Data Mining Specialization

• What is the refund policy?

  If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

• Can I just enroll in a single course?

  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, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. 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.

• Is financial aid available?

  Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

• Can I take the 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 only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

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

  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.

• How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

  Time to completion can vary widely based on your schedule. Most learners are able to complete the Specialization in 4-5 months.

• How often is each course in the Specialization offered?

  Each course in the Specialization is offered on a regular schedule with sessions starting about once per month. If you don't complete a course on the first try, you can easily transfer to the next session, and your completed work and grades will carry over.

• What background knowledge is necessary?

  Comfortable with computer programming in multiple programming languages

  Basic knowledge of probability and statistics

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

  It is recommended that the courses in the Specialization be taken in the order outlined. In the Capstone Project, you will have the opportunity to synthesize your learning in all the courses and apply your combined skills in a final project.

• Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

  MCS courses in Coursera do not carry University of Illinois credit on their own. Each course has an enhanced for-credit component. You can earn academic credit if you combine an MCS Coursera course with the enhanced for-credit component offered on the University of Illinois platform. Some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.

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

  At completion of this Specialization in Data Mining, you will (1) know the basic concepts in pattern discovery and clustering in data mining, information retrieval, text analytics, and visualization, (2) understand the major algorithms for mining both structured and unstructured text data, and (3) be able to apply the learned algorithms to solve real-world data mining problems.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.