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
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Voice Disorders: What Patients and Professionals Need to Know
Skills you'll gain: Speech Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Patient Evaluation, Physical Therapy, Respiration, Surgery, Anatomy
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
212 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California San Diego
Internet of Things: Setting Up Your DragonBoard™ Development Platform
Skills you'll gain: Application Development, Android (Operating System), Android Studio, Mobile Development, Software Development Tools, Game Design, Development Environment, Internet Of Things, Embedded Software, Web Servers, Web Applications, USB, Peripheral Devices, Operating Systems, System Programming, Software Installation, Command-Line Interface, System Configuration, Hardware Troubleshooting
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
160 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Rust Programming Masterclass from Beginner to Expert
Skills you'll gain: Rust (Programming Language), Data Structures, Development Environment, Performance Tuning, Package and Software Management, Blockchain, Web Servers, Web Development, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Performance Testing, Software Visualization, System Programming, Distributed Computing, Data Management, Computer Programming Tools, Web Scraping, Software Design, Software Testing, Capacity Management
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Institut Mines-Télécom
Getting started with Augmented Reality
Skills you'll gain: Augmented Reality, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Mobile Development, Android (Operating System), Image Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Computer Vision, Global Positioning Systems, Prototyping
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
142 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Capstone MOOC for "Android App Development"
Skills you'll gain: Android Development, Android Studio, Software Testing, Mobile Development, Java, Development Testing, Unit Testing, Application Development, Mobile Development Tools, Integration Testing, User Interface (UI), Service Management
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
67 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
11 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Random Models, Nested and Split-plot Designs
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Data Transformation, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Data Management with Databricks: Big Data with Delta Lakes
Skills you'll gain: Databricks, Data Lakes, Data Pipelines, Data Integration, Extract, Transform, Load, Dashboard, PySpark, SQL, Data Management, Data Transformation, Version Control
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Amazon Web Services
Data Analytics and Databases on AWS
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Amazon Web Services, Data Warehousing, Big Data, Databases, Business Analytics, NoSQL, Data Analysis, Data Pipelines, Unstructured Data, Data Processing, Cloud API, SQL, Data Storage, Relational Databases, Data Transformation, Data Visualization Software
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
53 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Automation and Scripting with Python
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Git (Version Control System), Scripting, Version Control, Test Automation, Software Testing, Cloud API, Automation, Restful API, Application Programming Interface (API), Scalability, Python Programming, Data Cleansing, Performance Tuning, File Management
3.7
Rating, 3.7 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Wearable Technologies and Sports Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Kinesiology, Injury Prevention, Analytics, Data Analysis, Physical Therapy, Applied Machine Learning, Vital Signs, Health Technology, Machine Learning, Stress Management, Data Collection, Data Validation
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Intro to the Arctic
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Issue, Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems, Social Studies, Water Resources, World History, Research, Scientific Methods
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months