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

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
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
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
Status: Free Trial
EDUCBA
ARM Cortex (STM32) Deep Dive: Mastering Embedded Systems
Skills you'll gain: Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Peripheral Devices, C (Programming Language), System Programming, Hardware Architecture, Data Structures, Debugging, Hardware Troubleshooting, Development Environment, Performance Tuning, Integrated Development Environments, C++ (Programming Language)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
40 reviews
Advanced · 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: 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
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
SAS
Performing Network, Path, and Text Analyses in SAS Visual Analytics
Skills you'll gain: SAS (Software), Network Analysis, Text Mining, Spatial Analysis, Data Visualization, Geospatial Mapping, Data Manipulation, Data Analysis, Business Analysis, Natural Language Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
193 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Illinois Tech
Introduction to Relational Databases
Skills you'll gain: Database Systems, Relational Databases, Database Management, Database Theory, Databases, SQL, Database Design, Database Management Systems, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Access, Query Languages, Data Modeling, Data Manipulation, User Accounts
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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, Regression Analysis, Data Cleansing, Applied Machine Learning, Analytics, Machine Learning, Statistical Methods, R Programming, Data Science, Statistical Modeling, Data Manipulation, Data Validation, Feature Engineering, Exploratory Data Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Universidade de São Paulo
Redes Ecológicas
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Data Visualization, Scientific Visualization, Analysis, Graph Theory, Exploratory Data Analysis, Environmental Science, R Programming, Data Analysis Software, Mathematical Modeling, Data Manipulation
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
35 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Santa Cruz
لغة البرمجة C++ لمبرمجي اللغة C، الجزء (أ)
Skills you'll gain: C and C++, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, C (Programming Language), Algorithms, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Secure Coding
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months