Building RAG and MCP Servers with Claude
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Building RAG and MCP Servers with Claude
This course is part of Mastering Claude AI: Prompting, APIs, RAG, and MCP Specialization
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January 2026
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There are 3 modules in this course
This course focuses on building reliable, production-ready AI systems using Claude, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
You will begin by learning the fundamentals of MCP, including why it exists, how MCP servers work, and how Claude interacts with tools, resources, and external integrations through a controlled server-based architecture. You will build MCP servers, expose tools and resources, and enforce strict input and output schemas to ensure predictable and safe system behavior. The course then moves into Retrieval-Augmented Generation, where you will design complete RAG pipelines. You will learn how to chunk documents effectively, generate embeddings, apply keyword and vector-based retrieval techniques, and improve results using ranking and reranking strategies. You will also integrate MCP servers directly into RAG workflows to create scalable and modular retrieval systems. In the final module, you will build agent-driven workflows using Claude. You will design planning and decision agents, coordinate multiple agents, and automate end-to-end workflows that combine RAG, tools, and structured decision-making. By the end, you will be able to build fully automated AI systems that retrieve information, reason over it, and take action reliably. By completing this course, you will be able to: - Explain MCP architecture, including clients, servers, tools, and resources - Build MCP servers that safely expose tools, files, databases, and APIs to Claude - Design and enforce structured input and output schemas for reliable AI behavior - Implement complete RAG pipelines using chunking, embeddings, ranking, and reranking - Integrate MCP servers as retrieval backends for modular RAG systems - Build planning agents and multi-agent workflows using Claude - Automate end-to-end AI workflows that combine retrieval, reasoning, and tool execution This course is ideal for developers and AI practitioners who want to move beyond simple prompt-based applications and build scalable, controllable, and production-ready AI systems using Claude. Basic familiarity with Python and APIs is recommended, but no prior experience with MCP or RAG is required. Join us to learn how to design modern AI architectures that combine MCP, RAG, and agent workflows into real-world, production-ready systems.
This module introduces the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its role in enabling structured, tool-driven AI systems. Learners explore MCP architecture, understand how clients, servers, tools, and resources interact, and gain hands-on experience building MCP servers, tools, and real integrations. By the end, learners can design reliable MCP-based systems with controlled inputs and outputs.
What's included
10 videos5 readings4 assignments
10 videos•Total 54 minutes
- Specialization Introduction•7 minutes
- Course Introduction•5 minutes
- Introduction to MCP & Why It Exists•5 minutes
- MCP Architecture: Clients, Servers & Message Flow•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Setting Up Your First MCP Server•7 minutes
- Hands-On: Creating Your First MCP Tool•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Building an MCP Resource Provider•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Integrating an External API Through MCP•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Designing Strict Input/Output Schemas in MCP•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Multi-Resource Integration (Database + API + Files)•6 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
- Course Outline•10 minutes
- Why MCP Is the Foundation for Reliable AI Systems•10 minutes
- How MCP Connects AI to the Real World•10 minutes
- Enforcing Structure and Reliability in MCP Systems•10 minutes
- Summary of MCP Fundamentals, Servers & Integrations•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 33 minutes
- Knowledge Check: MCP Fundamentals, Servers & Integrations•15 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: MCP Basics & Architecture•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Tools, Resources & Real Integrations•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Advanced MCP Usage & Output Control•6 minutes
This module focuses on building grounded AI systems using Retrieval-Augmented Generation. Learners progress from understanding when and why RAG is needed to implementing complete retrieval pipelines. The module covers chunking strategies, embeddings, ranking techniques, and advanced MCP-based retrieval integrations for scalable, high-quality AI responses.
What's included
10 videos4 readings4 assignments
10 videos•Total 60 minutes
- Introduction to RAG and When to Use It•6 minutes
- Hands-on: Building a Simple RAG Pipeline•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Implementing Full RAG Flow (Retriever → Ranker → Claude)•6 minutes
- Hands-On: Chunking Documents Using Best Practices I•7 minutes
- Hands-On: Chunking Documents Using Best Practices II•6 minutes
- Hands-On: Generating Text Embeddings for Search•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Implementing BM25 Retrieval•5 minutes
- Hands-On: Applying Reranking for Better Results•6 minutes
- Hands-On: Using MCP Resources as Retrieval Backends•6 minutes
- Hands-On: Building a Multi-Index RAG Pipeline Using MCP Servers•7 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Why Retrieval-Augmented Generation Changes How AI Thinks•10 minutes
- Preparing Information So Retrieval Actually Works•10 minutes
- Using MCP to Build Scalable and Modular RAG Systems•10 minutes
- Summary of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 33 minutes
- Knowledge Check: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)•15 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Retrieval-Augmented Generation•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Chunking, Embeddings & Ranking•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: MCP + RAG Integrations•6 minutes
This module explores how intelligent agents plan, decide, and act within automated workflows. Learners design single-agent planners, progress to multi-agent collaboration, and finally build fully automated, end-to-end AI systems. Emphasis is placed on real-world workflow patterns, tool orchestration, and scalable agent-based automation.
What's included
12 videos5 readings5 assignments
12 videos•Total 66 minutes
- How Planning Agents Work•5 minutes
- Hands-on: Building a Planning Agent Step-by-Step•7 minutes
- Hands-on: Executing Task Plans Using Tool Calls•6 minutes
- When and Why to Use Multiple Agents•4 minutes
- Hands-on: Designing a Two-Agent Workflow•7 minutes
- Hands-on: Routing Tasks Between Agents•7 minutes
- Hands-on: Coordinating Parallel Agent Steps•7 minutes
- Understanding Workflow Patterns (Parallel, Chain, Route)•4 minutes
- Hands-on: Automating a Complete RAG + Tool Pipeline•5 minutes
- Hands-on: Building a Full End-to-End Automated Agent System - I•7 minutes
- Hands-on: Building a Full End-to-End Automated Agent System - II•4 minutes
- Course Summary•2 minutes
5 readings•Total 60 minutes
- How Planning and Decision Agents Turn Intent into Action•10 minutes
- How Multiple Agents Collaborate to Solve Complex Problems•10 minutes
- From Agents to End-to-End Automated AI Workflows•10 minutes
- Summary of AI Workflows, Agents & Automation•10 minutes
- Practice Project: Building a Knowledge Assistant Using RAG and MCP with Claude•20 minutes
5 assignments•Total 78 minutes
- Designing a RAG System with MCP Servers and Claude – Scenario Assignment•30 minutes
- End Course Knowledge Check: Building RAG and MCP Servers with Claude•30 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Planning and Decision Agents•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: Multi-Agent Collaboration•6 minutes
- Practice Knowledge Check: End-to-End Workflow Automation•6 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
This course teaches how to build production-ready RAG systems and MCP servers that integrate retrieval, tools, and automation with Claude.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) allows Claude to safely access tools, files, databases, and APIs through structured servers.
Yes. You’ll build complete RAG pipelines including retrieval, ranking, reranking, and Claude integration.
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¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.
