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
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Foundations using R
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Big Data, Git (Version Control System), Data Integration, Knitr, Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Statistical Reporting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California San Diego
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Interactive Data Visualization, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), User Interface (UI), Computer Programming, Algorithms, Software Engineering, Data Structures, Software Documentation, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Scripting Languages, Scripting, Computational Thinking, Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
231K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google IT Automation with Python
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Cloud Services, Debugging, Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Bash (Scripting Language), Configuration Management, Professional Networking, CI/CD, Cloud Computing, Technical Communication, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Containerization, Web Services, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming, Programming Principles
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Back-End Development
Skills you'll gain: Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Linux Commands, Application Deployment, NoSQL, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), MongoDB, Shell Script, Django (Web Framework), Object-Relational Mapping, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), Cloud Applications, Containerization, Flask (Web Framework), Jupyter, Grafana
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
49K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Front-End Developer
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Version Control, UI/UX Research, Usability Testing, Responsive Web Design, Data Structures, Unix Commands, HTML and CSS, Git (Version Control System), Persona (User Experience), GitHub, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), React.js, Mobile Development, Front-End Web Development, Algorithms, Web Development Tools
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Shiny (R Package), Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Relational Databases, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Ggplot2, Database Design, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Mining, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, Microsoft Excel
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
29K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Getting Started with R
Skills you'll gain: Data Import/Export, Package and Software Management, R Programming, Data Structures, Data Literacy, Software Installation, Data Analysis Software
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
380 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, SQL, Descriptive Statistics, Jupyter, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Probability Distribution, Pandas (Python Package), Data Visualization Software, Statistics, Data Visualization, Databases, Stored Procedure, Web Scraping, Relational Databases, Python Programming, Data Structures, Computer Programming Tools, Data Analysis Software, Software Development Tools
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
72K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Data Science Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Pseudocode, Jupyter, Algorithms, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Pandas (Python Package), Data Visualization Software, Correlation Analysis, Web Scraping, NumPy, Python Programming, Probability & Statistics, Data Structures, Predictive Modeling, Big Data, Computer Programming Tools, Data Analysis Software, Machine Learning Algorithms, Unsupervised Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
113K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Python Programming
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking, Scripting, Software Development Tools, Integrated Development Environments, Data Import/Export, Jupyter, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Skills you'll gain: Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Supervised Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Linear Algebra, Performance Tuning, Calculus
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
123K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks