Introduction to Neural Networks and PyTorch
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Introduction to Neural Networks and PyTorch
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What you'll learn
Get hands-on building, training, and evaluating PyTorch models you can showcase in your professional portfolio
Gain practical experience with tensors, datasets, and automatic differentiation using PyTorch core tools, including autograd and DataLoader
Develop linear regression models using gradient descent, mini-batch optimization, and training/validation splits to evaluate model performance
·Apply cross-entropy loss, sigmoid-based classification, and advanced optimization techniques to build logistic regression models in PyTorch
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- Earn a shareable career certificate from IBM
There are 7 modules in this course
Get ready to build the foundational PyTorch skills you need to launch your career as an AI Engineer – the fastest growing job title in the United States. Starting with tensors, this course takes you right through to fully trained classification models.
You will master tensor operations, build custom datasets, and implement linear regression models using PyTorch's nn.Module and autograd system. Then, you will progress through gradient descent, stochastic and mini-batch training, loss functions, and training/validation workflows. Further, you will build logistic regression classifiers, apply cross-entropy loss, and implement advanced optimization and regularization techniques. Through interactive labs, instructional videos, and an AI-assisted dialogue, you will practice building, training, and evaluating models using real PyTorch code patterns. By the end, you will create a portfolio-worthy project that demonstrates your ability to perform PyTorch classification and gradient-based optimization tasks. Enroll now to enhance your resume and complete a project that showcases your hands-on skills in the AI-driven job market.
In this module, you'll build your foundation in PyTorch by working directly with tensors. You'll explore one- and two-dimensional tensors, common tensor operations, and attributes like shape, dtype, and numel(). You'll also examine basic differentiation concepts and see how PyTorch's autograd system tracks and computes gradients. Through guided practice, you'll learn how to connect linear algebra concepts to real PyTorch code.
What's included
9 videos1 reading3 assignments3 app items2 plugins
9 videos•Total 48 minutes
- Course Introduction•4 minutes
- Introduction to Modern Neural Network•6 minutes
- Introduction to Matrices and Vectors•5 minutes
- Introduction to Tensors and Datasets in PyTorch•6 minutes
- Understanding 1D Tensors in PyTorch•6 minutes
- Common Operations in 1D Tensors using PyTorch•7 minutes
- Introduction to 2D Tensors in PyTorch•4 minutes
- 2D Tensor Operations in PyTorch•5 minutes
- Understanding Differentiation in PyTorch•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Course Overview•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 41 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Tensors•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: One-Dimensional Tensors•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Two-Dimensional Tensors•10 minutes
3 app items•Total 65 minutes
- Lab: Understanding 1D Tensors in PyTorch•20 minutes
- Lab: Two-Dimensional Tensors•20 minutes
- Lab: Differentiation in PyTorch•25 minutes
2 plugins•Total 6 minutes
- Reading: Helpful Tips for Course Completion•1 minute
- Podcast: Summary and Highlights: Tensors•5 minutes
In this module, you'll learn how to structure and prepare data for training in PyTorch. You'll create custom dataset classes, implement __len__ and __getitem__, and apply preprocessing steps using transforms and Compose. You'll also work with image datasets and Torchvision patterns. By the end, you'll understand how data flows into a PyTorch model during training.
What's included
2 videos2 assignments2 app items1 plugin
2 videos•Total 11 minutes
- Creating Simple Datasets in PyTorch•5 minutes
- Building Image Datasets in PyTorch•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 31 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Datasets•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Datasets•10 minutes
2 app items•Total 40 minutes
- Lab: Simple Dataset•30 minutes
- Lab: Torch Vision Datasets•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 3 minutes
- Podcast: Summary and Highlights: Datasets•3 minutes
In this module, you'll learn how to build and train linear regression models in PyTorch. You'll explore how models are defined using nn.Module, how state_dict() stores parameters, and how loss functions measure prediction error. You'll examine cost surfaces, gradient descent, learning rates, and stopping criteria. Through hands-on training loops, you'll see how slope and bias update over time as the model minimizes loss.
What's included
7 videos3 assignments2 app items4 plugins
7 videos•Total 33 minutes
- Linear Regression in PyTorch•5 minutes
- Linear Regression Prediction •5 minutes
- Training Linear Regression Models•6 minutes
- Loss Functions•4 minutes
- Gradient Descent Basics•4 minutes
- Cost Functions and Batch Gradient Descent•4 minutes
- PyTorch Linear Regression Training Slope and Bias•4 minutes
3 assignments•Total 41 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Linear Regression and Gradient Descent•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Linear Regression Prediction and Training•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Gradient Descent•10 minutes
2 app items•Total 60 minutes
- Lab: Linear Regression 1D: Prediction•30 minutes
- Lab Linear Regression: Prediction•30 minutes
4 plugins•Total 19 minutes
- Reading: Best Practices for Training Linear Regression Models in PyTorch•5 minutes
- Reading: Types of Gradient Descent•5 minutes
- Reading: Cost Functions•4 minutes
- Podcast: Summary and Highlights: Linear Regression and Gradient Descent•5 minutes
In this module, you'll discover how to implement training workflows using PyTorch tools such as DataLoader and optimizers. You'll learn how to compare batch, stochastic, and mini-batch gradient descent, and examine how batch size, epochs, and learning rate affect convergence. You'll learn how to structure full training loops with forward passes, backpropagation, and parameter updates. Finally, you'll explore training, validation, and test splits to evaluate model performance and detect overfitting.
What's included
5 videos2 assignments4 app items1 plugin
5 videos•Total 23 minutes
- Stochastic Gradient Descent•4 minutes
- Mini-Batch Gradient Descent•4 minutes
- Optimization in PyTorch•4 minutes
- Training, Validation, and Test Split•5 minutes
- Training, Validation, and Test Split in PyTorch•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 31 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Linear Regression PyTorch Way•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Gradient Descent Methods and Training Workflows in PyTorch•10 minutes
4 app items•Total 120 minutes
- Lab: Stochastic Gradient Descent and Data Loader•30 minutes
- Mini-Batch Gradient Descent•30 minutes
- Lab: Optimization in PyTorch•30 minutes
- Lab: Training, Validation, and Test Split in PyTorch•30 minutes
1 plugin•Total 5 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: Linear Regression the PyTorch Way•5 minutes
In this module, you'll explore how to extend linear regression to handle multiple input features and multiple outputs. You'll learn how to use nn.Linear and custom modules to build higher-dimensional models and discover how weights and bias expand from scalars to vectors and matrices. You'll practice working with vectorized cost functions, gradient descent, and training workflows using DataLoaders and optimizers. Through hands-on labs, you'll learn how to build, train, and evaluate multi-dimensional and multi-output regression models step by step using real PyTorch code patterns.
What's included
5 videos2 assignments4 app items1 plugin
5 videos•Total 26 minutes
- Multiple Linear Regression Training•5 minutes
- Multiple Linear Regression Prediction•5 minutes
- Linear Regression Multiple Outputs•6 minutes
- Video: Multiple Output Linear Regression Training•5 minutes
- Current Trends in PyTorch•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 31 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Multiple Input Output Linear Regression•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Multiple Input-Output Linear Regression•10 minutes
4 app items•Total 65 minutes
- Lab: Multiple Linear Regression Training•15 minutes
- Lab: Multiple Linear Regression Prediction•15 minutes
- Lab: Linear Regression with Multiple Outputs•15 minutes
- Lab: Training Linear Regression with Multiple Outputs•20 minutes
1 plugin•Total 5 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: Multiple Input-Output Linear Regression•5 minutes
In this module, you'll explore how to move from regression to classification. You'll learn how to build logistic regression models using nn.Sequential, apply the sigmoid function to generate probabilities, and convert probabilities into class predictions. You'll examine the Bernoulli distribution and maximum likelihood estimation and discover why cross-entropy loss is preferred over Mean Squared Error (MSE) for classification tasks. You'll also explore optimization and regularization techniques that help improve classification performance.
