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

Google Cloud
Introduction to Dart
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Concepts in Python: Loops, Functions and Returns
Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Python Programming, Scripting, Maintainability, Programming Principles, Scripting Languages
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
114 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Use C++ to build a Crypto Trading Platform: Final System
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Programming Principles, Program Development, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Development Environment, Debugging
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Analyze Box Office Data with Seaborn and Python
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Seaborn, Plotly, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Python Programming, Predictive Modeling, Jupyter, Cloud Applications, Statistical Modeling
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
179 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
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
Google Cloud
Modernizing Data Lakes and Data Warehouses with GCP en Español
Skills you'll gain: Data Lakes, Data Warehousing, Data Infrastructure, Google Cloud Platform, Cloud Storage, Data Pipelines, Data Architecture, Data Management, Business Process, Data Security, SQL, Scalability
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Maryland, College Park
Surviving Disruptive Technologies (On Demand)
Skills you'll gain: Emerging Technologies, Technology Strategies, Digital Transformation, Business Transformation, Social Media, Innovation, Organizational Change, Competitive Analysis, E-Commerce, Business Strategy
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
61 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
Controle de Sistemas no Plano-s
Skills you'll gain: Control Systems, Matlab, System Design and Implementation, Systems Engineering, Simulations, System Requirements
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
100 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
DevOps and Build Automation with Python
Skills you'll gain: Containerization, Package and Software Management, Software Testing, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Scripting, Development Testing, CI/CD, Test Automation, Integration Testing, DevOps, Python Programming, Web Scraping
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
59 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
L&T EduTech
Robotics Engineering & Applications
Skills you'll gain: Automation Engineering, Internet Of Things, Control Systems, Robotic Process Automation, Automation, Image Analysis, Computer Vision, Equipment Design, Engineering, Program Development, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
25 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Semantic Segmentation with Amazon Sagemaker
Skills you'll gain: AWS SageMaker, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Image Analysis, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, Amazon S3, Applied Machine Learning, Application Deployment, Machine Learning Algorithms, Data Processing, Computer Vision
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92 reviews
Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Deep Learning with PyTorch : Generative Adversarial Network
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Computer Vision, Applied Machine Learning
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
89 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours