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
Universidad Austral
Desarrollo del lado servidor: NodeJS, Express y MongoDB
Skills you'll gain: Server Side, Node.JS, Back-End Web Development, Restful API, Web Development, MongoDB, Application Deployment, OAuth, Web Servers, Web Applications, Authentications, Application Security, Object-Relational Mapping, NoSQL, Authorization (Computing)
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
109 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Introduction to Selenium
Skills you'll gain: Selenium (Software), Test Automation, Debugging, Scripting, Automation, Web Scraping, Software Testing, Test Case, Browser Compatibility, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Generative AI Database Design & Management with ChatGPT
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Data Migration, Generative AI, Software Documentation, Dashboard, Database Management, ChatGPT, Gap Analysis, Database Architecture and Administration, Technical Design, SQL, Prototyping, Performance Testing, Simulation and Simulation Software, Data Quality
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Advanced Data Structures, RSA and Quantum Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), Cryptography, Data Structures, Algorithms, Encryption, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Linear Algebra, Emerging Technologies, Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
30 reviews
Advanced · 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: Free Trial
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Business intelligence and data warehousing
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Intelligence, Data Mining, Big Data, Predictive Analytics, Analytics, Data Modeling, MySQL, Business Analytics, Apache Hadoop, Star Schema, Unstructured Data, Database Design, SQL, Data Transformation
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
100 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Blueprint Scripting
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Game Design, Data Management, Blueprinting, Video Game Development, Scripting, UI Components, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Debugging
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
O.P. Jindal Global University
Machine Learning for Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Anomaly Detection, Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Digital Advertising, Dimensionality Reduction, Unsupervised Learning, Customer Analysis, Search Engine Marketing, Supervised Learning, Online Advertising, Customer Retention, Text Mining, Predictive Analytics, Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, Applied Machine Learning, Data Ethics, Data Mining, Customer Insights
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Mastering Data Analysis with Pandas: Learning Path Part 2
Skills you'll gain: Pandas (Python Package), Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Wrangling, Python Programming
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Introduction to Android graphics
Skills you'll gain: Computer Graphics, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Android Development, Computer Graphic Techniques, Animation and Game Design, Virtual Reality, Linear Algebra
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
71 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Bayesian Statistics: Time Series Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Forecasting, R Programming, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Inference, Regression Analysis, Data Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Probability Distribution
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Customer Service with Python: Build a Chatbot using ChatGPT
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Prompt Engineering, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Service, Application Programming Interface (API), User Flows, Test Case, Python Programming, Development Environment, E-Commerce, Debugging
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours