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
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, SQL, Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Jupyter, Data Wrangling, Data Literacy, Data Analysis, Data Mining, Matplotlib, Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Pandas (Python Package), Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
143K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Software Design, Software Design Patterns, Data Structures, HTML and CSS, Debugging, Software Engineering, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Web Development, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Javascript, Encryption, Algorithms, AI Personalization, Web Design, Data Processing, Statistical Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Full-Stack Developer
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Django (Web Framework), Version Control, Restful API, Responsive Web Design, Unix Commands, HTML and CSS, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Relational Databases, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Database Management Systems, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), React.js, Mobile Development, SQL, Database Design, Unit Testing, Javascript, Web Development
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Data Analysis, Debugging, Simulations, Computer Programming Tools, Program Development, Data Structures, Performance Tuning, Data Import/Export
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to R Programming for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, R Programming, Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Structures, Data Import/Export, Exploratory Data Analysis, Programming Principles, Jupyter, Integrated Development Environments
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
566 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Design Strategies, Programming Principles, Computer Science, Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
221 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Java, Algorithms, Statistical Analysis, Software Design, Computer Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Data Processing, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Software Testing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 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, Unit Testing, Object-Relational Mapping, Application Deployment, NoSQL, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), MongoDB, Shell Script, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), Cloud Applications, Containerization, GitHub, Jupyter, Grafana
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
49K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Board Infinity
Fundamentals of Java Programming
Skills you'll gain: Eclipse (Software), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java Programming, Object Oriented Design, Software Development Tools, Java, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Virtual Machines
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
507 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Stanford University
Greedy Algorithms, Minimum Spanning Trees, and Dynamic Programming
Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Graph Theory, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Theoretical Computer Science
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Generative AI, Keras (Neural Network Library), Deep Learning, Jupyter, Natural Language Processing, Reinforcement Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI Agents, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Tensorflow, Python Programming, Verification And Validation, Artificial Neural Networks
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
20K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 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