Analytics is the system of applying certain methods and techniques to understand the performance of data, generally in an organization or industry. The application of analytics can be used to uncover and interpret relevant patterns of data, which can be later used to make better decisions. Analytics relies on good data as part of its usefulness, as well as the aspects of statistics, computer programming, and operations research to quantify performance. Analytics exists in business when companies use statistics and software processes in assessing how a particular product, service, or project measures up in scope. Businesses perform analytics to pinpoint strengths, identify challenges or weaknesses that may exist, and pull out key data points to help make decisions regarding future growth for the organization.

Learning analytics is a key skill that helps you solve problems to existing challenges. When you use analytics tools to research data patterns, you use methods of analyzing performance characteristics that are essential to a business organization. This is important in today's world of big data. Understanding analytics can make you a valuable asset when assessing areas rich with recorded information, performance indicators, and target goals.

What are typical careers that use analytics?

Analytics is found in a wide range of careers, including business analyst, budget analyst, financial controller, data scientist, and operations researcher. Individuals who move into these and other careers in data analytics often work with raw data and algorithms through mechanical processes to make assumptions and theories. Essentially, with knowledge of analytics, you can move into a job that requires a familiarity with numeric relationships, data structures, and trends and metrics relevant to an organization.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn analytics?

When you take online courses in analytics, you can gain a new understanding of key concepts like data analysis and visualization, mathematical optimization, regression analysis, predictive modeling, and other areas focused on business analytics. Taking online courses about analytics can help you achieve basic data literacy to help you make more informed decisions in any area you work in, like finance, operations, or marketing. As you branch out, you may advance your analytics understanding to include how to extract and manipulate data points, how to use different statistical analysis methods to break down the data, and how to eventually interpret and present your findings.

What are the benefits of taking an online Analytics course?

Online Analytics courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Analytics skills. With a wide range of Analytics classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Analytics career.

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

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Analytics, 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 .

Top Analytics Courses - Learn Analytics Online

Explore the Analytics Course Catalog

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Tableau Software, Data Visualization Software, Excel Macros, Analytics, Accounting and Finance Software, Specialized Accounting, Analytical Skills, Pivot Tables And Charts, Accounting Systems, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Data Collection, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Regression Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Text Mining and Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Text Mining, Data Mining, Unstructured Data, Statistical Analysis, Natural Language Processing, Analytics, Data Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Probability & Statistics, Regression Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Supervised Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
735 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Applying Data Analytics in Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Regression Analysis, Network Analysis, Market Analysis, Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Customer Insights, Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Text Mining, Unstructured Data, Social Media, Natural Language Processing
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
187 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Inventory Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Inventory Management, Inventory Control, Inventory Control Systems, Inventory Accounting, Inventory and Warehousing, Product Assortment, Financial Analysis, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Benchmarking, Operational Efficiency, Analysis, Analytics, Competitive Analysis, Data Analysis Software
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
245 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Fractal Analytics
Behavior Architecture - Understanding Human Behavior
Skills you'll gain: Decision Making, Behavioral Economics, Human Development, Learning Theory, Psychology, Cognitive flexibility, Qualitative Research, Emotional Intelligence, Research Methodologies, Communication
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
44 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
The University of Edinburgh
Data Science in Stratified Healthcare and Precision Medicine
Skills you'll gain: Precision Medicine, Bioinformatics, Image Analysis, Medical Imaging, Big Data, Health Informatics, Statistical Methods, Data Science, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Probability & Statistics, Data Analysis, Molecular Biology, Network Analysis, Graph Theory, Healthcare Ethics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
334 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Business Analytics Capstone
Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Business Intelligence, Analytics, Peer Review, Business Analysis, Performance Measurement, Marketing Analytics, Data Strategy, Business Solutions, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategies, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Marketing Effectiveness, Digital Advertising, Advertising
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
767 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The University of Sydney
Using clinical health data for better healthcare
Skills you'll gain: Health Technology, Health Informatics, Telehealth, Health Care, Health Systems, Patient Education and Support, Health Information Management, Data Quality, Clinical Data Management, Electronic Medical Record, Digital Communications, Data Governance, Data Analysis, Data Integrity, Digital Transformation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
115 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California San Diego
Graph Analytics for Big Data
Skills you'll gain: Graph Theory, Database Design, Big Data, Network Analysis, Analytics, Data Management, Data Structures, Query Languages, Scalability, Unsupervised Learning, Distributed Computing, Algorithms
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Business Analytics for Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Analysis, Decision Making, Analytics, Business Intelligence, Predictive Analytics, Simulation and Simulation Software, Business Modeling, Data Analysis, Process Optimization, Market Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Microsoft Excel, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
University of Leeds
Exploratory Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Statistical Modeling, Statistics, Data Analysis, Statistical Inference, R Programming, Descriptive Statistics, Box Plots, Data Visualization Software, Histogram, Probability, Simulations
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel, Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Visualization, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Probability, Box Plots, Histogram, Probability Distribution, Probability & Statistics, Scatter Plots, Statistics, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
27 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months