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10 Great Free Online Courses in Big Data

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The concept of Big Data has only been around since the early 2000s, and it refers to data that is so complex, fast, or “big” that it defies processing with traditional methods. The mainstream definition of the term was first articulated as the three “V” s by analyst Doug Laney:

Volume

This refers to the quantity of data that is generated and stored. The amount of data determines its potential insight and value, which further determines whether it can be considered “big.”

Variety

Refers to the format of the data, whether it be from traditional numerical databases or documents, emails, financial transactions, images, text, video, audio, or other sources.

Velocity

This refers to the speed at which the resulting data is generated and processed to meet the demands of things like smart devices, sensors, and RFID tags. This type of information streams into businesses in torrents and is often available in real-time. It is produced continuously at unprecedented speeds. 

Featured Programs

Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

In this article, we will introduce potential students to some of the best free online courses in Big Data we could uncover. Each has been carefully ranked using a methodology we developed that helps us present the best options first; however, each course is unique and deserves a look. 

Ranking 10 Free Online Courses in Big Data

1. Hadoop Starter Kit

Offered by Hadoop in Real World Via Udemy

Although it is relatively short (three hours and twenty minutes), this free course on the Udemy platform gives students a high-level introduction to the Hadoop ecosystem. But that doesn’t mean it’s complicated. Those who have taken it describe it as understandable, easy-to-follow, and workable. Taught by a group of senior Hadoop consultants, the course is content-rich and walks users through the core components of Hadoop with ease.

Students who choose to take the free online Big Data course should have some basic Linux and Java knowledge, but no advanced programming knowledge is required. Bring your desire to learn, and the course will provide you with a fundamental overview of Big Data, including HDFS, MapReduce, Apache Pig, Apache Hive, and Hadoop administration in the real world. For those interested in certification and one-on-one interaction with the instructors, a paid version of the course is available, but not required.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Under four hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Can be taken on both desktop and mobile

•Short, but engaging

•Taught by experts in the field

Cons:

•None

2. Big Data and the Environment

Offered by the University of Reading via FutureLearn

In this three-week-long course, students will explore how environmental analytics works and how it can benefit both research and business. Monitoring wildlife, weather patterns, invasive species, and other environmental factors can be a crucial factor in determining the innovations used to solve many of the issues we face today.

In the free Big Data course online, students will learn about how scientists are using Big Data to analyze and address these issues and gain insight from industry experts who are working on a wide range of projects. Students will also learn about some of the career paths available in this emerging field and how to participate in citizen science activities.

FutureLearn programs run on a set schedule, so you will need to check upcoming dates to find out when the next session begins. Joining for free will give you access to the course for five weeks. An optional fee of $59 will provide you with lifetime access and a print and digital certificate of achievement.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Three weeks

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Optional certification is available

•Perfect for those who are seeking a better understanding of environmental Big Data

•Taught by instructors from the Institute of Environmental Analytics

Cons:

•FutureLearn courses have set start dates so you will need to plan accordingly

3. Big Data Fundamentals

Offered by the University of Adelaide via edX

This University of Adelaide Course serves as an introduction to Big Data and how it is driving organizational change. It discusses the challenges which are faced when trying to analyze such massive sets of data. Students will learn techniques like data mining and stream processing, as well as how to design PageRank algorithms using MapReduce.

The free online Big Data course is part of a Micro Master’s program in Big Data, and students are urged to complete Programming for Data Science and Computational Thinking and Big Data before taking the course, both of which can also be accessed at no cost. It is self-paced with a suggested completion time of 10 weeks, working on the course from eight to ten hours per week. A verified certificate can be added for a fee.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: 10 weeks

Curriculum: Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Completed by over 36,000 students

•Taught by four instructors from the University of Adelaide

•Part of the Big Data Micro Master’s Program

Cons:

•Due to sanctions, the course is not available to Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine

4. Introduction to Big Data

Offered by UC San Diego via Coursera

UC San Diego offers this Introduction to Big Data course to those new to data science who want an overview and understanding of how Big Data came about. It covers the terminology and fundamental concepts behind Big Data problems, systems, and applications. By taking the training for five to six hours a week, you can complete it in about three weeks of study. There are six modules of varying lengths, and students who are seeking a good foundation will find this to be one of the best introductory free courses in Big Data available. 

You can opt for a completion certificate at the paid level of the Coursera platform, which also allows for graded assignments; however, each module can be audited at no charge. If you need a certificate but cannot afford one, you can apply for financial aid. 

 Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Three weeks

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Covers all the basics of Big Data for students who only need an overview

•Taken by over 140,000 students

•Taught by expert instructors from the San Diego Supercomputer Center

Cons:

•Fee charged for a certificate

5. Security and Privacy for Big Data: Part 1

Offered by eit Digital via Coursera

If you already have Big Data projects going on and are concerned about security and privacy, this free three-hour course may be exactly what you’re looking for. In it, students will learn how to recognize security related issues in their Big Data systems and projects and define those risks and challenges. They will also identify cryptographic principles and mechanisms to manage access controls in any Big Data system.

This is a beginner level course that is suitable for project managers who are just beginning to understand Big Data as well as more experienced ICT professionals and systems designers.

As with all Coursera courses, certification can be accessed at the paid level of the platform; however, it can be taken for free in audit mode.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Three to four hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Taught by two instructors with extensive industry experience

•Perfect for those who want to explore safety and privacy issues surrounding Big Data

•Financial aid is available for students who need certification and cannot afford it.

Cons:

•Certification is only available at the paid level of the course

6. Big Data Emerging Technologies

Offered by Yonsei University through Coursera

With most of the top companies in the world currently using Big Data, today’s businesses must learn precisely what drives this technology. Every time you do a google search, interact on social media or make a purchase through a site like Amazon, you are utilizing Big Data. There are six comprehensive modules in this informative free online Big Data course, where you will learn:

• All about significant data rankings and products

• The characteristics and operations of Hadoop, MapReduce, and HDFS

• Spark Big Data processing

• Spark machine learning and streaming

• The features and operations of Storm Big Data systems

• IBM SPSS statistics

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: 11 hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Subtitled in English and Spanish

•Taught by esteemed professor Dr. Jong-Moon Chung

•Well-built and clearly explained

Cons:

•Fee charged for a certificate

7. Ethics in AI and Big Data

Offered by The Linux Foundation via edx

This is another top-rated free course in Big Data offered on the edX platform—this time through the Linux Foundation. The six-week offering will give businesses the information they need to make constomers confident in the company’s standards of security. This course covers:

• Principles for building responsible AI

• The ethics and application of AI

• Drivers for Open Source and AI

The course is taught by the co-founder and CEO of reTHINKit Media as well as the Chief Creative Officer . Students enrolled in the free version can access the entire course at no charge, or pursue a verified certificate for $149

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Six weeks

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Engaging and informative instruction

•Useful for those who are just starting their journey into Big Data

•Takes only one two hours a week

Cons:

•Certification is only available at the paid level of the platform

8. Big Data: The Big Picture

Offered by Pluralsight

Pluralsight is an entire learning platform with a superb interface that is designed to teach technology skills. Courses on the site are accessed via paid monthly plans, but the company offers a 10-day free trial, which is enough time to see what is offered and take this introductory course—Big Data: The Big Picture.

This quick, one and a half hour course offers students an overview of the technologies and terminologies that individuals must know when it comes to Big Data. Most importantly, the course introduces the big players in Big Data—the vendors.

For those who want a broad understanding of who is using this technology and why they are using it, this is the ideal free online Big Data course. It’s taught by ZDNet’s Big Data correspondent Andrew Brust and is designed for decision-makers but will work for anyone who is interested in the technology and how it is impacting the world as we know it.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with monthly membership fees

Time to Complete: On hour, 28 minutes

Curriculum: Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Taught by an industry expert

•Well-designed platform

•Easy-to-follow modules

Cons:

•Students should cancel before the free trial is over if they plan only to take one short course

9. Applied Econometrics: Mostly Harmless Big Data

Offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology

First taught by Prof. Joshua Angrist and Prof. Victor Chernozhukov in Fall 2014, Applied Econometrics: Mostly Harmless Data is a graduate-level MIT course involving the understanding of empirical strategies for applied micro research questions. Yes, that’s a mouthful, and we did say this was a graduate-level course. However, anyone at any level of learning is welcome to take it. The subject matter is complex, and students will learn concepts such as:

• Regression and matching

• Instrumental variables

• Differences-in-differences

• Regression discontinuity designs

• Standard errors

• Analysis of high-dimensional data sets, a.k.a. “Big Data”

MIT Open Courseware offers the same lessons, videos, lectures, and exercises as taught on campus, but you don’t need to be an MIT student to participate. The online courses are free and open to anyone and can be accessed at any time with no sign-up necessary.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: One semester

Curriculum: Advanced

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Very good

Pros:

