Why SQL?

With SQL you can answer questions using a database, the ultimate system of record for most organizations. As nearly every industry is moving toward being more data-driven, having this skill will give you a larger role in decision-making wherever you work.

What You'll Learn

You’ll be introduced to foundational concepts like tables, data types, and queries. Once you understand the basics of viewing tables, you’ll be introduced to more advanced querying techniques like filtering and aggregating. You will be able to drill down into specific cases or step back and see larger patterns. You’ll also learn how to combine information from different tables using join statements and views. The final day of the course will cover advanced techniques like creating subqueries and using timestamp functions.

This course will use Postgres, an advanced open-source database. Concepts from this course will apply equally to other databases such as MySQL and SQL Server, with the minor syntax differences noted during class.

Take this class as part of a certificate program and save:

Data Science Certificate

What You’ll Learn

Explore and alter data using a graphical user interface
Write queries to search through tables programmatically
Understand different data types and converting between them
Combine information across tables with join statements
Advanced techniques like subqueries and timestamp functions

Course Syllabus

Download Syllabus PDF

Foundations

Basic Concepts

What is a relational database?
What is SQL?
What is Postgres?
Database tables
Rows and columns
Data types

Graphical User Interface

Query Window
Results Grid
Setting Options

Querying

Select Statements

Syntax of a SELECT statement
Selecting specific columns
Using a LIMIT clause
Distinct records
Using a WHERE clause
Field and Table Aliases

Filtering and Aggregating

Filtering with Text Criteria
Wildcard Filters
Filtering with Numeric Criteria
Using SUM, COUNT and AVG
Using MAX and MIN
Group-by Statements

Adding Data

Creating tables

Primary keys
Foreign keys
Data normalization
Create statement
Constraints

Inserting data

Insert statement
Nulls, empty strings and zeros
Transactions
Update Statement
Setting Conflict Actions

Combining tables

Joins

Inner Joins
Full Outer Joins
Left/Right Joins

Views

Creating a view
Performance issues

Advanced Topics

Advanced querying

Subqueries
Querying JSON data

Functions

String Functions
Cast Function
Convert Function
Rounding Functions

Dealing with CSVs

Loading data from a CSV
Exporting a table to CSV

Schedule & Enrollment

$975
18 Hours
NYC or Live Online
Full setup assistance provided

Discounts
Discounts
- 10% Alumni Discount: Get 10% off this course if you’ve previously taken any 12+ hour course.
- $100 Individuals Discount: Take $100 off this course if you’re an individual paying for yourself (you’re not being reimbursed by a company).
Discounts are applied at checkout (no promo code required) and will be verified after you place your order. Discounts are subject to change. Read our discount policies for more details.

Payment Plans

This course is not eligible for a payment plan, which is only available for programs priced at $2,495 and above. Read our Payment Plan FAQ for more details.
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September 8–24

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6–9pm
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October 26–28

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm
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This Course is Available Live Online

You can attend this training live online at the scheduled time the course is offered (New York, Eastern Time) through screen-sharing software Zoom (free for you).
Our live online training is interactive and hands-on, just like our in-person classes. There are no extra fees and we’ll work with you to ensure your setup is perfect

Classes are activity-based and taught by a live instructor.
You can hear the instruction, ask questions, and share your screen—all in real-time.
Retake the course for free (in-person or live online) within one year.
Until July 5, 2020, all classes are available live online only. In-person expected to be available starting July 6th. Learn more about our reopening plan.

See What Students Are Saying About Live Online

“Overall experience on Zoom was maybe even better than in IRL classroom because the instruction takes place right on your own screen, with less distraction. Great overall experience.”
“Given the fact that we had to do this entire class remotely due to Covid-19, I didn’t have very high expectations it would run so smoothly. However, I don’t think it could’ve gone any better. Not only do I feel very comfortable with the program now, but I’m actually excited to use it!”
“This was the first online class I’ve taken with ND and it was a great experience. Looking forward to the other classes I’ve signed up for!”

Learn more about how our live online training works

Online Training Demo

1-Minute Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the target audience for this course?
- Leaders interested in making better data-driven decisions and “knowing the numbers”
- Analysts looking to deepen their skillset beyond Excel and Tableau
- Developers who want to be more comfortable working with databases
How is this class structured?

