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 Minnesota
Acupressure
Skills you'll gain: Contraindication, Personal Care, Patient Treatment, Stress Management, Patient Positioning, Clinical Experience, Patient Evaluation, Patient Education And Counseling, Cultural Sensitivity, Science and Research
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Angular for Front End Engineers
Skills you'll gain: Angular, Test Driven Development (TDD), Unit Testing, HTML and CSS, Web Development, Software Testing, Web Applications, Front-End Web Development, Integration Testing, Development Environment, UI Components, Javascript, Event-Driven Programming, Data Management, Command-Line Interface, Data Storage Technologies
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
MathWorks
Automating Image Processing
Skills you'll gain: Image Analysis, Matlab, Computer Vision, Automation, Anomaly Detection, Data Store
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Unsupervised Algorithms in Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Machine Learning Algorithms, Machine Learning, Data Science, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Python Programming, NumPy, Exploratory Data Analysis, Linear Algebra, Statistical Analysis
Build toward a degree
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
22 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
SkillUp EdTech
Practice Exam for Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certification
Skills you'll gain: Agile Methodology, Sprint Retrospectives, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Agile Software Development, User Story, Knowledge Transfer
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
49 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
NIIT
RESTful Microservices Using Node.js and Express
Skills you'll gain: Node.JS, API Gateway, MySQL, Restful API, MongoDB, Microservices, API Design, NoSQL, Database Design, Relational Databases, Unit Testing, SQL, Databases, Server Side, Application Deployment, Javascript, Application Programming Interface (API), Software Documentation, Data Modeling, Data Integrity
3.7
Rating, 3.7 out of 5 stars
113 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
البرمجة للجميع - بدء استخدام بايثون
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Software Installation, Development Environment
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
74 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Generalized Linear Models and Nonparametric Regression
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Modeling, R Programming, Data Analysis, Data Ethics, Advanced Analytics, Statistical Methods, Regression Analysis, Machine Learning, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Statistical Inference, Probability Distribution
Build toward a degree
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
University of Michigan
Prediction Models with Sports Data
Skills you'll gain: Forecasting, Data Processing, Predictive Analytics, Predictive Modeling, Data Analysis, Market Data, Performance Analysis, Analytics, Regression Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Data Manipulation, Probability, Ethical Standards And Conduct
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
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
National Taiwan University
用 Python 做商管程式設計（三）(Programming for Business Computing in Python (3))
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Visualization, Matplotlib, Web Scraping, Business Logic, Machine Learning, Operational Analysis, Business Analytics, Python Programming, Programming Principles, Business Economics, User Interface (UI) Design, Computational Thinking, UI Components, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
161 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months