Scalable Machine Learning on Big Data using Apache Spark (Coursera)

Offered by IBM,
Scalable Machine Learning on Big Data using Apache Spark (Coursera)

This course will empower you with the skills to scale data science and machine learning (ML) tasks on Big Data sets using Apache Spark. Most real world machine learning work involves very large data sets that go beyond the CPU, memory and storage limitations of a single computer. Apache Spark is an open source framework that leverages cluster computing and distributed storage to process extremely large data sets in an efficient and cost effective manner. Therefore an applied knowledge of working with Apache Spark is a great asset and potential differentiator for a Machine Learning engineer.

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

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • gain a practical understanding of Apache Spark, and apply it to solve machine learning problems involving both small and big data
  • understand how parallel code is written, capable of running on thousands of CPUs.
  • make use of large scale compute clusters to apply machine learning algorithms on Petabytes of data using Apache SparkML Pipelines.
  • eliminate out-of-memory errors generated by traditional machine learning frameworks when data doesn’t fit in a computer's main memory
  • test thousands of different ML models in parallel to find the best performing one – a technique used by many successful Kagglers
  • (Optional) run SQL statements on very large data sets using Apache SparkSQL and the Apache Spark DataFrame API.

Enrol now to learn the machine learning techniques for working with Big Data that have been successfully applied by companies like Alibaba, Apple, Amazon, Baidu, eBay, IBM, NASA, Samsung, SAP, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, Zalando and many others.
NOTE: You will practice running machine learning tasks hands-on on an Apache Spark cluster provided by IBM at no charge during the course which you can continue to use afterwards.
Course 2 of 6 in the IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate.

Prerequisites:

  • basic python programming
  • basic machine learning (optional introduction videos are provided in this course as well)
  • basic SQL skills for optional content

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction
This is an introduction to Apache Spark. You'll learn how Apache Spark internally works and how to use it for data processing. RDD, the low level API is introduced in conjunction with parallel programming / functional programming. Then, different types of data storage solutions are contrasted. Finally, Apache Spark SQL and the optimizer Tungsten and Catalyst are explained.

WEEK 2
Scaling Math for Statistics on Apache Spark
Applying basic statistical calculations using the Apache Spark RDD API in order to experience how parallelization in Apache Spark works

WEEK 3
Introduction to Apache SparkML
Understand the concept of machine learning pipelines in order to understand how Apache SparkML works programmatically

WEEK 4
Supervised and Unsupervised learning with SparkML
Apply Supervised and Unsupervised Machine Learning tasks using SparkML

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

Related Courses

Responsible AI - Principles and Ethical Considerations (Coursera) Coursera
Fractal Analytics

Responsible AI - Principles and Ethical Considerations (Coursera)

Welcome to "Responsible AI – Principles and Ethical Considerations"! Dive deep into the very essence of Responsible AI with us. Uncover the significance of key principles shaping technology's future. From ethical considerations to fairness, transparency, and accountability, we discuss these principles with real-world examples, putting them into the context of data science.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Foundations of Data Science: K-Means Clustering in Python (Coursera) Coursera
University of London,Goldsmiths, University of London

Foundations of Data Science: K-Means Clustering in Python (Coursera)

This MOOC, designed by an academic team from Goldsmiths, University of London, will quickly introduce you to the core concepts of Data Science to prepare you for intermediate and advanced Data Science courses. It focuses on the basic mathematics, statistics and programming skills that are necessary for typical data analysis tasks.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Security and Privacy for Big Data - Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Security and Privacy for Big Data - Part 1 (Coursera)

This course sensitizes regarding security in Big Data environments. You will discover cryptographic principles, mechanisms to manage access controls in your Big Data system. By the end of the course, you will be ready to plan your next Big Data project successfully, ensuring that all security related issues are under control. You will look at decent-sized big data projects with security-skilled eyes, being able to recognize dangers. This will allow you to improve your systems to a grown and sustainable level.

Oct 5th 2026
1 Week
Artificial Intelligence for Breast Cancer Detection (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Artificial Intelligence for Breast Cancer Detection (Coursera)

Through interactive lectures and module exercises, this course illustrates the potential of artificial intelligence in breast imaging. Topics include an introduction of breast cancer and breast imaging, introduction to artificial intelligence in image analysis and computer image processing of cancer detection. The course intends to provide students basic understanding of artificial intelligence approaches to breast cancer detection.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
The Unix Workbench (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

The Unix Workbench (Coursera)

Unix forms a foundation that is often very helpful for accomplishing other goals you might have for you and your computer, whether that goal is running a business, writing a book, curing disease, or creating the next great app. The means to these goals are sometimes carried out by writing software. Software can’t be mined out of the ground, nor can software seeds be planted in spring to harvest by autumn. Software isn’t produced in factories on an assembly line. Software is a hand-made, often bespoke good. If a software developer is an artisan, then Unix is their workbench.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Ferramentas para Ciência de Dados: Introdução ao R (Coursera) Coursera
FIA Business School

Ferramentas para Ciência de Dados: Introdução ao R (Coursera)

Nossas boas-vindas ao Curso Ferramentas para Ciência de Dados: Introdução ao R. Neste curso, você aprenderá que o mundo evoluiu muito quando o assunto é tomada de decisão baseada em dados e já não é possível comparar a quantidade de informações a que temos acesso atualmente com o que tínhamos disponíveis décadas atrás.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Alibaba Cloud Native Solutions and Container Service (Coursera) Coursera
Alibaba Cloud Academy

Alibaba Cloud Native Solutions and Container Service (Coursera)

This course demonstrates how to use Alibaba Cloud Container Service and Container Registry Service to design and develop architectures related to cloud native applications, services, and security solutions. This course helps you understand the basic concepts of cloud native, the commercial implementation of container technology, and Kubernetes technology as well as extra benefits provided by Alibaba Cloud. This course is intended to prepare users to take the Alibaba Cloud Native ACA certification exam.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Building Trust: Ethics for AI-powered Chatbots (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Building Trust: Ethics for AI-powered Chatbots (Coursera)

Many organizations with websites are using chatbots to engage with customers. While this strategy has proved profitable and efficient, there are ethical issues that can arise if users are unaware that their interaction is with an AI bot and not a human. This course will take the learner through the evolution of chatbots, so they are equipped with an appropriate sense of incremental improvements.

Oct 5th 2026
1 Week
Making Data Science Work for Clinical Reporting (Coursera) Coursera
Genentech

Making Data Science Work for Clinical Reporting (Coursera)

This course is aimed to demonstrate how principles and methods from data science can be applied in clinical reporting. By the end of the course, learners will understand what requirements there are in reporting clinical trials, and how they impact on how data science is used. The learner will see how they can work efficiently and effectively while still ensuring that they meet the needed standards.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation (Coursera)

This course provides a foundation to assess, and apply, a series of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Google Bard, Midjourney, Runway, and Eleven Labs. This learning opportunity offers a hands-on experience through ideating, creating, and finalizing a mock advertising campaign using the combined strengths of these AI tools.

Oct 5th 2026
1 Week
Visualization for Data Journalism (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Visualization for Data Journalism (Coursera)

While telling stories with data has been part of the news practice since its earliest days, it is in the midst of a renaissance. Graphics desks which used to be deemed as “the art department,” a subfield outside the work of newsrooms, are becoming a core part of newsrooms’ operation. Those people (they often have various titles: data journalists, news artists, graphic reporters, developers, etc.) who design news graphics are expected to be full-fledged journalists and work closely with reporters and editors.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks