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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Data Analytics with Python
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Matplotlib, Pandas (Python Package), Data Manipulation, SQL, Data Visualization Software, Seaborn, Data Processing, Data Structures, NumPy, Programming Principles, Business Analysis, Databases, Accounting, Relational Databases, Data Modeling, Python Programming, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Machine Learning, Regression Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
108 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Calculating Descriptive Statistics in R
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Box Plots, R Programming, Statistical Analysis, Histogram, Probability & Statistics, Data Manipulation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
52 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
University of Leeds
Exploratory Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Statistical Modeling, Statistics, Data Analysis, Statistical Inference, R Programming, Descriptive Statistics, Box Plots, Data Visualization Software, Histogram, Probability, Simulations
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad Austral
Modelización Cuantitativa para Finanzas Corporativas
Skills you'll gain: Financial Modeling, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Regression Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Forecasting, Finance, Trend Analysis, R Programming, Financial Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Estimation, Risk Analysis, Microsoft Excel
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
C++ Data Structures in the STL
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Data Structures, Data Store, Data Cleansing, Data Import/Export, Data Validation, Data Integrity
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
47 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Northeastern University
Information Systems Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Systems Thinking, Software Visualization, Object Oriented Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Engineering Software, Web Applications, Software Development Life Cycle, Risk Management, Web Development, Software Design, Data Modeling, Software Engineering, Unified Modeling Language, Business Architecture, Python Programming, Business Process Modeling, Application Development, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Software Installation
2.3
Rating, 2.3 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
DeepLearning.AI
Нейронные сети и глубокое обучение
Skills you'll gain: Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Supervised Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Network Architecture, NumPy
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Introduction to Javascript and Ajax: Building Web Apps
Skills you'll gain: Javascript, Ajax, JSON, Web Applications, Web Development, Scripting, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Event-Driven Programming, Web Services, Prototyping, Network Protocols
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Back-end Application Development Capstone Project
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, MongoDB, Flask (Web Framework), Application Deployment, IBM Cloud, Databases, Back-End Web Development, Database Systems, Django (Web Framework), Cloud Development, OpenShift, Cloud Applications, Microservices, Kubernetes, Web Applications, Containerization, Application Development, Web Services, Restful API, Scalability
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Illinois Tech
Advanced Statistical Techniques for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Machine Learning Algorithms, Statistical Analysis, Bayesian Statistics, Data Visualization, Statistical Inference, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Cleansing, Applied Machine Learning, Regression Analysis, Analytics, Machine Learning, R Programming, Statistical Methods, Data Science, Statistical Modeling, Data Validation, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Verification And Validation
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Introduction to Web Development
Skills you'll gain: GitHub, HTML and CSS, Git (Version Control System), Microsoft Copilot, Web Development, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Responsive Web Design, Javascript, Front-End Web Development, JSON, Semantic Web
3.4
Rating, 3.4 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Maven Analytics
ChatGPT & Generative AI for Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Power BI, Deep Learning, Excel Formulas, Analytics, Google Sheets, Machine Learning Methods, Large Language Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Artificial Intelligence, Python Programming, SQL, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months