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

The State University of New York
Practical Time Series Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Forecasting, R Programming, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Correlation Analysis, Regression Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, Software Installation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google Data Analytics (PT)
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Rmarkdown, Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Data Validation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Visualization, Data Ethics, Data Literacy, Tableau Software, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Ggplot2, Analytical Skills, Stakeholder Communications, Presentations, SQL, Data Quality, Data Collection, Data Processing
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
4K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Modernizing Data Lakes and Data Warehouses with Google Cloud
Skills you'll gain: Data Lakes, Data Warehousing, Cloud Engineering, Google Cloud Platform, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Processing, Data Transformation, SQL, Scalability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Go Beyond the Numbers: Translate Data into Insights
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Data Presentation, Data Transformation, Data Ethics, Tableau Software, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Communications, Matplotlib, Pandas (Python Package), Jupyter, Data Validation, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
790 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Robótica
Skills you'll gain: Control Systems, Remote Access Systems, Mobile Development, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronic Components, Computer Programming
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California San Diego
Hadoop Platform and Application Framework
Skills you'll gain: Apache Hadoop, Big Data, Data Analysis, Apache Spark, Data Science, Data Processing, Distributed Computing, Performance Tuning, Scalability
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universitat de Barcelona
Magic in the Middle Ages
Skills you'll gain: European History, World History, Art History, Research, Investigation, Cultural Diversity
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The Pennsylvania State University
Dairy Production and Management
Skills you'll gain: Nutrition and Diet, Manufacturing and Production, Market Dynamics, Operating Cost, Business Economics, Water Resources, Production Management, Environmental Management Systems, Environment, Molecular Biology
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Parallel, Concurrent, and Distributed Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Distributed Computing, Java Programming, Java, Software Architecture, Systems Architecture, Data Structures, System Programming, Programming Principles, Servers, Application Frameworks, Debugging, Algorithms, Performance Tuning, Network Protocols, Computer Science, Functional Design, Scalability
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Getting Started with Go
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), JSON, Programming Principles, Other Programming Languages, Development Environment, Data Structures, Remote Access Systems, Software Installation, File Management, Program Development
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Digital Signal Processing
Skills you'll gain: Digital Communications, Image Analysis, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electronic Systems, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Calculations, Electronics, Programming Principles, Engineering Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Advanced Mathematics, Algorithms, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Modeling, Calculus, Applied Mathematics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
779 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM z/OS Mainframe Practitioner
Skills you'll gain: Job Control Language (JCL), Mainframe Computing, z/OS, Virtualization, Virtualization and Virtual Machines, Unix, IBM DB2, Operating Systems, IBM Cloud, Data Management, Hardware Architecture, Data Storage, Infrastructure Architecture, System Programming, File Systems, Enterprise Security, Computer Security, System Configuration, Control Panels, Command-Line Interface
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months