Big Data Analytics (Specialisation studies)
Further education / Technology / Business
These studies offer you research at the cutting edge of creating intelligent services, working alongside scholars and industry in their area. The studies are grounded in the scope and theories of machine learning and the challenges of analytical service design. You will develop detailed knowledge and understanding of how these disciplines blend together in tackling the real problems that face organisations.
- Price
600 € + 0% VAT - Conductor
Arcada University of Applied Sciences - Language
English - Scope
30 ECTS - Course dates
- Last application date
- Entry requirements
An engineering degree or other formal science degree that the UAS otherwise deem sufficient. Prior work experience in software engineering.
Please notice that these studies are conducted as part-time studies and therefore doesn't qualify for a residence permit in Finland.
Educational level for these studies: Master (EQF7)
Salvatore della Vecchia
Former student of BDA at Arcada
One thing I really appreciate is that the education isn’t just theoretical, but we get to work with real data sets. I’m just about to start the last course where we work with actual data from a real company, which is both really interesting and the best way to learn. I appreciate Arcada’s approach to education, that it’s important to study the theory, but equally important to get to do real programming and utilize what you’ve learned. This was something that I missed at my university in Italy, where the studies were mainly theoretical.
Salvatore della Vecchia
Former student of BDA at Arcada
Of course the studies are intense and you have to be prepared to work hard, but it’s worth it. The content has been great. I’ve especially enjoyed going through visual analytics techniques and advanced data mining – something that is hard to find a place to study, since not many are using these advanced techniques yet. To sum it up, yes, I would definitely recommend these studies to others!
Today the same amount of information is created by computers and users around the world in 48 hours, as was created from the beginning of humanity until year 2003. Software encompasses an increasing amount of industries, and as Internet of Things (IoT) solutions become more common, big data analytics must be used to process the data they generate. To find patterns in and being able to handle this enormous amount of data opens for better and more precise fact-based decision-making. Companies and organisations have already realized the opportunities this brings and there is a continuously growing demand of trained big data analytics developers today.
Big Data Analytics specialisation studies gives you an in-depth understanding of how to make use of data in order to create insights. The intended student for these specialisation studies is someone with a programming background who wants to understand how to employ machine learning methods in a business environment. The program is arranged so that you rapidly gain a broad understanding of the essential concepts of big data analytics; descriptive and predictive modelling, as well as optimization. The program emphasizes the importance of understanding how to build analytical solutions with production level code.
As a student you will be involved in projects connected to real-world problems that includes elements of both group work and individual achievements. The focus on real-world problems emphasizes disruptive problem solving through analytics service development. Communication and business acumen is emphasized both through data visualization and traditional pitching.
Are you looking for our Master's degree programme in Big Data Analytics? Read more here.
Study alongside work
The specialisation studies in Big Data Analytics are tailored so that you can attend them alongside full-time employment.
Programme contents
This programme will cover the following subjects.
- Introduction to Analytics, 5 ECTS
- Machine Learning for Predictive Problems, 5 ECTS
- Visual Analytics, 5 ECTS
- Machine Learning for Descriptive Problems, 5 ECTS
- Big Data Analytics, 5 ECTS
- Analytical Service Development, 5 ECTS
The curriculum consists of six courses (5 ECTS credits each) that focus on how to program intelligent services using analytical and machine learning methods. Each of the courses are thought through solving programming problems were the students can make use of Arcada’s Nvidia-sponsored Big Data Lab or computational resources from the Finnish Supercomputing Center (CSC). These tools will enable students to learn how to make use of GPU-accelerated models for processing big data.
| Date | Module |
|---|---|
| 31.8-29-9-2023 | Introduction to Analytics |
| 12.10-10.11.2023 | Machine Learning for Predictive Problems |
| 23.11-15.12.2023 | Visual Analytics |
| 18.1-16.2.2024 | Machine Learning for Descriptive Problems |
| 29.2-28.3.2024 | Big Data Analytics |
| 11.4-10.5.2024 | Analytical Service Development |
Lectures will be held every other week on Thursdays and Fridays from 13 to 18 on-site.
For more information about these modules see the curriculum below.
Curriculum for Big Data Analytics
The curriculum consists of six courses (5 ECTS credits each) that focus on how to program intelligent services using analytical and machine learning methods. Each of the courses are thought through solving programming problems were the students can make use of Arcada’s Nvidia-sponsored Big Data Lab or computational resources from the Finnish Supercomputing Center (CSC). These tools will enable students to learn how to make use of GPU-accelerated models for processing big data.
The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the different concepts of implementing an analytics process. Students learn the process of problem solving in analytics from data understanding and preprocessing, through modelling choices and implementation until the interpretation, visualization and utilization of the analysis. We will look at typical real-life
applications of analytics. The course will provide hands-on lectures to performing the steps of modeling and analysis.
You learn a practical approach for predicting with Machine Learning with all the steps starting from data acquisition and preparation, search for optimal parameters, to comparison of different methods and evaluation of results. You can employ a linear model for regression and classification, train neural networks, build data features with deep learning, represent and process natural text with numerical methods.
You learn how to lead in turbulent times through data-driven management. You also learn to understand how to become an agent of change for transforming data into insights. People are often visual beings and therefore the focus of the course is on reducing information, through algorithms, that can then be visualized. You develop an understanding of visual analytical methods as a communication medium for business intelligence.
You learn to efficiently handle massive datasets and extract hidden knowledge from data. You understand how to employ classification and clustering algorithms on three different types of data: text, streaming and graph. You acquire knowledge of methods and programming tools for processing big data on distributed/cloud systems.
You are given an overview of machine learning and how to utilize big data. The methods for descriptive and predictive modelling are introduced for small data, and you are then given an explanation for how similar models can be modified to work with big data. You will be introduced to the analytical process; big data tooling, data-related requirement handling, domain knowledge, modelling and verification of results.
You develop an understanding for planning the analytical process; data-related requirement handling, domain knowledge/modelling expertise and verification of results. Each student completes an industry cap-stone project as part of the course.
Contact us about the course
Leonardo Espinosa Leal
Degree Programme Director, Big Data Analytics
