SQL Problem Solving
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SQL Problem Solving
This course is part of Learn SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization
Instructor: Katrina Glaeser Poole
86,543 already enrolled
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What you'll learn
Validate and clean a dataset
Assess and create datasets to answer your questions
Solve problems using SQL
Build a simple testing framework to touch on AB Testing
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
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There are 4 modules in this course
SQL for Problem Solving is designed for learners who already understand the basics of SQL and are ready to apply their skills to real-world data problems. In this hands-on course, you’ll move beyond textbook queries to tackle the challenges data analysts face every day. From diagnosing data quality issues to building rolling metrics and interpreting event data, this course gives you the toolkit to write powerful, efficient SQL queries across different dialects and complex datasets.
You’ll learn: - Problem-solving strategies used by data professionals - Techniques for debugging, improving data quality, and building complex queries - How to work with modern data environments, from event logs to denormalized schemas - How to communicate business-relevant insights through SQL-based analysis Whether you're preparing for a data job interview, building dashboards for stakeholders, or leveling up your data chops, this course empowers you with the skills to make SQL your go-to tool for data analysis and problem-solving.
After this module, you will be able to navigate the course environment and datasets, recall and apply key SQL concepts including joins, CTEs, and aggregation. You will be able to identify and resolve common SQL errors. You will also be able to apply structured approaches to SQL problem-solving and use diagnostic techniques to evaluate data quality. Finally, you'll be able to simplify queries using CTEs, subqueries, and pivot logic.
What's included
23 videos2 readings6 assignments
23 videos•Total 88 minutes
- Course Introduction•2 minutes
- Prerequisites Introduction•1 minute
- Set-Up•3 minutes
- Various Set-Up Variations•5 minutes
- Dataset Intro + Entity Diagram + Join Review•2 minutes
- Review SQL Clauses & Functions•3 minutes
- Solution: SQL Clauses & Functions - Part 1•5 minutes
- Solution: SQL Clauses & Functions - Part 2•7 minutes
- Review Joins, Subtables and CTES•4 minutes
- Solution: Review Joins, Subtables and CTES - Part 1•7 minutes
- Solution: Review Joins, Subtables and CTES - Part 2•5 minutes
- Review by Troubleshooting Errors•4 minutes
- Solution: Troubleshooting Errors•7 minutes
- Spreadsheets vs. SQL•3 minutes
- Introduction to SQL Problem Solving Techniques•1 minute
- Quick Tricks to Check Data Quality•3 minutes
- Coalesce to Improve Data Quality•6 minutes
- Pivot and Roll-Up Data - Part 1•3 minutes
- Pivot and Roll-Up Data - Part 2•4 minutes
- Using a Backbone Table for Structure•4 minutes
- Use CTEs and Subqueries to Reduce Complexity•2 minutes
- Can You Do Loops in SQL? - Part 1•4 minutes
- Can You Do Loops in SQL? - Part 2•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 11 minutes
- Course Navigation and Safety Statement•1 minute
- Course Dataset•10 minutes
6 assignments•Total 55 minutes
- Review: Entity Diagrams•3 minutes
- Review: Clauses and Functions•7 minutes
- Review: Joins and Subtables•4 minutes
- Review: Troubleshooting Errors•4 minutes
- Review: Spreadsheets vs. SQL•7 minutes
- SQL Problem Solving Techniques Quiz•30 minutes
After this module, you will be able to describe how data flows to analysts in modern stacks. You will be able to write SQL queries on event and JSON-based data. You will be able to evaluate the trustworthiness of different data sources.
What's included
15 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
15 videos•Total 64 minutes
- Introduction to the Modern Data Environment•1 minute
- Where Does the Data Come From Anyway? - Part 1•4 minutes
- Where Does the Data Come From Anyway? - Part 2•6 minutes
- Production Databases + SQL Dialects + History•6 minutes
- Solution: Exploring the Events Table - Part 1•5 minutes
- Solution: Exploring the Events Table - Part 2•2 minutes
- All About Event Data - Part 1•5 minutes
- All About Event Data - Part 2•5 minutes
- Deep Dive - How to Use Field History Table•4 minutes
- Solution: Evaluate AI Generated Code - Part 1•3 minutes
- Solution: Evaluate AI Generated Code - Part 2•6 minutes
- Data Pipelines - Part 1•3 minutes
- Data Pipelines - Part 2•6 minutes
- SQL Style Guide•7 minutes
- Reminders Of Where To Be Skeptical•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- The Modern Data Environment Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 5 minutes
- Events•5 minutes
After this module, you’ll be able to design SQL queries to support reporting, metrics, and goal tracking. You'll be able to analyze data for executive dashboards, funnels, and retention. Finally, you'll be able to translate business questions into SQL-based investigations.
What's included
22 videos2 assignments1 discussion prompt
22 videos•Total 93 minutes
- Introduction to Business Focused Case Studies•1 minute
- Applications of SQL Data Analysis•6 minutes
- Normalized vs. Denormalized Data•7 minutes
- Denormalized Line Items Table - Part 1•4 minutes
- Denormalized Line Items Table - Part 2•4 minutes
- BONUS: Keyboard Shortcuts•2 minutes
- What Makes a Good Executive Metric?•3 minutes
- Defining Good Metrics•6 minutes
- Item_View Metric•5 minutes
- Reporting Basics - Part 1•7 minutes
- Reporting Basics - Part 1 Example•5 minutes
- Reporting Basics - Part 2•3 minutes
- Reporting Basics - Part 3•4 minutes
- Reporting Basics - Part 3 Example•1 minute
- Funnels and How They Extend to Retention - Part 1•5 minutes
- Funnels and How They Extend to Retention - Part 2•6 minutes
- Deep Dive: Retention & LTV•4 minutes
- Retention Example: Period Over Period (PoP)•3 minutes
- AB Testing•3 minutes
- Example of AB Testing•5 minutes
- Going Beyond SQL•2 minutes
- Exploratory Analysis & Case Studies•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Business Focused Case Studies Quiz•30 minutes
- From Question to Insight — The SQL Problem-Solving Mindset•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Normalized & Denormalized Data•10 minutes
After this final module, you will be able to tackle open-ended SQL challenges with limited guidance. You'll be able to construct queries to support forecasting and recommendation systems. You'll also be able to communicate insights through effective SQL design and visualization prep.
What's included
23 videos1 reading2 assignments
23 videos•Total 82 minutes
- Introduction to Data Science in the Wild•1 minute
- Triage a Business Question•2 minutes
- Scenario: Sloppy Question Clinic•3 minutes
- Example: Descriptive Statistics for Design•2 minutes
- Another Example: Which Segment is the Biggest?•2 minutes
- Investigating a Drop•7 minutes
- Mix Shift•2 minutes
- Problem Solving: Getting Un-Stuck•3 minutes
- Test As You Go•2 minutes
- Collaborative Filtering Recommender•6 minutes
- Item Recommender: Start Coding - Part 1•5 minutes
- Item Recommender: Start Coding - Part 2•4 minutes
- Data Preparation•3 minutes
- Create Data to Feed a Forecast•6 minutes
- Just For Fun: How to Forecast in Python•5 minutes
- Define a Metric: Activation•1 minute
- Funnel Skill - Part 1•5 minutes
- Funnel Skill - Part 2•6 minutes
- Funnel Skill - Part 3•5 minutes
- Visualization Clinic•5 minutes
- Remove Distractions•3 minutes
- Interview Mindset and Tools•5 minutes
- Course Summary•0 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Interview Question Bank•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 75 minutes
- Data Science in the Wild Quiz•30 minutes
- From Data to Decision: Analyzing Insights with SQL•45 minutes
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