10 Best Data Modeling Courses and Certifications Online

When it comes to mastering the art of data modeling, seeking out a reputable online course may be the right choice for those looking to expand their skill sets. With countless options available, finding the best data modeling course can be a daunting task. It is crucial to consider factors such as course content, instructor expertise, and overall course format before making a decision. This article aims to provide an objective overview of some of the top data modeling courses available online, highlighting their key features and benefits to help aspiring data modelers make an informed decision.

Here’s a look at the Best Data Modeling Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Data Modeling Courses and Certifications Online

1. Microsoft Power BI Desktop for Business Intelligence by Maven Analytics, Chris Dutton (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

This is a technical course on Microsoft Power BI Desktop for Business Intelligence, taught by Maven Analytics and Chris Dutton. The course covers a comprehensive guide to mastering Power BI Desktop, with advanced analysis and data visualization skills. Power BI is a self-service business intelligence platform that allows users to connect to various data sources, build complex models, and design interactive dashboards for free.

The course project involves playing the role of Lead Business Intelligence Analyst for Adventure Works Cycles, a global manufacturing company. The project is broken down into four key objectives: connecting and transforming raw data, building a relational data model, adding calculated fields with DAX, and designing interactive Power BI reports. The project includes homework exercises and quizzes, as well as a bonus Final Project with data from Maven Market, a global supermarket chain.

The course includes a 100+ page Power BI ebook, downloadable project files, 1-on-1 expert support, a course Q&A forum, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. This course is suitable for casual Power BI users, aspiring analysts, or data science professionals, and guarantees to turn participants into absolute Power BI rock stars. The course library also includes Excel, MySQL, and Tableau courses.

The course has top ratings on Udemy, with many positive reviews from students. The course content is broken down into sections, including Getting Started, Connecting & Shaping Data, Creating Table Relationships & Data Models, Analyzing Data with DAX Calculations, and Visualizing Data with Power BI Reports. The course includes a preview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Visuals and concludes with the Bonus Project and Wrapping Up sections.

2. Microsoft Excel: Business Intelligence w/ Power Query & DAX by Maven Analytics, Chris Dutton (Udemy)

The Microsoft Excel: Business Intelligence w/ Power Query & DAX course is offered by Maven Analytics and instructor Chris Dutton. The course is designed to teach advanced Excel skills for data analysis and business intelligence, focusing on Power Query, Power Pivot, and Data Analysis Expressions (DAX). The course covers the Excel BI workflow, starting with hands-on experience with Power Query and progressing to data modeling 101. The course concludes with using Power Pivot and DAX to analyze Excel data models, allowing for analysis of high volumes of data and the creation of calculated fields using DAX. The course is recommended for those looking to become power Excel users and is compatible with Excel 2013 and newer versions, although Power Query and Power Pivot are currently not available on Excel for Mac.

The course includes Excel project files, quizzes and homework exercises, 1-on-1 instructor support, lifetime access, and a 100% money-back guarantee. The course is one of the top-rated Excel courses on Udemy and has received positive feedback from students who found the course to be comprehensive, well-planned, and simplified the complicated.

The course has six sections, including Getting Started, Intro to “Power Excel,” Connecting & Transforming Data with Power Query in Excel, Building Table Relationships with Excel’s Data Model, Analyzing Data with Power Pivot & DAX, and Wrapping Up. Maven Analytics offers a full course library for those interested in the full business intelligence stack, including Excel, Power BI, MySQL, and Tableau courses.

3. Mastering Data Modeling Fundamentals by Alan Simon (Udemy)

The Mastering Data Modeling Fundamentals course is designed for current or aspiring IT professionals seeking practical techniques to analyze and model data as part of the data management lifecycle. The course covers entity-relationship techniques and best practices, with an emphasis on scenario-based quiz questions and hands-on assignments to reinforce key learning objectives. The instructor, Alan Simon, draws from over 30 years of experience in data modeling and related disciplines. The course covers foundational concepts, modeling approaches, software-based tools, and the data modeling lifecycle. The course aims to fuse the art and science of data modeling, providing learners with the skills to make informed decisions and bring valuable insights to their work.

The course is structured into several sections, including Welcome, Data Modeling Fundamentals, The Building Blocks of Data Modeling, Add Real-World Complexities to Entities and Attributes, Add Real-World Complexities to Relationships, Move Across the Different Levels of a Data Model, Software for Data Modeling, and Conclusion. Each section includes clear examples and emphasizes key concepts and techniques.

The course covers the symbiotic relationship between data modeling and database design, showcasing different modeling approaches, techniques, and notations. Learners will explore the fundamentals of entities, attributes, and relationships and how to express these concepts in multiple modeling notations. The course also covers how to incorporate real-world complexities into entities, attributes, and relationships.

