Data Engineer Career Pathway

Build Your Career as an Data Engineer

Learn to build and deploy data systems through hands-on projects, mentorship, and real-world experience that bridges software engineering and data science.

Data Engineer
Career Pathway

Fully Online

18 months

Project-based learning

Work-integrated design

Mentorship from an
industry professional

5:1 student to instructor ratio

Apply now

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Phase 01: SE Essentials

Software Engineering Fundamentals
JavaScript Fundamentals
JavaScript Interactions

Phase 02: SE Foundations 1

Front-End Development with React 1
Front-End Development with React 2
Introduction to Python

Phase 03: SE Foundations 2

Object-Oriented Programming
API Development
Relational Databases
Back-End Development

Phase 04: SE Capstone

Software Engineering Capstone

Phase 05: DS Essentials

Introduction to Data Science
Databases & SQL
Cloud Computing & Data Visualization

Phase 06: DS Foundations 1

Inferential Statistics
Regression
Introduction to Machine Learning

Phase 07: DS Foundations 2

Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn
Natural Language Processing & Neural Networks
Advanced Neural Networks
Large Language Models

Phase 08: DS Capstone

Data Science Capstone

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What Our Students Say

Students thrive in flexible programs that blend learning, mentorship, collaboration, real-world work.

5:1

Student to Instructor Ratio

Small group instruction from professional practitioners

1:1

Industry Mentorship

Personalized guidance from industry experts

Young man with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a dark blue henley shirt sitting outdoors with blurred trees and tables in the background.

“I didn’t just want a degree, I wanted experience that matters.”

Clarke gave me the opportunity to work on real projects with real companies, not just case studies in a classroom.

Ethan Brooks

Greenville, SC

Young woman with long blonde braided hair wearing a white knitted sweater, sitting indoors with blurred bookshelves in the background.

“At Clarke, I’m building my career while I’m earning my degree.”

My apprenticeship lets me apply what I’m learning in class to actual client work every week, and it makes everything click.

Claire Whitman

Birmingham, AL

Young man with short hair wearing a dark hoodie and green jacket, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

“Education that finally feels connected to the real world.”

Through my mentors and apprenticeship, I’m gaining the confidence and skills to walk in and be ready to contribute from day one.

Mason Price

Augusta, GA

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Questions?

We Have Answers

What credential will I earn?

You’ll earn two Professional Certificates from Clarke College, one in Software Engineering and another in Data Science. This program is separate from our degree offerings. Still, if you later choose to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree at Clarke, your certificates can articulate into academic credits toward either program.

How long is the program?

The Data Engineer Career Pathway takes about 18 months to complete. Students begin with full-time software engineering training, then transition into part-time artificial intelligence study while working in a paid apprenticeship. The apprenticeship experience not only covers the cost of tuition but also provides real-world application of the skills learned in both programs.

If the program runs year-round, are there any breaks?

Yes. Clarke’s programs are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing students to manage their own pace while staying on track. Each academic year includes about five weeks of scheduled breaks, typically around major U.S. holidays. Students can also work ahead in some courses to take short breaks when needed. This schedule mirrors the rhythm of a professional environment rather than a traditional academic calendar, helping students transition smoothly from school to the workplace.

Is the program entirely online?

Yes. Clarke is fully online, but highly interactive, with mentors, peers, and project work built into every phase. You'll collaborate with mentors and peers through tools like Discord, GitHub, and live sessions, with structured mentorship and feedback every step of the way.

What are the hardware requirements?

We recommend that students have a laptop that was manufactured within the last 4 years and has 16GB+ of memory. While most of our students choose macOS, Windows and Linux are both supported as well.

How do the apprenticeships work?

Clarke’s programs are built on the philosophy of applied learning through apprenticeships. We collaborate with nonprofit partners and employers to help connect each student with meaningful opportunities. The final decision always rests between you and the partner organization — Clarke facilitates introductions and matching, but does not directly place students.

To learn more about apprenticeship matching before enrolling, visit the Bletchley Fellowship program

How are Clarke's professional programs different from what traditional universities offer?

Clarke’s professional programs are built entirely around real-world skills. You’ll learn through hands-on projects and mentorship from industry professionals who use these tools every day. Each course focuses on the technologies, workflows, and production environments used in the field today, not abstract theory or unrelated filler topics. Every program is designed to move you closer to a career in tech.

What careers will I be prepared for post-graduation?

The Data Engineer Career Pathway prepares graduates for roles focused on building and managing the data infrastructure that powers modern analytics and AI systems. Combining full-stack software engineering and data science foundations, you’ll be qualified for positions such as:
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Data Engineer
Data Infrastructure Engineer
Data Scientist
Analystics Engineer
ETL Developer
AI Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
Software Engineer
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Data Engineer