What's included
8 videos3 assignments3 app items1 plugin
8 videos•Total 41 minutes
- Introduction to Linear Classifiers•5 minutes
- Sigmoid Function and Probability Thresholding •4 minutes
- Logistic Regression Prediction•5 minutes
- Bernoulli Distribution and Maximum Likelihood Estimation•6 minutes
- Video: Cross-Entropy Loss in Logistic Regression•5 minutes
- Applying Cross-Entropy Loss in PyTorch Logistic Regression•4 minutes
- Advanced Optimization and Training Techniques•6 minutes
- Regularization and Generalization•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 41 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Logistic Regression for Classification•21 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Logistic Regression for Classification•10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Logistic Regression and Cross-Entropy•10 minutes
3 app items•Total 44 minutes
- Logistic Regression Prediction•15 minutes
- Lab: Logistic Regression Mean Square Error•14 minutes
- Lab: Logistic Regression Cross Entropy•15 minutes
1 plugin•Total 5 minutes
- Summary and Highlights: Logistic Regression for Classification•5 minutes
In this module, you'll apply what you've explored throughout the course in a hands-on classification project. You will build a logistic regression model to predict the outcomes of League of Legends matches. Leveraging various in-game statistics, this project will utilize your knowledge of PyTorch, logistic regression, and data handling to create a robust predictive model. Finally, you can choose between immediate auto-grading using the IBM AI-assisted assessment tool, Mark, or submit your assignment for a human peer review.
What's included
2 readings1 assignment1 peer review3 app items3 plugins
2 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Congratulations and Next Steps•3 minutes
- Team and Acknowledgments•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 45 minutes
- Final Exam•45 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Option 2: Peer Graded - Final Project Submission and Evaluation•60 minutes
3 app items•Total 150 minutes
- Option 1: AI Graded - Final Project: Submission and Evaluation•60 minutes
- Practice Project: Neural Network for Breast Cancer Classification•30 minutes
- Final Project: League of Legends Match Predictor•60 minutes
3 plugins•Total 39 minutes
- Final Project Overview•30 minutes
- Reading: Final Project Submission Guidelines and Deliverables•5 minutes
- Podcast: Course Wrap-up •4 minutes
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Reviewed on Dec 1, 2022
Excellent course, works its way through basics to fully fledged machine learning models at a good pace.
A few of the examples used in the lab code throw errors, these should be rectified
Reviewed on Jul 12, 2020
Excellent Course. I love the way the course was presented. There were a lot of practical and visual examples explaining each module. It is highly recommended!
Reviewed on Apr 29, 2020
An extremely good course for anyone starting to build deep learning models. I am very satisfied at the end of this course as i was able to code models easily using pytorch. Definitely recomended!!
Frequently asked questions
This course builds foundational skills for Deep Learning Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Data Scientist, and AI Practitioner roles. You will gain hands-on PyTorch experience with tensors, regression models, gradient-based optimization, and classification—core competencies that employers list in job postings for these positions.
PyTorch appears in over 37% of machine learning engineer job postings, making it the most sought after deep learning framework in the industry. The framework's dynamic computation graphs, built-in automatic differentiation (autograd), and intuitive Python integration make PyTorch the standard tool for building and training neural networks in both research and production environments.
You will build a foundation in PyTorch—starting with tensor operations and dataset preparation, then progressing through linear regression, gradient descent (batch, stochastic, and mini-batch), training/validation workflows, and logistic regression for classification. You will also implement cross-entropy loss, explore advanced optimizers like Adam and AdamW, and apply regularization techniques.
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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.
