Automate Data Pipelines: Schema Evolution

This course is part of LLM Optimization & Evaluation Specialization

Instructor: LearningMate

Included with

Learn more

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Build automated data pipelines with Apache Airflow, manage schema evolution to prevent failures, and implement monitoring for data integrity.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Apache Airflow

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the LLM Optimization & Evaluation Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

Automate Data Pipelines: Schema Evolution is an intermediate course designed for data engineers, analysts, and developers looking to build robust, failure-resistant data workflows. In today's dynamic data landscape, pipelines often break when source data structures change unexpectedly—a problem known as schema drift. This course tackles that challenge head-on, teaching you how to design and automate data pipelines that can gracefully handle schema evolution using Apache Airflow.

You will gain hands-on experience designing, building, and scheduling complex data pipelines (DAGs) that automate ETL processes from extraction to loading. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on creating idempotent workflows that detect and adapt to schema changes, ensuring data integrity and preventing costly failures. Through practical labs and real-world case studies from companies like Uber and BharatPe, you will implement data validation checks and build comprehensive monitoring and alerting systems. By the end of this course, you will be equipped to create resilient, scalable, and fully automated data pipelines that are built to withstand the complexities of real-world data environments.

This module provides a deep dive into the world of workflow automation with Apache Airflow. You will move from understanding the core concepts of DAGs and operators to building a complete, scheduled data pipeline in a hands-on lab. The focus is on creating robust, idempotent workflows that form the backbone of reliable data systems.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

Data sources are not static. This module addresses the critical skill of managing schema evolution. You will learn how to analyze the downstream impact of source data changes and use dbt to adapt your data quality tests, ensuring your pipelines remain robust and trustworthy even as data structures evolve.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments

2 videos Total 10 minutes

The Silent Pipeline Killer: Schema Drift 4 minutes
Writing and Adapting dbt Tests 5 minutes

2 readings Total 7 minutes

Understanding Schema Drift and Data Lineage 3 minutes
How-To: Documenting and Communicating Schema Changes 4 minutes

2 assignments Total 17 minutes

Hands-On Learning: Handling Schema Evolution with dbt Testing 12 minutes
Knowledge Check: Schema Impact 5 minutes

This module extends beyond building pipelines to tackle "silent failures"—where a successful run produces bad data—and establishes observability as the core defense. You will instrument Airflow DAGs to emit key health metrics like freshness, volume, and duration, and configure automated alerts using on_failure_callback. By the end, you will construct resilient pipelines that fail loudly, ensuring data integrity and stakeholder trust.

What's included

2 videos1 reading3 assignments

2 videos Total 9 minutes

When a Tree Falls: The Danger of Silent Failures 3 minutes
Building-In Failure Alerts 6 minutes

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Designing for Observability 5 minutes

3 assignments Total 50 minutes

Final Project: Building a Resilient & Monitored Pipeline 30 minutes
Hands-On Learning: Enhancing Your DAG with Monitoring and Alerting 15 minutes
Knowledge Check: Monitoring Concepts 5 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

LearningMate

230 Courses 14,776 learners

Offered by

Coursera

Explore more from Software Development

Coursera
Manage Schema Evolution in Real‑Time Data
Course
Coursera
Automate, Optimize, and Benchmark Data Pipelines
Course
Coursera
Build & Transform Data Pipelines
Course
Coursera
Automate Data Workflows with Airflow Excellence
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

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. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.