Introduction to Big Data with Spark and Hadoop (Coursera)

Offered by IBM,
Introduction to Big Data with Spark and Hadoop (Coursera)

Bernard Marr defines Big Data as the digital trace that we are generating in this digital era. In this course, you will learn about the characteristics of Big Data and its application in Big Data Analytics. You will gain an understanding about the features, benefits, limitations, and applications of some of the Big Data processing tools. You’ll explore how Hadoop and Hive help leverage the benefits of Big Data while overcoming some of the challenges it poses.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Hadoop is an open-source framework that allows for the distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of computers using simple programming models. Hive, a data warehouse software, provides an SQL-like interface to efficiently query and manipulate large data sets residing in various databases and file systems that integrate with Hadoop.
Apache Spark is an open-source processing engine that provides users new ways to store and make use of big data. It is an open-source processing engine built around speed, ease of use, and analytics. In this course, you will discover how to leverage Spark to deliver reliable insights. The course provides an overview of the platform, going into the different components that make up Apache Spark.
In this course, you will also learn about Resilient Distributed Datasets, or RDDs, that enable parallel processing across the nodes of a Spark cluster.

This course is part of multiple programs
This course can be applied to multiple Specializations or Professional Certificates programs. Completing this course will count towards your learning in any of the following programs:

What You Will Learn

  • Deep insight into the impact of Big Data including use cases, tools, and processing methods.
  • Knowledge of the Apache Hadoop architecture, ecosystem, and practices, and the use of applications including HDFS, HBase, Spark, and MapReduce.
  • Know-how to apply Spark programming basics, including parallel programming basics for DataFrames, data sets, and Spark SQL.
  • Proficiency with Spark’s RDDs, data sets, use of Catalyst and Tungsten to optimize SparkSQL, and Spark’s development and runtime environment options.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
What is Big Data?
Begin your acquisition of Big Data knowledge with the most up-to-date definition of Big Data. You’ll explore the impact of Big Data on everyday personal tasks and business transactions with Big Data Use Cases. Learn how Big Data uses Parallel Processing, Scaling, and Data Parallelism. Learn about commonly used Big Data tools. Then, go beyond the hype and explore additional Big Data viewpoints.

WEEK 2
Introduction to the Hadoop Ecosystem
In this module, you'll gain a fundamental understanding of the Apache Hadoop architecture, ecosystem, practices, and commonly used applications including Distributed File System (HDFS), MapReduce, HIVE and HBase. Gain practical skills in this module's lab when you launch a single node Hadoop cluster using Docker and run MapReduce jobs.

WEEK 3
Apache Spark
Build your skills when you turn your attention to the popular Apache Spark platform. Explore attribute and benefits of Apache Spark and distributed computing. You'll gain key insights about functional programming and Lambda functions. Explore Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDDs), Parallel Programming, resilience in Apache Spark and relate RDDs and Parallel Programming with Apache Spark. Dive into additional Apache Spark components and learn how Apache Spark scales with Big Data. Working with Big Data signals the need for working with queries, including structured queries using SQL. Learn about the functions, parts and benefits of Spark SQL and DataFrame queries, and discover how DataFrames work with SparkSQL.

WEEK 4
DataFrames and SparkSQL
Learn about Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDDs), their uses in Apache Spark, and RDD transformations and actions. You'll compare the use of datasets with Spark's latest data abstraction, DataFrames. You'll learn to identify and apply basic DataFrame operations. Explore Apache Spark SQL optimization. Learn how Spark SQL and memory optimization benefit from using Catalyst and Tungsten. Learn how to create a table view and apply data aggregation techniques. Fortify your skills guided via the hands-on lab.

WEEK 5
Development and Runtime Environment Options
Explore how Spark processes the requests that your application submits. Learn how you can track work using the Spark Application UI. Because Spark application work happens on the cluster, you need be able to identify Apache Cluster Managers, their components, benefits, and know how to connect with each cluster manager and how and when you might want to set up a local, standalone Spark instance. Next, learn about Apache Spark application submission, including use of Spark’s unified interface, ‘spark-submit’ and learn about options and dependencies. Developers now have the option of AIOps. Discover how to use Spark within AIOps and with Apache Spark application submission, including use of Spark’s unified interface, ‘spark-submit’, describe and apply options for submitting applications, identify external application dependency management techniques and list Spark Shell benefits. View and see recommended practices for Spark's static and dynamic configuration options. Round out your development knowledge with insights about Spark on Kubernetes. This module features hands-on Spark labs using IBM Cloud and Kubernetes.

