Mastering MCP: Transform AI Integration with Open Standards is an advanced-level course designed for AI engineers, data scientists, and technical architects who want to revolutionize how AI systems connect with external data sources. In today's fragmented AI landscape, integration challenges consume development time and create security vulnerabilities. This course teaches you to implement the Model Context Protocol (MCP)—the open standard that's transforming AI integration across industry leaders like Microsoft, GitHub, and Block. You'll master MCP's core components, learn to build production-ready servers with enterprise-grade security, and create scalable integration architectures. Through hands-on labs, real-world case studies, and a comprehensive capstone project, you'll develop the expertise to lead MCP implementations that reduce integration complexity by 75% while improving security and reliability. Whether you're modernizing existing AI systems or building next-generation integrations, this course provides the advanced knowledge and practical skills to succeed in the standardized AI integration ecosystem.
Enjoy unlimited growth with a year of Coursera Plus for $199 (regularly $399). Save now.
Recommended experience
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
December 2025
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 3 modules in this course
In this foundational lesson, learners will explore the emergence of Model Context Protocol as a revolutionary open standard for AI integration. They'll examine how MCP addresses fragmentation in AI-data connections, evaluate its benefits over traditional integration methods, and analyze real-world implementations by industry leaders like Anthropic, Microsoft, and Block. Through hands-on activities, learners will assess MCP's impact on system interoperability and prepare to implement these standards in their own AI projects.
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment
This lesson focuses on the practical implementation of MCP specifications to create efficient, reliable AI-data connections. Learners will explore MCP's core components—resources, tools, and prompts—while examining real-world implementations from Microsoft Azure OpenAI Services and DataCamp's tutorial examples. Through hands-on activities, learners will design MCP resource schemas, implement tool integration patterns, and build their first MCP client connection, gaining the practical skills needed to deploy MCP in production environments.
What's included
3 videos2 readings1 assignment
In this capstone lesson, learners will master the design and implementation of production-ready MCP servers with enterprise-grade security and reliability. They'll explore security best practices, authentication patterns, and performance optimization strategies used by industry leaders. Through comprehensive hands-on activities, learners will build a complete MCP server implementation, design security architectures, and create a deployment-ready system that demonstrates mastery of MCP principles and real-world application.
What's included
4 videos2 readings3 assignments
Instructor
Offered by
Why people choose Coursera for their career
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 purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, 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.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.