Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics

Prompt engineering is the skill of writing instructions that guide generative AI models to produce useful outputs. This beginner-level course from IBM on Coursera builds that skill from the ground up. You start by explaining what prompt engineering is and why it matters when working with generative AI models. The next module moves into best practices for creating prompts, followed by an assessment of commonly used tools. The final module covers specific techniques and approaches for writing effective prompts.

Each module ties theory to hands-on practice. You learn how to structure a prompt, evaluate which tool fits a given task, and apply techniques such as few-shot prompting or chain-of-thought reasoning. By the end of the course you can assess a prompt’s likely outcome before submitting it, and you have a working approach for everyday AI tasks.

The course is 9 hours 39 minutes of self-paced video and reading. It is designed for beginners — no prior AI or technical background is assumed. A certificate is available, but you can also audit the materials for free. The language of instruction is English.

This course does not cover building your own generative AI model from scratch, nor does it go deep into the mathematics of model training. Learners who want that depth should look at the Udemy bootcamp or the Codecademy data-analysis track, which spend more time on model internals and hands-on coding. If your goal is to start using AI tools in your current role quickly, this Coursera course gives you a fast, free entry point.