The data modeling lifecycle is another essential topic, including forward engineering a conceptual data model to a logical and then a physical model. The course also covers how to reverse-engineer a physical data model back to the conceptual level. Learners will also explore different software-based approaches for data modeling tools.

Data modeling is both an art and a science, and the course aims to fuse both aspects to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of data modeling. By the end of the course, learners will have the skills to make informed decisions and bring valuable insights to their organizations.

4. The Complete Database Design & Modeling Beginners Tutorial by Rares Ilea (Udemy)

The Complete Database Design & Modeling Beginners Tutorial is a course designed to teach database design to beginners. The course instructor is Rares Ilea, and the tutorial covers MySQL and how to apply database design concepts to real projects. This tutorial is aimed at helping people who are new to databases and database design, or those who want to add this skill to their CV.

The tutorial covers the design of an online store’s database, going from simple to complex in simple, incremental steps. The course is designed to eliminate guesswork and enable people to design a database confidently. The tutorial also provides several examples for each theoretical definition, making it easier to understand.

The course covers several topics, including database management systems, relational databases, and database design. It also teaches the three levels of database design, and how to use data modelling and database design tools. This tutorial also covers how to design and create database relationships and how to create the actual database on MySQL Server.

The Complete Database Design and Modeling Beginners Tutorial is perfect for professionals, entrepreneurs, or students who need to integrate databases in their projects and use data more efficiently than using Excel. The course is also suitable for those who want to add Database Design to their CV and make a step forward in their career.

This course has received positive reviews from students, who praise the course for being simple to understand and to the point. The course is also backed up with Udemy’s 30-day 100% money-back guarantee.

Overall, The Complete Database Design & Modeling Beginners Tutorial is a well-structured course that teaches database design to beginners in a simple and incremental manner. It is perfect for those who want to learn database design for their projects or add it to their skill set.

5. Data Modeling and Relational Database Design using ERwin by Haris Kilikotu (Udemy)

The “Data Modeling and Relational Database Design using ERwin” course is designed to teach participants how to use the ERwin Data modeler to create and maintain reliable relational database designs. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of data models as a platform to store all relevant information about a data asset, including definitions, structure, relationships, and integration points. Course participants will learn how to deliver this information visually and contextually to stakeholders involved in data management and consumption.

The course covers several topics related to data modeling and design. Participants will learn how to develop data models and maintain them using ERWIN, a popular data modeling tool. The course also covers various data modeling techniques through appropriate modeling scenarios, enabling participants to take up complex data modeling challenges and become effective data architects. The tools and techniques demonstrated in the course are equally applicable to OLTP and OLAP databases.

The course content is divided into several sections, including an introduction, relationships, data modeling exercise, ERwin core features, dimensional modeling, normalization, and student exercises. Each section provides in-depth knowledge and practical exercises to gain a thorough understanding of the concepts and techniques related to data modeling and design. By the end of the course, participants will have gained the necessary skills to develop and maintain sound relational database designs using ERwin.

6. Database design using ER modelling & Normalization technique by Learn App Inventor 2 (Udemy)

The “Database Design using ER Modelling & Normalization Technique” course is instructed by Learn App Inventor 2. The course aims to teach database design through real-world examples in a short timeframe.

The course covers basic concepts and definitions, building an E R model, transforming a model into physical database design, and learning the normalization technique for designing tables.

Enrolling in the course offers benefits such as being able to design an efficient database for any application, learning concepts easily with example-based explanations, starting the course as a beginner, asking questions to the instructor at any time, and having lifetime access to the course.

The course content is divided into Introduction, Entity Relationship modelling, Practising what we have learnt with examples, and Normalization.

7. Learning Data Modeling by Infinite Skills (Udemy)

The Learning Data Modeling course offered by Infinite Skills is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of data modeling concepts and best practices. The course instructor, Michael Blaha, guides students through the process of creating data models suitable for small businesses, enterprise, and data center environments.

The course covers the data modeling development process, basic and advanced data modeling, and creating a UML data model. Students will learn how to add attributes and simplify the model. In addition, the course teaches students how to translate a UML data model into an IE data model, model quality, the different kinds of data models, and database design.

The course also includes instructions on how to create an SQL server database, an MS-Access database, and develop frameworks. Students will also learn about data modeling patterns and database reverse engineering.

The Learning Data Modeling course is divided into several sections, including Getting Started, Basic Data Modeling, Advanced Data Modeling, Model Quality, Kinds Of Data Models, and Conclusion. Each section is designed to build upon the previous one and provide a comprehensive understanding of data modeling.

By the end of the course, students will have the skills needed to create their own data models. The course is suitable for individuals who want to learn about database design and data modeling, as well as professionals who want to improve their skills in these areas.

8. Microsoft Excel: Pivot Tables, Power Query, Power Pivot/DAX by Phillip Burton (Udemy)

The Microsoft Excel: Pivot Tables, Power Query, Power Pivot/DAX course covers advanced data analysis skills required for Microsoft’s 70-779 certification exam. The course is divided into three parts: creating Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts; Get and Transform Data (Prepare the Data); and Refining the Model (Model the Data). Each part covers various topics such as sorting and filtering, merging and appending queries, creating custom columns, and using the DAX language. The course is designed to increase in difficulty slowly, and takes around 16 hours to complete. By the end of the course, the learner will have the skills to create visualizations, dashboards, and stories of their own.

The course is aimed at individuals who already use the PC version of Excel to create data analysis, but need to create more advanced analyses. The ability to use Excel at an advanced level is highly sought after in the job market, and learners who complete the course will have another tool to add to their CV. The course is fairly relaxed, and assumes that learners know how to use a computer, including installing programs. However, the actual analysis will be at a basic level, and every component will be introduced as the course progresses.

The course has received positive reviews from learners who found the presentation of content to be amazing, and the knowledge of the instructor to be in-depth. Learners also appreciated that the course delves deeply into each piece of material, and shows how to use Excel in the real world. The course covers topics that are well worth learning, even though the 70-779 certification exam is no longer available.

The course covers various topics in each part, such as creating our first PivotTable and PivotChart, modifying field selections, using PivotTable options, and creating advanced calculations. Learners will also learn how to transform data by sorting and filtering, splitting columns, merging and appending queries, and transforming text, numbers, and dates using the M language.

9. Analytics Engineering Bootcamp by Rahul Prasad, David Badovinac (Udemy)

The Analytics Engineering Bootcamp course, instructed by Rahul Prasad and David Badovinac, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Analytics Engineering through lectures and hands-on experience. The course covers various tools, technologies, and modelling concepts, including Data Modelling, dbt, and Google Bigquery.

Students will learn how to design and implement a Data Warehouse solution using DBT & BigQuery. The course includes scenario-based quiz questions to solidify key learning objectives for each concept and theory.

The course covers topics such as Differences between database and a data warehouse, Concepts between OLTP & OLAP systems, Normalisation & De-Normalisation methods, Data Modelling methodologies such as Inmon, Kimball, Data Vault & OBT, Difference between ETL & ELT, and Data modelling techniques especially using dbt.

The course is suitable for Data Analysts, BI Analysts, or Data Warehouse developers looking to become Analytics Engineers or improve their existing skills. It is also recommended for data professionals who want a refresher on all the concepts and terms surrounding OLTP & OLAP systems and students or recent graduates who are looking to get a job as an Analytics Engineer.

The course is divided into sections such as Introduction, What is a database?, What is a data warehouse?, Data Modelling & ERD Notations, Normalisation & Denormalisation, Data Warehouse Design Methodologies, Dimensional Modelling, (Hands-on dbt) Building a dimensional data warehouse, Setting up Environments, and Glossary.

10. OBIEE 12c Data Modeling Course by Sanjay Singh (Udemy)

The OBIEE 12c Data Modeling Course is available on Udemy and covers comprehensive and popular Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) 12c Data Modeling concepts. The course includes topics such as Data Modelling, Denormalization, Star Schema Modelling, Administration Tool, RPD Download, RPD Upload, and building each layer – Physical, Business Model and Mapping (BMM), and Presentation Layer. This course is suitable for students and professionals who wish to master how to develop and support industry-standard OBIEE Data Model.

The course has quizzes and projects that allow the learners to practice the learned concepts. In case of any queries, the learners can get fast and friendly support via direct messaging or discussion. The course is designed to keep up-to-date to ensure that the learners don’t miss out on any changes once Data Modelling is required in their project.

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition is a leading enterprise Business Intelligence and Analysis software. It is the first choice for Business Intelligence solutions for customers using Oracle ERP application. Oracle Discoverer is the end of life now, and all Oracle Discoverer customers are moving to OBIEE. Oracle is enhancing its packaged business intelligence application (BIAPPS) developed on the OBIEE platform.

The OBIEE Data Modeler is responsible for the success of OBIEE implementation and its performance. Therefore, this course provides a deep understanding of OBIEE Data Modeling activities. Every new OBIEE version comes with added features, and the course will cover OBIEE 12c RPD and later future versions. The learners can pay once and benefit a lifetime from this evolving course.