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
LearnQuest
The Java Language
Skills you'll gain: Java Programming, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming, Object Oriented Design, Development Environment
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
83 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Databricks
Introduction to Computational Statistics for Data Scientists
Skills you'll gain: Bayesian Statistics, Databricks, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Modeling, Probability, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Jupyter, Regression Analysis, Statistical Programming, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Probability Distribution, Data Science, Markov Model, Statistics, NumPy, Simulations, Mathematical Software, Statistical Inference
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
109 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
EC-Council
Secure Full Stack MEAN Developer
Skills you'll gain: Node.JS, MongoDB, Angular, Full-Stack Web Development, JavaScript Frameworks, Restful API, Web Applications, Web Development, NoSQL, Front-End Web Development, Application Security, Web Development Tools, Web Servers, Application Programming Interface (API), Javascript, Back-End Web Development
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
88 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Instructor Network
Applying Python for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Pandas (Python Package), Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Manipulation, Business Analytics, Statistics, Data Visualization Software, Descriptive Statistics, Data Cleansing, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Correlation Analysis, Python Programming
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
14 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Introduction to Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Natural Language Processing, Application Development, Data Store, Data Storage Technologies
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Amazon Web Services
Amazon Bedrock - Getting Started with Generative AI
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Amazon Web Services, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Artificial Intelligence, Cloud API, Application Programming Interface (API)
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
121 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
NASM Personal Fitness Trainer Exam Preparation
Skills you'll gain: Nutrition and Diet, Kinesiology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Automated External Defibrillator, Rehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Physical Therapy, Orthopedics, Self-Motivation, Injury Prevention, Motivational Skills, Anatomy, Goal Setting, Respiration, Stress Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Open AI for Beginners: Programmatic Prompting
Skills you'll gain: OpenAI, Prompt Engineering, JSON, Application Programming Interface (API), Web Applications, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Social Media Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Data Visualization, Social Media, Graph Theory, Relational Databases, Social Media Marketing, Data Visualization Software, Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Literacy, Social Sciences, Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Sociology, Natural Language Processing, Text Mining, Analytics
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Python Programming for Quantum Computing
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Python Programming, Data Structures, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Data Processing, Scripting, Software Installation, Development Environment, Jupyter
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
CertNexus
Extract, Transform, and Load Data
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Transformation, Data Warehousing, Data Integration, Data Quality, Data Import/Export, Data Collection
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Intro to Operating Systems 4: Persistence
Skills you'll gain: File Systems, Operating Systems, Data Integrity, Debugging, Systems Design, Distributed Computing, Data Storage, C (Programming Language), System Programming, Computer Systems, Command-Line Interface, Computer Hardware, Scalability, Version Control
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
52 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months