Introduction to Machine Learning (Coursera)

Offered by Duke University,
Introduction to Machine Learning (Coursera)

This course will provide you a foundational understanding of machine learning models (logistic regression, multilayer perceptrons, convolutional neural networks, natural language processing, etc.) as well as demonstrate how these models can solve complex problems in a variety of industries, from medical diagnostics to image recognition to text prediction.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In addition, we have designed practice exercises that will give you hands-on experience implementing these data science models on data sets. These practice exercises will teach you how to implement machine learning algorithms with TensorFlow, open source libraries used by leading tech companies in the machine learning field (e.g., Google, NVIDIA, CocaCola, eBay, Snapchat, Uber and many more).

Syllabus

Simple Introduction to Machine Learning
The focus of this module is to introduce the concepts of machine learning with as little mathematics as possible. We will introduce basic concepts in machine learning, including logistic regression, a simple but widely employed machine learning (ML) method. Also covered is multilayered perceptron (MLP), a fundamental neural network. The concept of deep learning is discussed, and also related to simpler models.

Basics of Model Learning
In this module we will be discussing the mathematical basis of learning deep networks. We’ll first work through how we define the issue of learning deep networks as a minimization problem of a mathematical function. After defining our mathematical goal, we will introduce validation methods to estimate real-world performance of the learned deep networks. We will then discuss how gradient descent, a classical technique in optimization, can be used to achieve this mathematical goal. Finally, we will discuss both why and how stochastic gradient descent is used in practice to learn deep networks.

Image Analysis with Convolutional Neural Networks
This week will cover model training, as well as transfer learning and fine-tuning. In addition to learning the fundamentals of a CNN and how it is applied, careful discussion is provided on the intuition of the CNN, with the goal of providing a conceptual understanding.

Recurrent Neural Networks for Natural Language Processing
This week will cover the application of neural networks to natural language processing (NLP), from simple neural models to the more complex. The fundamental concept of word embeddings is discussed, as well as how such methods are employed within model learning and usage for several NLP applications. A wide range of neural NLP models are also discussed, including recurrent neural networks, and specifically long short-term memory (LSTM) models.

The Transformer Network for Natural Language Processing
This week we'll cover an Introduction to the Transformer Network, a deep machine learning model designed to be more flexible and robust than Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). We'll start by reviewing several machine learning building blocks of a Transformer Network: the Inner products of word vectors, attention mechanisms, and sequence-to-sequence encoders and decoders. Then, we'll put all of these components together to explore the complete Transformer Network.

Introduction to Reinforcement Learning
This week will cover Reinforcement Learning, a fundamental concept in machine learning that is concerned with taking suitable actions to maximize rewards in a particular situation. After learning the initial steps of Reinforcement Learning, we'll move to Q Learning, as well as Deep Q Learning. We'll discuss the difference between the concepts of Exploration and Exploitation and why they are important.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Machine Learning: Concepts and Applications (Coursera) Coursera
University of Chicago

Machine Learning: Concepts and Applications (Coursera)

This course gives you a comprehensive introduction to both the theory and practice of machine learning. You will learn to use Python along with industry-standard libraries and tools, including Pandas, Scikit-learn, and Tensorflow, to ingest, explore, and prepare data for modeling and then train and evaluate models using a wide variety of techniques. Those techniques include linear regression with ordinary least squares, logistic regression, support vector machines, decision trees and ensembles, clustering, principal component analysis, hidden Markov models, and deep learning.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Programming Languages, Part C (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Programming Languages, Part C (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of programming languages, with a strong emphasis on functional programming. The course uses the languages ML, Racket, and Ruby as vehicles for teaching the concepts, but the real intent is to teach enough about how any language “fits together” to make you more effective programming in any language -- and in learning new ones.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks
Sistemas difusos (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Sistemas difusos (Coursera)

Los sistemas difusos permiten efectuar cálculos cuando hay información con incertidumbre, o cuando se debe combinar información tanto cuantitativa como cualitativa. Se trata de una aproximación matemática para modelar esas situaciones. Este curso está diseñado para ayudar a entender y explicar cómo funcionan dichos sistemas. El curso tiene una aproximación teórica y práctica. Los principios matemáticos son de un nivel bajo y están al alcance de un público muy amplio. El curso cuenta con varios laboratorios para aprender a utilizar las herramientas de software que usan esos principios. Este componente práctico requiere una comprensión mínima de programación.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Exam Prep AI-102: Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (Coursera) Coursera
Whizlabs

Exam Prep AI-102: Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (Coursera)

The AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution certification exam tests the candidate’s experience and knowledge of the AI solutions that make the most of Azure Cognitive Services and Azure services. In addition, the exam also tests the candidate's ability to implement this knowledge by participating in all phases of AI solutions development—from defining requirements, and design to development, deployment, integration, maintenance, performance tuning, and monitoring.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Experimentation for Improvement (Coursera) Coursera
McMaster University

Experimentation for Improvement (Coursera)

We are always using experiments to improve our lives, our community, and our work. Are you doing it efficiently? Or are you (incorrectly) changing one thing at a time and hoping for the best? In this course, you will learn how to plan efficient experiments - testing with many variables. Our goal is to find the best results using only a few experiments. A key part of the course is how to optimize a system.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Deep Learning for Business (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

Deep Learning for Business (Coursera)

Your smartphone, smartwatch, and automobile (if it is a newer model) have AI (Artificial Intelligence) inside serving you every day. In the near future, more advanced “self-learning” capable DL (Deep Learning) and ML (Machine Learning) technology will be used in almost every aspect of your business and industry. So now is the right time to learn what DL and ML is and how to use it in advantage of your company. This course has three parts, where the first part focuses on DL and ML technology based future business strategy including details on new state-of-the-art products/services and open source DL software, which are the future enablers.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Advanced Linear Models for Data Science 1: Least Squares (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Advanced Linear Models for Data Science 1: Least Squares (Coursera)

Welcome to the Advanced Linear Models for Data Science Class 1: Least Squares. This class is an introduction to least squares from a linear algebraic and mathematical perspective. Before beginning the class make sure that you have the following: a basic understanding of linear algebra and multivariate calculus; a basic understanding of statistics and regression models; at least a little familiarity with proof based mathematics; basic knowledge of the R programming language.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Data Science for Business Innovation (Coursera) Coursera
Politecnico di Milano,EIT Digital

Data Science for Business Innovation (Coursera)

The course is a compendium of the must-have expertise in data science for executive and middle-management to foster data-driven innovation. It consists of introductory lectures spanning big data, machine learning, data valorization and communication. Topics cover the essential concepts and intuitions on data needs, data analysis, machine learning methods, respective pros and cons, and practical applicability issues.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Applied Text Mining in Python (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Applied Text Mining in Python (Coursera)

This course will introduce the learner to text mining and text manipulation basics. The course begins with an understanding of how text is handled by python, the structure of text both to the machine and to humans, and an overview of the nltk framework for manipulating text. The second week focuses on common manipulation needs, including regular expressions (searching for text), cleaning text, and preparing text for use by machine learning processes. The third week will apply basic natural language processing methods to text, and demonstrate how text classification is accomplished. The final week will explore more advanced methods for detecting the topics in documents and grouping them by similarity (topic modelling).

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Probabilistic Graphical Models 2: Inference (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Probabilistic Graphical Models 2: Inference (Coursera)

Probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) are a rich framework for encoding probability distributions over complex domains: joint (multivariate) distributions over large numbers of random variables that interact with each other. These representations sit at the intersection of statistics and computer science, relying on concepts from probability theory, graph algorithms, machine learning, and more.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks