Q: Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

This Specialization doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.

Question 1

How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

Accepted Answer

The Specialization is designed to be completed in approximately 10 to 11 weeks, with a recommended time commitment of 3–4 hours per week. This flexible schedule allows learners to balance in-depth, hands-on project work with other professional or academic responsibilities, while still gaining practical, industry-ready data engineering skills through guided lessons and real-world implementations.

Question 2

What background knowledge is necessary?

Accepted Answer

Learners should have a basic understanding of programming concepts and familiarity with data systems or distributed computing fundamentals. Prior exposure to Java, Scala, or backend development concepts is helpful but not mandatory, as the Specialization builds knowledge progressively through hands-on demonstrations.

Question 3

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is recommended to follow the courses in the designed sequence. The Specialization begins with Apache Avro fundamentals, then advances to real-time streaming with Kafka and Spark, followed by Kafka consumer system design, and concludes with search and analytics using Apache Solr, ensuring a structured and logical learning progression.

Question 4

What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

Accepted Answer

Upon completion, learners will be able to design, build, and operate end-to-end data engineering pipelines, including schema-based serialization, real-time streaming analytics, production-grade Kafka consumer systems, and scalable search solutions. These skills directly align with real-world data engineering roles and industry use cases.

Question 5

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

Accepted Answer

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Question 6

What is the refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Question 7

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Accepted Answer

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Question 8

Is financial aid available?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Question 9

Can I take the course for free?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Question 10

Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

Accepted Answer

This Specialization doesn&#x27;t carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.