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Introduction to Model Context Protocol

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Introduction to Model Context Protocol

Instructor: Anthropic Academy

14,460 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

8 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

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There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, you'll discover how to build powerful AI applications using the Model Context Protocol, a revolutionary approach that eliminates tedious integration code when connecting Claude to external services and data sources. This course takes you from understanding MCP's core architecture to building fully functional MCP servers and clients that can interact with real-world systems.

You'll learn the three essential MCP primitives - tools, resources, and prompts - and understand when to use each one. Through hands-on implementation, you'll create your own MCP server with the Python SDK, defining tools that Claude can call autonomously, resources that provide data to your applications, and prompts that deliver professionally crafted workflows to end users. By building both client and server components, you'll gain complete insight into how MCP enables seamless communication between AI models and external services. You'll work with the MCP Inspector to test your implementations, understand transport protocols, and see exactly how messages flow through the entire system. Whether you're building GitHub integrations, document management systems, or custom AI workflows, this course gives you the practical skills to leverage MCP's standardized approach and dramatically reduce your development burden.

Get started with the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Learn what MCP is, why it matters, and how MCP clients communicate with MCP servers.

What's included

3 videos2 assignments

Build your first MCP server from scratch. Set up a Python project, define tools, and test your server using the official inspector.

What's included

3 videos2 assignments

Implement an MCP client to connect to servers. Learn how to define resources, access them, work with prompts, and integrate everything into a complete application.

What's included

5 videos3 assignments

Review key concepts and apply what you've learned. Complete a final assessment to test your understanding of MCP.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(10 ratings)

Anthropic Academy

Anthropic

23 Courses96,094 learners

Offered by

Anthropic

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Showing 3 of 39

5.0

Reviewed on Sep 17, 2026

I did this course on Anthropic academy earlier but the graded dialogues and explanations through responses stands-out here and make my understanding much better.

5.0

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026

Stephen is a great instructor! The course is well structured, concepts are clearly articulated and introduced in a way that's easy to follow.

5.0

Reviewed on Apr 13, 2026

This course structure draws from established courses and provides a balanced, insightful path from theory to building real AI applications.

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Frequently asked questions

This Coursera version includes interactive features not available in our standalone content, including Coursera Coach, which is an AI-powered learning assistant that can answer your questions, break down complex concepts, and provide personalized guidance as you learn. You'll also have access to additional practice quizzes, assessments, and AI-powered dialogues that help reinforce key concepts and let you test your understanding before moving forward. These enhancements transform the passive video experience into an interactive learning journey with real-time support and feedback.

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.

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.