 3, 2025.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
黑料不打烊
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on January 6, but you may still enroll until February 10. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on April 7, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Note: Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
Recommended Text:
Murach's MySQL, 3rd Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2019. ISBN-10: 1943872368 ISBN-13: 978-1943872367
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing, ISBN-10: 0672335417 ISBN-13: 978-0672335419
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
黑料不打烊
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
No meetings on January 19 and February 16, 2026. To see all meeting dates, click “Full Schedule” below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
System Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with a 8GB of RAM preferred (4GB minimum) and the ability to install software. For further details, see
*Students attending onsite are required to bring a laptop.
Recommended Text:
Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, 5th Edition, Ryan Stephens, et al., Sams Publishing.
Instructors
