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 .

Best Feature Engineering Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Feature Engineering Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Dataflow, Tensorflow, Data Processing, Data Pipelines, Data Transformation, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Keras (Neural Network Library), Google Cloud Platform, Machine Learning
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Application Development
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Machine Learning, Anomaly Detection, Reinforcement Learning, Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Decision Tree Learning, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Data Ethics, Tensorflow, Regression Analysis, Machine Learning Algorithms, Applied Machine Learning, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Predictive Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Deep Learning, Python Programming, NumPy, Artificial Neural Networks
Build toward a degree
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
35K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Keras (Neural Network Library), Supervised Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Generative AI, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Reinforcement Learning, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Regression Analysis, Generative AI Agents, Artificial Neural Networks, Machine Learning Algorithms, ChatGPT, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Data Science
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
21K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Quality Assurance, Acceptance Testing, Requirements Analysis, Configuration Management, Quality Assurance, Software Development Methodologies, Debugging, Software Design Patterns, Functional Requirement, Systems Analysis, Software Engineering, System Requirements, Software Testing, Software Design, Data Modeling, Systems Design, Project Management, Project Planning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
526 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Generative AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, Data Wrangling, Large Language Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Keras (Neural Network Library), Supervised Learning, Generative AI Agents, Data Manipulation, Applied Machine Learning, Data Import/Export, Flask (Web Framework), PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Deep Learning, Data Transformation, Predictive Modeling, Data Analysis, Natural Language Processing, Web Scraping
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
90K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Workflow: Feature Engineering and Bias Detection
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Unsupervised Learning, Data Ethics, Dimensionality Reduction, Anomaly Detection, Text Mining, Applied Machine Learning, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Quality, Machine Learning Algorithms, Python Programming
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
74 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering en Español
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Dataflow, Tensorflow, Data Transformation, Data Processing, Keras (Neural Network Library), Data Modeling, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Statistical Methods
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
DeepLearning.AI
ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, ChatGPT, Jupyter, OpenAI, Generative AI, Application Programming Interface (API), Natural Language Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Software Design, Software Engineering, Software Development Methodologies, Systems Development, Software Development Tools, Software Development, Software Testing, Cloud Development, Web Applications, Data Ethics, Back-End Web Development, Computer Programming, Front-End Web Development, Python Programming, Git (Version Control System), Requirements Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Mathematics for Engineers
Skills you'll gain: Linear Algebra, Matlab, Differential Equations, Integral Calculus, Numerical Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Applied Mathematics, Finite Element Methods, Calculus, Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Mathematics, Engineering, General Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Mechanical Engineering, Scripting, Vibrations, Simulation and Simulation Software
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Columbia University
Construction Management
Skills you'll gain: Construction Estimating, Project Schedules, Construction Management, Earned Value Management, Cost Estimation, Project Finance, Cost Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Construction Accounting, Environment Health And Safety, Building Information Modeling, Project Risk Management, Scheduling, Cost Control, Commercial Construction, Risk Management, Lean Methodologies, Business Transformation, Finance, Construction
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months