What is feature engineering?

Feature engineering is a process within machine learning that transforms raw data into features that a machine can recognize as part of the problem to be solved. It's a way of manually improving the observations and variables that a machine is learning based upon the data that you have. Features are tables that consist of the variables and observations that are meaningful to the problem you're trying to solve. Feature engineering consists of determining which features work best with the problem you're solving, creating the features, checking how the features work, and improving them.

Why is it important to learn feature engineering?

It's important to learn about the process of feature engineering because it can influence the result of solving a problem better than relying on algorithms alone, which means you can better solve problems based on the data that you have. When you use feature engineering properly, you can exert a positive influence on the results you achieve from the data that you're working with. To put it simply, the better features you put into the machine, the better problem solutions you'll see as a result. That's where a thorough knowledge of feature engineering comes in. The better you are at inputting features, the better you'll be at making the most of your data.

What are careers that rely on knowledge of feature engineering?

Data analysts and engineers call upon their knowledge of feature engineering in their careers. Engineers in a host of disciplines analyze, clean, and improve the data that they work with every day, and you'll find data specialists who work with feature engineering in fields as vast as healthcare, aerospace, and defense. The growing fields of mobile gaming and e-commerce also hire feature engineers to better analyze the data that they depend on.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn feature engineering?

Whether you're looking to learn the basics of feature engineering or acquire more advanced knowledge, taking online courses on Coursera and partners like IBM and Google can help you learn the concepts and practical applications of feature engineering. You can learn about how feature engineering works in certain applications like Google Cloud or MATLAB or aim for a specialized certificate. No matter which of the feature engineering courses you choose to take, you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills that may be beneficial to your career.

What are the benefits of taking an online Feature Engineering course?

Online Feature Engineering courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Feature Engineering skills. Choose from a wide range of Feature Engineering courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Feature Engineering courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Feature Engineering, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Feature Engineering Courses - Learn Feature Engineering Online

Explore the Feature Engineering Course Catalog

National Taiwan University
BIM Application for Engineers
Skills you'll gain: Autodesk Revit, Building Information Modeling, Autodesk, Construction Estimating, Simulation and Simulation Software, 3D Modeling, Construction Management, Data Integration
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
502 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Generative AI Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Data Ethics, Large Language Modeling, Leadership and Management, Business Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Business Ethics, Legal Risk, IBM Cloud, Google Cloud Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Program Development, Artificial Neural Networks, Business Development, Deep Learning, Content Creation, Business Transformation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia Darden School Foundation
IBM & Darden Digital Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Digital Transformation, Business Strategy, Cloud Computing Architecture, Competitive Analysis, Cloud Services, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Cloud Security, Cloud Technologies, Cloud Infrastructure, Big Data, Cloud Platforms, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Cloud Hosting, Generative AI, Product Lifecycle Management, Business Technologies
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
45K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
AI Agent Developer
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Generative AI Agents, Generative AI, OpenAI, Ideation, Verification And Validation, Data Validation, Data Presentation, Productivity, AI Personalization, Document Management, Python Programming, Agentic systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Artificial Intelligence, Personalized Service, Large Language Modeling, Risk Management Framework, Expense Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Foundations for Everyone
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), OpenAI, Workflow Management, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Governance, Automation, Application Deployment, Business Transformation, IBM Cloud, Applied Machine Learning, Program Development, Computer Vision
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Oil & Gas Industry Operations and Markets
Skills you'll gain: Market Dynamics, Energy and Utilities, Operating Cost, Transportation Operations, Production Process, Supply Chain, Market Data, Market Trend, Cost Estimation, Global Marketing, Market Analysis, International Finance, Natural Resource Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Visualization, SQL, Predictive Modeling, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Data Analysis, Big Data, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), IBM Cognos Analytics, Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google Prompting Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Prompt Engineering, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Sampling (Statistics), Presentations, Graphing, Generative AI Agents, ChatGPT, Data Ethics, AI Personalization, Generative AI, Brainstorming, Timelines, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis, Taking Meeting Minutes, Concision, Oral Expression, Artificial Intelligence
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
197 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Sustainability
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Environment, Water Resources, Demography, Energy and Utilities, Environmental Science, Environmental Resource Management, Socioeconomics, Policy Analysis, Natural Resource Management, Systems Thinking, Social Sciences, Trend Analysis, Economics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Key Technologies for Business
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Services, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Security, Cloud Technologies, Data Literacy, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Mining, Cloud Platforms, Cloud Hosting, Cloud Engineering, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, ChatGPT, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
100K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Data Warehouse Engineer
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Store, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Dashboard, File Management, Stored Procedure
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.1K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
ChatGPT: Excel at Personal Automation with GPTs, AI & Zapier
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI Agents, Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Agentic systems, Productivity, AI Personalization, OpenAI, Expense Management, Artificial Intelligence, Personalized Service, Expense Reports, Large Language Modeling, Workflow Management, Google Workspace, Creative Thinking, Ingenuity, Productivity Software, Brainstorming, Business Process Automation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months