WEEK 6
Monitoring & Tuning
Platforms and applications require monitoring and tuning to manage issues that inevitably happen. In this module you'll learn about connecting the Apache Spark user interface web server and using the same UI web server to manage application processes. Identify common Apache Spark application issues. Learn about debugging issues using the application UI and locating related log files. Discover and gain real-world knowledge about how Spark manages memory and processor resources via videos and in the available hands-on lab.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Data Engineering Capstone Project (Coursera) Coursera
IBM

Data Engineering Capstone Project (Coursera)

In this course you will apply a variety of data engineering skills and techniques you have learned as part of the previous courses in the IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate. You will assume the role of a Junior Data Engineer who has recently joined the organization and be presented with a real-world use case that requires a data engineering solution.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Code Free Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Code Free Data Science (Coursera)

The Code Free Data Science class is designed for learners seeking to gain or expand their knowledge in the area of Data Science. Participants will receive the basic training in effective predictive analytic approaches accompanying the growing discipline of Data Science without any programming requirements. Machine Learning methods will be presented by utilizing the KNIME Analytics Platform to discover patterns and relationships in data.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
New Technologies for Business Leaders (Coursera) Coursera
Rutgers University

New Technologies for Business Leaders (Coursera)

This introductory course is developed for high-level business people (and those on their way) who want a broad understanding of new Information Technologies and understand their potential for business functions (e.g. marketing, supply change management, finance). This is not a course for people looking for guidance on how to become a deep technical expert or implement these technologies.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Perform data science with Azure Databricks (Coursera) Coursera
Microsoft

Perform data science with Azure Databricks (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how to harness the power of Apache Spark and powerful clusters running on the Azure Databricks platform to run data science workloads in the cloud. This is the fourth course in a five-course program that prepares you to take the DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azurec ertification exam.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Getting Started with CyberGIS (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Getting Started with CyberGIS (Coursera)

This course is intended to introduce students to CyberGIS—Geospatial Information Science and Systems (GIS)—based on advanced cyberinfrastructure as well as the state of the art in high-performance computing, big data, and cloud computing in the context of geospatial data science. Emphasis is placed on learning the cutting-edge advances of cyberGIS and its underlying geospatial data science principles.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Big Data Integration and Processing (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Big Data Integration and Processing (Coursera)

At the end of the course, you will be able to: Retrieve data from example database and big data management systems; Describe the connections between data management operations and the big data processing patterns needed to utilize them in large-scale analytical applications; Identify when a big data problem needs data integration; Execute simple big data integration and processing on Hadoop and Spark platforms.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
A Crash Course in Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

A Crash Course in Data Science (Coursera)

By now you have definitely heard about data science and big data. In this one-week class, we will provide a crash course in what these terms mean and how they play a role in successful organizations. This class is for anyone who wants to learn what all the data science action is about, including those who will eventually need to manage data scientists. The goal is to get you up to speed as quickly as possible on data science without all the fluff. We've designed this course to be as convenient as possible without sacrificing any of the essentials.

Sep 21st 2026
1 Week
Hadoop Platform and Application Framework (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Hadoop Platform and Application Framework (Coursera)

This course is for novice programmers or business people who'd like to understand the core tools used to wrangle and analyze big data. With no prior experience, you'll have the opportunity to walk through hands-on examples with Hadoop and Spark frameworks, two of the most common in the industry. You will be comfortable explaining the specific components and basic processes of the Hadoop architecture, software stack, and execution environment.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
ETL and Data Pipelines with Shell, Airflow and Kafka (Coursera) Coursera
IBM

ETL and Data Pipelines with Shell, Airflow and Kafka (Coursera)

After taking this course, you will be able to describe two different approaches to converting raw data into analytics-ready data. One approach is the Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) process. The other contrasting approach is the Extract, Load, and Transform (ELT) process. ETL processes apply to data warehouses and data marts. ELT processes apply to data lakes, where the data is transformed on demand by the requesting/calling application.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Explore Core Data Concepts in Microsoft Azure (Coursera) Coursera
Microsoft

Explore Core Data Concepts in Microsoft Azure (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of database concepts in a cloud environment, get basic skilling in cloud data services, and build your foundational knowledge of cloud data services within Microsoft Azure. You will identify and describe core data concepts such as relational, non-relational, big data, and analytics, and explore how this technology is implemented with Microsoft Azure. You will explore the roles, tasks, and responsibilities in the world of data.

Sep 21st 2026
2 Weeks
Applications in Engineering Mechanics (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Applications in Engineering Mechanics (Coursera)

This course applies principles learned in my course “Introduction to Engineering Mechanics” to analyze real world engineering structures. You will need to have mastered the engineering fundamentals from that class in order to be successful in this course offering. This course addresses the modeling and analysis of static equilibrium problems with an emphasis on real world engineering systems and problem solving.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks