How to learn C programming?

Whether you’re learning C programming for software development, systems programming, or academic purposes, having a clear goal can guide your learning. Consistent practice with coding and debugging is critical. Join communities like Stack Overflow or Reddit's r/C_Programming to ask questions and share knowledge. Work on real projects such as creating small programs. Introduction to C and C++ Specialization by Duke University on is a great starting resource.

What are the best C programming courses on Coursera?

Top options include C Programming for Beginners from Duke University and C Programming for Everybody from the University of Michigan . These courses cover everything from basic syntax to advanced topics like pointers, memory management, and data structures .

Can I learn C programming for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many C programming courses offer a free audit option, allowing learners to access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a C programming course?

You’ll learn how to write C code, understand control structures (like loops and conditionals), use functions, work with arrays and strings, and manage memory with pointers. Some courses also cover debugging and testing C programs.

Do I need coding experience to start learning C programming?

Not at all. Many courses are designed for beginners and introduce C concepts step by step. However, some familiarity with basic programming logic can be helpful, especially if you want to move on to more advanced topics or other programming languages.

"Can Coursera’s C programming courses help me in my career? "

Yes. C programming is fundamental in areas like embedded systems , game development , and operating systems. Coursera courses can help you build job-ready skills, strengthen your programming foundation, and prepare for roles that require low-level programming expertise.

Top C Programming Courses - Learn C Programming Online

Find the Best C Programming Course for Your Goals

Tufts University
Hypothesis Testing with Python and Excel
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Inference, Microsoft Excel, Quantitative Research, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Analytical Skills, Business Analytics, Python Programming
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Big Data Processing Using Hadoop
Skills you'll gain: Apache Hadoop, Big Data, Apache Hive, Apache Spark, NoSQL, File Systems, Data Processing, Data Management, Analytics, Data Science, SQL, Query Languages, Data Manipulation, Java, Data Structures, Distributed Computing, Scripting Languages, Data Transformation, Performance Tuning, Software Architecture
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Microservice Architectures
Skills you'll gain: Microservices, Application Deployment, Software Architecture, Scalability, Service Oriented Architecture, Java Programming, Distributed Computing, Load Balancing, Continuous Deployment, Software Design, Maintainability, Dependency Analysis, Interoperability
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
27 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Wrangling Data in the Tidyverse
Skills you'll gain: Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Manipulation, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, R Programming, Data Processing, Text Mining, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Data Science & Machine Learning Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Data Science, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Data Literacy, Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Regression Analysis, Data Modeling, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Statistical Analysis, Business Intelligence, Data Storytelling, Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Data Cleansing, Exploratory Data Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Scrimba
Frontend Developer Interview Practice
Skills you'll gain: Pseudocode, Responsive Web Design, Computational Thinking, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Front-End Web Development, React.js, HTML and CSS, Debugging, Algorithms, UI Components, Web Design and Development, Professional Development, Web Development Tools, Javascript, Data Structures, JSON, GitHub, Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
33 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Cisco Learning and Certifications
DevOps for Network Automation (NetDevOps)
Skills you'll gain: Development Environment, Software Development Tools, Software Development Methodologies, CI/CD, DevOps, IT Automation, Version Control, Continuous Integration, Network Engineering, Network Architecture, Docker (Software), Software Development, Virtual Environment, Git (Version Control System), Waterfall Methodology, Agile Methodology
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
LearnQuest
Oracle SQL Practice Course
Skills you'll gain: Oracle SQL Developer, Relational Databases, Database Design, Databases, SQL, Oracle Databases, Database Management, Software Installation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Aerial Image Segmentation with PyTorch
Skills you'll gain: PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Image Analysis, Computer Vision, Deep Learning
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Foundations of Agile and Exam Preparation
Skills you'll gain: Scaled Agile Framework, Agile Methodology, Agile Project Management, Kanban Principles, Sprint Planning, Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology, Prioritization, Lean Methodologies, Waterfall Methodology
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Performance Optimization and Scalability
Skills you'll gain: Load Balancing, Scalability, Performance Tuning, Software Architecture, Microsoft Copilot, Query Languages, Redis, Performance Testing, Systems Architecture, Application Performance Management, Distributed Computing, Database Management, SQL
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Hybrid Cloud Modernizing Applications with Anthos
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Serverless Computing, Kubernetes, Application Deployment, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Continuous Deployment, Cloud Applications, Microservices, Continuous Integration, Google Cloud Platform, Containerization, Event-Driven Programming, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks