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

Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
R Programming Essentials with Microsoft Tools
Skills you'll gain: Version Control, GitHub, Data Manipulation, Git (Version Control System), Software Documentation, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Copilot, Data Import/Export, R Programming, Statistical Reporting, Statistical Analysis, Development Environment, Data Cleansing, Integrated Development Environments, Descriptive Statistics, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Introduction to JavaScript Programming
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Data Validation, Javascript, Data Structures, Scripting, Program Development, Programming Principles, Web Development Tools, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Environment, Maintainability
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft R Programming for Everyone
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months
IIT Guwahati
Bachelor of Science in Data Science & AI
Skills you'll gain: Package and Software Management, Linear Algebra, Data Structures, Data Warehousing, Database Management, Database Theory, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Writing, Algorithms, Java Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Spreadsheet Software, Econometrics, R Programming, Text Mining, Statistical Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Visualization Software, C (Programming Language), Probability
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Colorado Boulder
Industrial Internet of Things Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Real-Time Operating Systems, User Research, User Experience Design, User Experience, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Usability, Power Electronics, Verification And Validation, Embedded Software, UI/UX Research, Machine Learning Algorithms, Human Computer Interaction, Persona (User Experience), Failure Analysis, Engineering Documentation, Internet Of Things, Control Systems, User Interface (UI), Embedded Systems, Machine Controls
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Data Manipulation and Cleaning in R
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Transformation, R Programming, Text Mining, Generative AI, Data Literacy, Data Analysis, Data Integrity, Microsoft Copilot
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
.NET & .NET Core Mastery: Cross-Platform Development
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Applications, Containerization, .NET Framework, Cross Platform Development, Application Deployment, Application Development, C# (Programming Language), Development Environment, Application Performance Management, Web Applications, Debugging
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Web Development Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), HTML and CSS, Web Applications, Event-Driven Programming, Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Responsive Web Design, Javascript, Data Storage, Data Management, UI Components
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad de los Andes
Maestría en Gerencia de Tecnologías de Información
Skills you'll gain:
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Colorado Boulder
Data Science Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Mining, Statistical Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning, Deep Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Statistical Inference, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Service Level, Performance Testing, Probability, Dimensionality Reduction, Applied Machine Learning, Data Warehousing, Statistical Machine Learning, Data Pipelines, Data Processing, Probability & Statistics, Bash (Scripting Language), Data Science
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
SQL Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft SQL Servers, SQL, Transact-SQL, Data Transformation, Relational Databases, Data Manipulation, Databases, Database Management, Microsoft Copilot, Generative AI, Data Analysis
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Master of Science in Data Science
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Systems Engineering, Real-Time Operating Systems, New Product Development, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Failure Analysis, Delegation Skills, Object Oriented Design, Sampling (Statistics), Supplier Management, Sustainability Reporting, Accountability, Data Ethics, Data Mining, Statistical Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, Proposal Writing, Generative AI, Process Capability, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years