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

Northeastern University
Agile Dev Practices: SDLC & Project Management
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Agile Software Development, Agile Methodology, Requirements Analysis, Agile Project Management, Software Development Methodologies, Application Lifecycle Management, Interpersonal Communications, Scrum (Software Development), Sprint Retrospectives, User Story, Waterfall Methodology, Sprint Planning, Quality Management, Continuous Improvement Process
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Java Basics: Selection and Iteration
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Java, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Computational Logic, Data Structures, Data Storage
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
110 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM COBOL Software Development Process
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, z/OS, COBOL (Programming Language), Unit Testing, Systems Analysis, Systems Development, Pseudocode, Software Development Methodologies, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Software Design, Systems Architecture, Mainframe Computing, Programming Principles, Scrum (Software Development), Test Planning
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
49 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
NIIT
Frontend Development using React
Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, HTML and CSS, JSON, React.js, Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Javascript, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Ajax, Web Design, Web Development Tools, Web Design and Development, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Unit Testing, UI Components, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Front-End Web Development, Systems Development Life Cycle, Development Testing, JavaScript Frameworks
3.4
Rating, 3.4 out of 5 stars
82 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Introducción al desarrollo de apps móviles para Android
Skills you'll gain: Android Studio, Android Development, Mobile Development, Android (Operating System), Gradle, Kotlin, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, User Interface (UI), Extensible Markup Language (XML)
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
196 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Machine Learning with PySpark: Customer Churn Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Feature Engineering, Data Analysis, PySpark, Data Processing, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Apache Spark, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Decision Tree Learning, Predictive Modeling, Predictive Analytics, Applied Machine Learning, Application Deployment, Machine Learning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
SkillUp EdTech
Practice Exam for Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certification
Skills you'll gain: Agile Methodology, Sprint Retrospectives, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Agile Software Development, User Story, Knowledge Transfer
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
49 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Object Localization with TensorFlow
Skills you'll gain: Tensorflow, Keras (Neural Network Library), Image Analysis, Computer Vision, Artificial Neural Networks, Applied Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Python Programming
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
113 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Python for Beginners: Data Structures
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Plot (Graphics), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Programming Principles, Data Storage
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
27 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Introduction to Machine Learning with Python
Skills you'll gain: Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Deep Learning, Image Analysis, Machine Learning Algorithms, Applied Machine Learning, Python Programming, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Computer Vision, Computer Programming, Regression Analysis
3.7
Rating, 3.7 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
M2M & IoT Interface Design & Protocols for Embedded Systems
Skills you'll gain: Internet Of Things, API Design, Amazon Web Services, Cloud Computing Architecture, Application Programming Interface (API), Network Protocols, Microservices, Cloud Services, Embedded Systems, Serverless Computing, Cloud Technologies, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Public Cloud, Node.JS
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
122 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Advanced Django: Introduction to Django Rest Framework
Skills you'll gain: Django (Web Framework), Postman API Platform, Restful API, Data Validation, Authentications, Authorization (Computing), Application Programming Interface (API), API Design, JSON, Object-Relational Mapping, Model View Controller
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
49 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks