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 Colorado System
Computational Thinking with Beginning C Programming
Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Data Collection, Simulations, Data Analysis, Microsoft Visual Studio, C (Programming Language), Statistical Analysis, Automation, Program Development, Data Structures, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Descriptive Statistics, Problem Management, File Management, Distributed Computing, Debugging, Data Storage
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
432 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Data Structures in C
Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Application Security, System Programming, Programming Principles, Performance Tuning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
50 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, C (Programming Language), Computer Hardware, Computer Programming, Computer Architecture, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Algorithms, File Management, Operating Systems, Program Development, Debugging
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
49 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
GPU Programming
Skills you'll gain: Artificial Neural Networks, Image Analysis, Event-Driven Programming, C and C++, Scalability, Deep Learning, Software Development, Machine Learning Methods, Performance Tuning, Linear Algebra, Distributed Computing, System Programming, Computer Graphics, Computer Hardware, Computer Vision, Numerical Analysis, Computer Architecture, OS Process Management, Data Structures, Performance Testing
Build toward a degree
2.7
Rating, 2.7 out of 5 stars
151 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, Apache Hadoop, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, SQL, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Data Store, Jupyter, Generative AI, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Unit Testing, Data Structures, Event-Driven Programming, Interactive Data Visualization, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Testing, User Interface (UI), Debugging, Java Programming, Software Testing, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Performance Tuning, Encryption, Programming Principles, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Software Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Data Analysis with R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Ggplot2, R Programming, Data Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Statistical Programming, Data Visualization Software, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Package and Software Management, Data Structures
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Image Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Matlab, Machine Learning Methods, Algorithms, User Interface (UI), Applied Machine Learning, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Statistical Methods, Mathematical Software, Engineering Calculations, Data Analysis, Data Processing, Engineering Analysis, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, UI Components, Software Design, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
C and Go: Classical and Modern Programming
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Code Review, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Testing, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, File Management, Integration Testing
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
7.1K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Python 3 Programming
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, JSON, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Data Processing, Web Scraping, Unit Testing, Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Restful API, Python Programming, Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Jupyter, Maintainability, Data Structures, Software Engineering, File Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
EDUCBA
Embedded Systems using C
Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Embedded Systems, Embedded Software, Debugging, System Programming, Microarchitecture, Computer Architecture, Data Structures, Computer Hardware, Peripheral Devices
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
71 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
The University of Edinburgh
Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Video Game Development, Software Testing, Software Development, Programming Principles, Software Design, Game Design, Computer Programming, Animation and Game Design, Debugging, Computational Thinking, Algorithms
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months