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 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
IBM
IBM Data Management
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Governance, Data Security, Data Migration, Database Design, Data Literacy, Descriptive Statistics, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Mining, Cloud Storage, Data Visualization Software, Data Store, IBM DB2, Data Management, Relational Databases, MySQL, Excel Formulas
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming in C++
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Program Development, User Interface (UI), Command-Line Interface, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
158 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Algorithms, Data Structures, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Computational Logic, Computer Science, Advanced Mathematics, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Program Development, Analysis, Design Strategies, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
221 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
University of Colorado Boulder
Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments
Skills you'll gain: Software Configuration Management, Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Git (Version Control System), Version Control, System Programming, Build Tools, Software Development Tools, C (Programming Language), Development Environment, Software Design, Hardware Architecture, Debugging, Command-Line Interface
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
639 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Shiny (R Package), Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Leaflet (Software), Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Statistical Inference, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plotly, Machine Learning Algorithms, Plot (Graphics), Knitr
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
51K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Toronto
Learn to Program: The Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Debugging, Software Documentation, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Data Structures, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Visualization, SQL, Predictive Modeling, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Data Analysis, Big Data, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), IBM Cognos Analytics, Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Foundations for Everyone
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), OpenAI, Workflow Management, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Governance, Automation, Application Deployment, Business Transformation, IBM Cloud, Applied Machine Learning, Program Development, Computer Vision
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Data Science
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Jupyter, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Peer Review, Data Modeling, Databases, Stored Procedure, Relational Databases, Database Design, Query Languages, Data Science, Database Management, Big Data, Data Cleansing, Data Visualization Software, GitHub, Business Analysis, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
99K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks