Learn data management with online courses and programs

Learn how to become a data manager with online data management courses that can help expand your skill set and advance your career.

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Data Management | Introduction Image Description

What is data management?

Data management involves collecting, controlling, and delivering data across data management systems, such as databases.¹ Data management can include customer relationship management, maintenance of marketing technology systems, business intelligence, or data visualization. Data offers insights into customer experiences, business operations, and major research questions. Data managers help make data accessible so that individuals, businesses, and other organizations can use data to inform decision-making. To obtain those insights, data must be accessible, which is why data management plays a critical role.

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Why learn data management from online courses and tutorials

Taking an online data management course can be the first step toward understanding the world of data and the role that data scientists play. Data visualization, database administration and coding with programming languages such as Python, are some of the critical skills that data management professionals need.² Equipped with an understanding of data management, data scientists can help organizations build master data management systems, answer business questions in real time, and safeguard their sensitive information. Online data management courses can help data professionals refine their knowledge of data analysis, databases, business analytics, relational databases, and other data management skills and principles.

Data management course curriculum

Data management courses can differ widely. Some courses designed for learners of all levels. Learners pursuing data management jobs may start by completing an undergraduate degree. A typical bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science may include courses in topics such as:

Computer science
Information systems
Management information systems
Information and communications technology

Taking coursework in mathematics, statistics, and data science, as well as learning programming languages such as Python, can help support learners on their journey to becoming data managers.

Earning a master’s degree in data science can help professionals pursue a more specialized route within data administration. Sample courses in a data science graduate program may include:

Data architecture
Computer engineering
Data modeling
Information resource management
Information and communications technology
Cybersecurity
Software engineering

Other topics that may be covered in undergraduate or graduate degree programs, as well as data management courses, include data management processes, data governance, data warehousing, business intelligence, data modeling, data architecture, and more.

Data management tutorials can help guide beginners in the data management industry. It can also help professionals become more proficient in areas such as data analysis and data modeling. And those with more experience may choose to earn a professional certificate to advance their careers in data management.

Build a career in data management

There are several avenues professionals can take to pursue a variety of data management jobs.³ Some roles include:

Computer systems analysts: test, install, and monitor computer programs and systems and solve complex business problems using computers.⁴
Database administrators: implement security measures to safeguard data and modify existing databases for efficiency. Data architects design databases to support business processes.⁵
Operations research analysts: use mathematics, data science, and problem-solving to help businesses make decisions by collecting information from databases and customers.⁶
Database architects: design databases and develop database architectural strategies to support business applications, system scalability, security, and performance. They also develop data models for applications or other databases.⁷

Many of these positions emphasize interpreting data visualizations and constructing database management systems from scratch.

Individuals can start learning data management with a bachelor’s degree in a related subject and further their skills in specialized areas such as database administration and data engineering. Having a bachelor's degree in a subject related to data management may be helpful when searching for an entry-level job. However, some employers may prioritize hiring applicants who grew specific skills with a boot camp or with a master’s degree focused on data or database management.⁸ Practicing skills using Excel and Python can also be useful to become a data manager. Taking free data management courses or pursuing graduate certificates can also prepare learners to become data managers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is data management best used for?

Data management is used for a variety of tasks, and it plays a huge role in protecting sensitive data for small businesses and large corporations alike. Data scientists develop specific processes that ensure a business’ data is reliable, accessible, and updated in a systematic manner. It can be used for maintaining and improving data collections.

Why learn data management?

Data management is a part of almost every business. It helps businesses optimize how they use, collect, and secure their data to drive stronger and more informed decision-making. From data engineering to data analysis, there are many roles within data management.

What applications are used in data management?

Excel is one of many applications used in data management training because it provides a simple format to store, log, and update databases. Other tools, such as IBM Infosphere Master Data Management, also help users uncover important insights from data.

What are some types of data management?

There are four types of data management. These include customer relationship management, marketing technology systems (such as email services providers), data warehouse systems, and analytics tools such as data visualization and business intelligence, which are designed to help businesses better understand their data so that they can make better decisions about their processes and clients.

Does data management involve coding?

Depending on the role, some data management jobs involve coding. It can be useful to learn a programming language such as Python, which is often covered in a data management course or a data management tutorial.

How long does it take to learn data management?

The amount of time it takes to learn data management depends on whether a learner pursues a degree program in data management or decides to take a data management tutorial or short course online, which can be self paced and completed within several months to a year. Earning a professional certificate may also take months or years to complete, depending on each learner’s priorities and the amount of time they dedicate to the coursework.

Data Management Glossary. SAP. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from Data Management Glossary.
Data Management for Agility and Efficiency. IBM. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
DMBOK v2 Wheel Images. (2017). DAMA International. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
Computer Systems Analysts. (2022). O*NET OnLine. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
Database Administrators. (2022). O*NET OnLine. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
Operations Research Analysts: What Operations Research Analysts Do. (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
Database Architects. (2022). O*NET OnLine. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
Database Administrators and Architects: How to Become a Database Administrator or Architect. (2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved August 23, 2022.