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 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
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
Dartmouth College
C Programming: Language Foundations - 2
Skills you'll gain: Computer Programming Tools, C (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Embedded Systems, Program Development, Computer Engineering, Development Environment, Algorithms, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
94 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Dartmouth College
C Programming: Pointers and Memory Management - 4
Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, System Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Programming Tools, Data Structures, Debugging, Linux
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
56 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Introduction to C# Programming and Unity
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, C# (Programming Language), Game Design, Computer Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Data Storage, User Interface (UI), Scripting
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Ball State University
Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Scripting, NumPy, Debugging, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, SQL, Predictive Modeling, 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
Meta
Programming with JavaScript
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Javascript, Unit Testing, Web Applications, Programming Principles, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Event-Driven Programming, Node.JS, JSON, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Debugging, Package and Software Management, Program Development, Functional Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Java Developer
Skills you'll gain: Spring Framework, Prompt Engineering, HTML and CSS, Cloud-Native Computing, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Hibernate (Java), Database Design, Docker (Software), Containerization, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Software Design, Microservices, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Large Language Modeling, Spring Boot, Object-Relational Mapping, Java Programming, Interviewing Skills
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
5.5K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programming in Python
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Test Driven Development (TDD), Programming Principles, Software Testing, Data Structures, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta React Native
Skills you'll gain: React Native, Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Version Control, UI/UX Research, Usability Testing, Unix Commands, Restful API, Git (Version Control System), Persona (User Experience), GitHub, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, SQL, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Interface (UI), User Experience, Mobile Development, Design Research, React.js, Javascript
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months