This course is an 18-hour bootcamp that teaches the student the ins and outs of SQL. Students will learn to explore data using a GUI, write search queries, combine information, and much more.
How many students are in a given class?

Noble's typical class ranges from 8-12 students, but we allow up to 20 students to register for our course.
Why should I learn SQL?

Data has become central to almost every job on the market and it is becoming an increasingly necessary skill to know how to handle and control data. As data is becoming larger, databases are now the only mode of storage that can handle the quantity. However, in order to work with a database, one must know SQL.
What type of SQL is being used?

This class uses PostgreSQL but concepts from this course will apply equally to other databases such as MySQL and SQL Server, with the minor syntax differences noted during class.
Is there mandatory work outside of the classroom?

Students are not required to complete any work outside of class. However, we provide students with bonus materials if they would like extra practice.
What tangible skills do students leave with after the class?

Students will learn how to explore, alter data within a database as well as use join statements and perform various techniques such as subqueries and stored procedures.
Does this course require any prior knowledge or experience?

Students must be comfortable using a computer. No other prior knowledge is required.
Do you offer discounts or a payment plan for this course?
Discounts
- 10% Alumni Discount: Get 10% off this course if you’ve previously taken any 12+ hour course.
- $100 Individuals Discount: Take $100 off this course if you’re an individual paying for yourself (you’re not being reimbursed by a company).
Discounts are applied at checkout (no promo code required) and will be verified after you place your order. Discounts are subject to change. Read our discount policies for more details.

Payment Plan

This course is not eligible for a payment plan, which is only available for programs priced at $2,495 and above. Read our Payment Plan FAQ for more details.

Take this course as part of a certificate program and save:
- Data Science Certificate
Can I take this course online (remote learning)?
You may attend this training virtually (online) at the scheduled time the course is offered (New York, Eastern Time).

How does attending “live online” work?
- Students can attend this training remotely through screen sharing software (we use Zoom).
- Participants can hear the instruction, ask questions, and even share their screen with the instructor.
- For audio you can use your computer’s microphone/speakers or call a phone number that we’ll provide.
- Classes are activity-based and taught by a live instructor, so we strongly encourage students who are local to the area to attend in person!
What if I don’t have the software on my computer?

Upon registration, please email hello@nobledesktop.com and we will help you get set up with the software or anything else needed for an optimal training experience.

Corporate & Onsite SQL Training

Purchase group class vouchers at a discount for our regularly-scheduled group classes in NYC, or create a custom training program at your offices.

Private Training

Available onsite at your location
Modern computer labs available at our offices
Customize or choose from our existing courses
Free instructor consultations to finalize content

Group Class Vouchers

Send employees to our group classes
Extensive offerings and flexible scheduling
Simple billing and logistics
Computers and training resources provided

We’ve trained thousands of companies!
Let us create the perfect program for your team.

212-226-4149

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29 Years of Experience

Since 1990 we have perfected the craft of teaching. If students get hung up on an issue, we tweak the class to make it better. We’re the longest running independent training center for code and design in NYC.

Highly Reviewed by Our Alumni

From our hands-on training style to world-class instructors and proprietary curriculum, we deliver a learning experience our alumni can be proud of.

2 Students Rated Our SQL Bootcamp 5 Stars

Great introduction to SQL, top notch professor, and great learning materials.

Jason McKenna

A strong dive in SQL. You'll walk out of this class with a good grasp of database handling. A great professional skill.

Anderson Wang

Should I Invest the Time to Learn SQL?

There will always be more things to learn than you have time for. So the question is: which skills do you invest in and which do you skip? Like with any investment, it’s about weighing the costs and the benefits. While this is often a difficult question to answer, for SQL the balance is unusually compelling. Being able to explore a database with SQL is a powerful, fundamental skill that you can pick up quickly.

Quick to Master

SQL takes less time to master than other programming languages. With a few weeks of dedicated practice, it’s possible to be as competent in SQL as a professional software developer. You won’t be at the level of a database administrator or other SQL expert, but you’ll be able to write SQL as well as the average programmer.

