Excel & Power BI Data Prep with Power Query and M Language
CSE-41409
Transform and Automate Data with Power Query for Excel & Power BI
This course equips students with advanced Excel skills to learn the essentials of Power Query for data transformation in both Excel and Power BI. Learners will import, clean, and shape complex datasets, connecting to sources like CSV, databases, and APIs. They will apply transformations, automate tasks, and create custom columns using M language. The course covers error handling, query optimization, and Power BI integration for data modeling. Through hands-on exercises, students will build reusable queries, ensuring analysis-ready datasets for reports. By completion, learners will confidently transform data, enhancing Excel dashboards and preparing for Power BI Desktop, ready to tackle real-world data challenges efficiently.
Course Highlights:
- Principles of data extraction from diverse sources
- Theoretical foundations of data cleansing methods
- General concepts of automation in data processing work flows
- General structure and logic of M language programming
- Strategies for error management in data transformation
- Approaches to query optimization for performance
- Design principles for reusable data queries
- Fundamentals of data modeling and relationships
- Integration frameworks for Power Query and Power BI
-
Principles of dataset preparation for analytics
Course Learning Outcomes:
- Connect to diverse data sources like CSV, databases, APIs
- Clean datasets using Power Query’s filtering, merging tools
- Automate repetitive data preparation tasks in Excel
- Create advanced custom columns with M language
- Handle data errors for reliable, accurate outputs
- Optimize queries for efficient large dataset processing
- Build reusable queries for consistent transformations
- Understand data modeling concepts like relationships, types
- Integrate Power Query with Power BI seamlessly
- Prepare datasets for Excel dashboards, Power BI reports
Course Typically Offered: Online in Fall and Spring quarters
Prerequisite: CSE-41161 Advanced Excel for Analysis and Business Intelligence or equivalent knowledge and experience
Contact: For more information about this course, please email unex-techdata@ucsd.edu
Next Step: After completing this course, consider taking other courses in our Business Intelligence Analysis certificate program
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
Collect, Combine, and Transform Data Using Power Query in Power BI and Excel (Business Skills) 2nd
by Maslyuk, D and Raviv, G
ISBN / ASIN: 9780138115791
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 9/29/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Steven Bugge
Steven Bugge currently consults for the US Dep. of Treasury and US Dep. of Defense. After working in the mental healthcare field as a financial analyst, he left and started Excel Advice, Inc. in 2012. He studied International Business with American University of Rome, Italy and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with San Diego Community College.
Excel Advice, Inc. consults management teams in both the public and private sectors, connecting clients with key developers who help tackle the automation of administrative and compliance centric tasks through the use of various MS Office tools; Excel, Access, Power BI, VBA, Azure and more.