•Taught by MIT professors

•Comprehensive

•Download all the course materials at no cost

Cons:

•May be too challenging for some

10. Big Data Analytics in Healthcare

Offered by Georgia Tech via Udacity

This is another advanced free online course in Big Data offered by Georgia Tech. In it, students will study scalable data analytic algorithms and systems in the context of healthcare applications. There are three main modules, and the subjects covered include:

• Predictive Modeling

• Dimensionality Reduction & Tensor Factorization

• Graph Analysis

• Computational Phenotyping

• Patient Similarity Metrics

• Medical Ontology

• MapReduce

• Spark

• Hadoop

Students who choose to take this comprehensive course should understand essential machine learning and data mining concepts such as classification and clustering. They should also have

proficient programming and system skills in Python, Java, and Scala.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Intermediate to Advanced

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

•Taught by industry experts

•Student support community

•Interactive quizzes and lessons

Cons:

•May be too rigorous for some students

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Data Courses

Big Data is fast becoming one of the most fascinating and lucrative fields to work in, and it touches every aspect of modern technology. As time progresses, there are endless applications to Big Data, and there will be plenty of job opportunities for those who are interested in a career in this field. The demand for Big Data specialists exceeds the number of people in the workforce capable of understanding the technology, which makes this specialization nearly recession-proof.

MOOCs (massive open online courses) like the ones listed above are provided through colleges and online platforms at no cost. If you are new to online learning with MOOCs, we’ve put together some frequently asked questions so you can gain a better understanding of how free online courses for Big Data work. 

Who Should Take Free Online Big Data Courses?

Big Data is a massive thing for industries like retail, manufacturing, banking, healthcare, government, education, insurance, and many others. The development of connected “smart” devices has meant that there is a massive increase in the amount of data and information that companies collect, manage, and analyze. Along with this uptick comes a need for skilled engineers in the field.

Anyone interested in becoming a Big Data expert needs to start someplace, and free online courses are the ideal way to test the waters and see if the industry is right for you.

If you are already in business and want to unravel the mysteries of Big Data, taking some of the introductory courses listed can help you get a better overview of the technology. The advanced classes on our list can also help industry experts brush up on their skills.

What Are the Requirements and Prerequisites?

Big Data is mathematical by nature, so you should at least enjoy working with numbers and data. Students wishing to enroll in some Big Data courses will benefit immensely from some prior knowledge in basic Linux concepts and Java. They should also have basic knowledge of SQL, database structures, and principles. Problem-solving and analytical skills are helpful in this field, as well.

However, if you don’t have all of the above under your belt, never fear. For many of the courses on our list, you don’t need prior training. For those courses that use the skills we have listed, many students find they pick them up as they go along. There are also plenty of free training programs to bring oneself up to speed before embarking on a program of learning Big Data.

Will I Earn College Credits by Taking a MOOC?

While some free online courses have this option, none of the courses on our list of the best free online courses in Big Data award college credit.

How Long Do Free Online Courses Take?

The majority of MOOCs can be completed at your own pace, although some courses may have set start times. The beauty of free online learning is that you can work it in around your own schedule and prior commitments, devoting as little or as much time to your studies as you wish.

Are Free Online Courses Graded?

While many of the courses on our list offer auto-graded quizzes or exercises, the free versions do not have instructor-graded final projects or exams. Some of the classes provide a paid component where you can access these features and unlocking them almost always grants access to a completion certificate or shareable badge. Some of the courses have forums or online communities where students can collaborate with their peers and be assessed in that way. 

What Types of Careers are Available to Pursue in Big Data?

Great Free Online Courses in Big Data

Becoming a Big Data Scientist is the umbrella term for this type of career, but there are also many related career choices to explore in the field, including:

• Big Data Engineer

• Data Scientist

• Data Analyst

• Data Visualization Developer

• Machine Learning Engineer

• Data Analytics Specialist

• Machine Learning Scientist

Are Free Big Data Courses Worth It?

Definitely! Studying any aspect of this high-demand skill can provide tremendous advantages down the road, and as technology advances, more opportunities are likely to open up. It is predicted that this specialization will grow 33% over the next 20 years, and the average yearly salary for a Big Data scientist is over 100k.

Learning is never a waste of time, especially when it comes to free online courses. Provided you are motivated, and you have the desire to pursue courses in Big Data, you may find that you bring value to your current position or can even move on to more lucrative employment. For those in business, understand Big Data and its implications can propel you forward ahead of your competitors and increase your bottom line. 

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