To reach professional-level competence in other programming languages, such as Python or Javascript, takes far longer. Even at the most selective coding bootcamps, students take three months to a year to develop these skills. Compared to languages like these, SQL is much more of a quick win.

In part, this is because SQL targets a narrow domain. SQL is focused on one task -- controlling a database -- while other programming languages are more general-purpose.

However, it’s also because SQL is declarative. In SQL code, you only describe the output that you want, not the procedure to create it. The database itself is doing most of the heavy lifting, automatically finding an efficient way to accomplish your task. To get results in other programming languages, you generally have to specify a step-by-step procedure yourself.

Rising Role of Data

Data is growing in importance across every industry. As a consequence, the ability to use a database is more important today than ever before. Over half of the jobs on Indeed that contain the word “data” (e.g. data analyst, data scientist) mention SQL in the job description. This is three times more often than Python, R, or any other programming language. If you want to work with data, SQL is the single biggest requirement.

However, it’s not just an expected skill for data scientists. If you are a decision maker at your company or aspire to be one, people will increasingly expect you to ground your ideas in data. If you really want to “know your numbers,” being able to query a database is a critical skill. Modern companies rely on their database as the system of record -- i.e. the final say on facts about the company’s operations. Databases are specifically designed to track thousands of complex data points, such as recording every transaction down to the level of product, customer, and time of day. If you just read reports, you are getting someone else’s summary of the facts as they stood when the report was written. Querying a database with SQL, you can directly see the facts as they stand right now.

A Durable Skill

Best practices in SQL are very stable over time, relative to other programming languages. The main principles for how databases are organized today -- known as the “normal forms” -- date back to papers written in the ‘70s. The SQL language itself was standardized by 1986, and has not changed significantly since that time. Although new features are added to the standard every few years, the portion that most programmers will ever use has been the same for decades.

While it is true that there are numerous dialects of SQL, the differences between them are very minimal. Each dialect will have a slightly different way of expressing the same set of concepts. As an example, to request only five results in Postgres you would use LIMIT 5 while in Microsoft’s dialect of SQL you would use TOP 5. Unless you are a database administrator, most job postings do not even bother to differentiate between dialects of SQL.

By contrast, best practices in a language like Javascript are expected to be obsolete within 3-4 years. Programmers use the term "javascript fatigue" to refer to the exhaustion that comes with trying to stay on the cutting edge in this language. Although there are rewards for learning hot new technologies, you would do better by learning SQL if you are looking for an evergreen skill that can benefit you for the rest of your career.

Learn SQL at Noble Desktop

If you want to take the leap and learn SQL, sign up for our 18-hour SQL Bootcamp class. The class will cover everything from basic database terminology to advanced querying techniques so that you are confident using SQL in your workplace or on your resume.

If you’re interested in diving deeper with data, this course is featured as part of the Data Science Certificate. The certificate includes an in-depth Python bootcamp for data science so that you can grow your data skillset and do more advanced analysis.

Why SQL?

What You'll Learn

Take this class as part of a certificate program and save:

Learn the Skills Guarantee™

Hands-on training in small groups

Time-tested curriculum and supporting materials

Learn from industry experts with teaching experience

Retake the course for free within one year

What You’ll Learn

Course Syllabus

Foundations

Basic Concepts

Graphical User Interface

Querying

Select Statements

Filtering and Aggregating

Adding Data

Creating tables

Inserting data

Combining tables

Joins

Views

Advanced Topics

Advanced querying

Functions

Dealing with CSVs

Schedule & Enrollment

Discounts

Payment Plans

September 8–24

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6–9pm

October 26–28

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

October 26–28

Monday to Wednesday, 10–5pm

September 8–24

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6–9pm

This Course is Available Live Online

See What Students Are Saying About Live Online

Online Training Demo

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the target audience for this course?

How is this class structured?

How many students are in a given class?

Why should I learn SQL?

What type of SQL is being used?

Is there mandatory work outside of the classroom?

What tangible skills do students leave with after the class?

Does this course require any prior knowledge or experience?

Do you offer discounts or a payment plan for this course?

Discounts

Payment Plan

Take this course as part of a certificate program and save:

Can I take this course online (remote learning)?

How does attending “live online” work?

What if I don’t have the software on my computer?