Data visualization courses can help you learn how to create compelling charts, graphs, and dashboards, along with understanding data storytelling and visual design principles. You can build skills in interpreting data trends, selecting appropriate visual formats, and conveying insights effectively to diverse audiences. Many courses introduce tools like Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js, that support transforming raw data into visual narratives and making data-driven decisions in various fields.

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Visualization, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, IBM Cognos Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Looker (Software), Scatter Plots, Tree Maps, Pivot Tables And Charts, Histogram, Data Analysis
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Graphing, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Modeling, Databases, Data Analysis, Simulation and Simulation Software
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Macquarie University
Skills you'll gain: Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Excel Macros, Infographics, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Forecasting
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Microsoft
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Data Literacy, Data Visualization, Data Storage, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Collection, Data Quality, Business Analytics, Timelines, Advanced Analytics, Database Design, Statistical Reporting, Statistical Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Integration, Data Storage Technologies, SQL, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Big Data, Microsoft Excel, IBM Cognos Analytics, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Apache Hadoop, Analytical Skills, Excel Formulas, Looker (Software), Scatter Plots, Data Wrangling, Tree Maps, Spreadsheet Software, Dashboard, Data Cleansing
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Macquarie University
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
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Emory University
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Presentations, Consulting, Microsoft PowerPoint, Management Consulting, Executive Presence, Business Consulting, Benchmarking, Microsoft Excel, Storytelling, Data Storytelling, Proposal Development, Oral Expression, Business Research, Lean Six Sigma, Interviewing Skills, Six Sigma Methodology, Problem Solving, Data Quality, Analytical Skills
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Big Data, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Apache Hadoop, Data Wrangling, Apache Hive, Data Collection, Data Mart, Data Science, Data Warehousing, Data Visualization, Analytics, Data Cleansing, Apache Spark, Data Lakes, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Excel
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Microsoft Office, Data Mining
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Content Performance Analysis, Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office, Content Creation, Productivity Software, Collaborative Software, Generative AI, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Business Communication
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

IBM
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Data Wrangling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Generative AI, SQL, Data Transformation, Data Analysis, Big Data, IBM Cognos Analytics, Excel Formulas, Professional Networking, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Python Programming
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Duke University
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Plotly, Matplotlib, Dashboard, Seaborn, Tableau Software, Scatter Plots, Histogram, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Python Programming, Cloud Applications, Data Manipulation, Business Communication
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Data visualization, which is sometimes called information visualization, is the representation of datasets through graphical means such as charts, maps, visual analytics interfaces such as dashboards, and interactive visualizations. A picture is worth a thousand words - or a thousand lines of a spreadsheet - and the ability to convey key relationships within complex datasets and insights from data analysis in a visually compelling way is critically important to making sense of our world.
While data visualizations may be as simple as a bar graph created in Microsoft Excel, the complexity, size, and velocity of datasets in the big data era often demand more powerful approaches. Specialized programs such as Tableau Software and the D3.js JavaScript library are widely used in the business world to create dynamic data visualizations, which may even incorporate real-time data streams. For particularly complex tasks, data virtualization software may also be used as middleware to integrate multiple sources and types of data into a format suitable for use with these visualization programs.‎
The ability to create data visualizations are increasingly expected in a variety of jobs, making these skills highly valuable as well as portable. Whether you’re a financial analyst at a hedge fund displaying a real-time dashboard of portfolio risk or a data journalist creating an interactive visualization map of the spread of Covid-19, compelling data visualizations can increase the impact of your work and give you an edge in your career.
Management analysts are particularly attuned to the value of good data visualizations. These consultants must make convincing recommendations for organizational changes to upper-level management and busy executives, and powerful graphics can be essential to making these cases effectively. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, management analysts earned a median annual wage of $85,260 as of 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow much faster than average as more and more companies seek advice on navigating today’s fast-changing business world.‎
Yes! Coursera lets you learn remotely about data visualization and related topics with courses and Specializations from top-ranked schools like New York University, University of California, Davis, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. You can also take courses from industry leaders like IBM and PwC, one of the top management consultancies in the world. Online learning with Coursera is an especially good fit for mid-career professionals seeking to add data visualization capabilities to their skill set, as you can complete coursework on a flexible schedule that fits into your existing work life.‎
Some skills you might want to have before learning data visualization include mathematics, Excel, and some coding experience. Specifically, learning popular programming languages like R and Python can be useful for analyzing the data you want to present in a visual format. Strong data analysis skills are usually essential because you should be able to interpret data accurately to avoid misleading the people viewing the final product. In addition to technology skills, you can put to use other skills in a data visualization role, such as problem-solving, artistic skills, and communication skills.‎
The right kind of person for a role in data visualization has a combination of technology, business, and communication skills. They typically know how to collect, analyze, and interpret data quickly and accurately using programming languages like R, Python, and JavaScript and tools such as Tableau, PowerBI, or Microsoft Excel. Someone with strong communication skills also tends to work well in this field. Being able to listen to the needs of the client and create a data visualization tool that accurately represents the data in a way that the audience understands is useful.‎
If you're comfortable working with large amounts of data and are passionate about making sure people understand the available data about a project, program, or concern, learning data visualization may be a good choice for you. You'll likely have opportunities to help others by sharing important data in a format that’s visually appealing and easy to interpret. Learning data visualization can add to your skillset if you've previously studied or worked as a graphic designer or data analyst. You may choose to learn a programming language so you can develop your own data warehouse or another visualization tool to showcase the data you analyze, or you can decide to explore the variety of methods used to create visual displays of data.‎
If you're looking for the best free data visualization courses available, try auditing one of these courses Data Visualization Specialization, Excel Data Analytics and Visualization Specialization, Fundamentals of Data Visualization Course, Data Visualization and Dashboarding with R Specialization or Data Analysis and Visualization Foundations Specialization. In the audit version, you can assess most of the material but will not be able to submit assignments or receive grades or a certificate for your work unless you upgrade.‎
For those seeking to get started in data visualization, the Data Visualization with Tableau offers valuable insight into topics such as practices, theories, and tools used in data visualization. Additionally, the Data Analysis and Visualization Foundations Specialization covers the fundamentals of data visualization. For those wishing to learn R programming for data visualization methods, the Data Visualization and Dashboarding with R Specialization is a great option. Those looking for data visualization with Python can sign up for Python for Data Visualization and for Tableau, Data Visualization with Tableau provides an introduction to analytics and data visualization.‎
For those looking to excel in advanced data visualization, Coursera offers an extensive range of courses. These include the Excel, Data Visualization & Analytics Specialization, Fundamentals of Data Visualization, Python for Data Visualization, Excel for Data Visualization, and Data Visualization Project.‎
Online Data Visualization courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Data Visualization skills. Choose from a wide range of Data Visualization courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Data Visualization, 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.‎