What is data manipulation?

Data manipulation is the part of data science that organizes or changes data into formatting that's easier to read and use for analytical purposes. It may involve advanced techniques and tools, such as relational algebra or SQL to manage the data. It may also require less advanced skills, such as alphabetization or spreadsheets to compile the data for the end user. This type of data analysis makes it possible for a data scientist to pull pertinent information for decision-making purposes out of a large, otherwise disorganized mass of data.

What opportunities will learning data manipulation make available to me?

If you have a passion for using computers and solving complex problems and puzzles, learning data manipulation may lead to a variety of opportunities as a data scientist. These opportunities include becoming a data analyst, a data engineer, or a machine learning engineer. Tasks you might encounter during a typical workday in these fields include cluster analysis and creating a pivot table or a lookup table. If you want a very hands-on career that puts you in control of finding the most essential items in a company's data, learning data manipulation will help you get started in the field.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn data manipulation?

Taking online data manipulation courses on Coursera can help you advance in your data science career by improving the skills and tools you have at your disposal, making the information you're able to provide for your employer more accurate and valuable. If you aren't already working in the data science field, taking online courses in data manipulation can serve as a place to begin your industry-specific data analysis education. Courses are available to match your current knowledge base, so whether you're a beginner learning about data manipulation and data science for the first time, or you're approaching courses from an intermediate or advanced level, you can jump in and start learning at your convenience.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn data manipulation?

You need to have strong math skills and at least some computer skills to begin learning data manipulation. Solid reading and critical thinking skills will also help you when you delve into these courses. The data manipulation courses are set up for beginners in the data science field, providing knowledge that's needed to build on as you advance in the data analysis field. Some specific skills you can expect to develop while learning about data manipulation at your own include data visualization, SQL, and Python.

What are the benefits of taking an online Data Manipulation course?

Online Data Manipulation courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Data Manipulation skills. Choose from a wide range of Data Manipulation courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Data Manipulation courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Data Manipulation, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Data Manipulation Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Data Manipulation Course Catalog

Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
AI-Enhanced Data Analysis: From Raw Data to Deep Insights
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Matplotlib, Plotly, Prompt Engineering, Data Ethics, Power BI, Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Pandas (Python Package), Data Transformation, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Microsoft Copilot, Data Presentation, Data Processing
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
288 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Data Manipulation and Cleaning in R
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Transformation, R Programming, Text Mining, Data Validation, Generative AI, Data Integrity
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Washington
Data Manipulation at Scale: Systems and Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Big Data, Relational Databases, Database Systems, Dataflow, Databases, Data Science, Data Manipulation, Data Processing, NoSQL, Apache Spark, Distributed Computing, Apache Hadoop, SQL, Data Analysis, Query Languages, Cloud Computing, Scalability, Graph Theory, Python Programming, Algorithms
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
768 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Excel Basics for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Spreadsheet Software, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Pivot Tables And Charts, Google Sheets, Data Manipulation, Data Science, Data Integrity, Information Privacy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
Modern Data Analytics with Python, Excel & Generative AI
Skills you'll gain: Business Intelligence, Excel Macros, Pandas (Python Package), Prompt Engineering, Forecasting, Data Storytelling, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Regression Analysis, Data Quality, ChatGPT, Microsoft Excel, Generative AI, Data Analysis, Report Writing, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Modeling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis, Automation
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
336 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Storytelling, Power BI, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Data Modeling, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Data Manipulation, Excel Macros, Infographics, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Software, Data Validation, Data Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.9K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
Packt
Data Analysis with Pandas and Python
Skills you'll gain: Pandas (Python Package), Data Import/Export, Matplotlib, Pivot Tables And Charts, Jupyter, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Text Mining, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, NumPy, Data Analysis Software, Data Integration, Data Wrangling, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Data Transformation, Python Programming, Data Structures, Development Environment
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Data Wrangling with Python
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Web Scraping, Pivot Tables And Charts, Pandas (Python Package), Data Integration, Statistical Visualization, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Data Transformation, Data Processing, Data Cleansing, Data Presentation, Plot (Graphics), Data Visualization Software, Statistical Analysis, Seaborn, NumPy, Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Coursera
From Raw to Ready: Data Preparation in Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Integration, Data Import/Export, NumPy, Data Wrangling, Data Manipulation, Pandas (Python Package), Data Pipelines, Data Transformation, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Cleansing
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Preview
Microsoft
Manipulate Text Like a Pro with stringr
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, R Programming, Tidyverse (R Package), Text Mining, Data Wrangling, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Performance Tuning, Data Validation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Preview
Microsoft
Reshaping Data with tidyr
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Data Transformation, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Cleansing, R Programming, Data Quality, Data Structures
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Coursera
Data Visualization with Tableau and Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Dashboard, Tableau Software, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Business Intelligence, Performance Tuning, Data Analysis, AI Personalization, Analytics, Analytical Skills, Business Metrics
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months