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
University of Washington
Programming Languages, Part B
Skills you'll gain: Other Programming Languages, Software Design, Ruby (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Data Structures, Software Architecture, Computer Programming, Functional Design, Debugging
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
784 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
California Institute of the Arts
Game Design: Art and Concepts
Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Game Design, Animations, Prototyping, Conceptual Design, Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Storyboarding, Video Game Development, Virtual Environment, Art History, Technical Design, Usability Testing, Creative Design, Design Strategies, Graphic and Visual Design, Design, Design Elements And Principles
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Minnesota
Software Development Lifecycle
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Agile Software Development, Software Design Patterns, Design Thinking, Software Development Methodologies, Software Design, Agile Methodology, Agile Project Management, Engineering Software, Process Mapping, Software Engineering, Kanban Principles, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Quality Assurance, Program Development, Application Security, Scrum (Software Development), User Experience Design, Requirements Analysis, Lean Methodologies
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Alberta
Software Design and Architecture
Skills you'll gain: Software Architecture, Model View Controller, Unified Modeling Language, Object Oriented Design, Service Oriented Architecture, API Design, Systems Architecture, Web Services, Software Design Patterns, Software Design, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Microservices, Restful API, Software Design Documents, Software Visualization, Code Review, Solution Architecture, Software Systems, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.9K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Peer Review, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Data Structures, Program Development, Computer Programming, Project Design, Simulations, Automation, Spreadsheet Software, Algorithms, UI Components, Debugging, Data Management, User Interface (UI), Data Cleansing, Data Validation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
Skills you'll gain: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neurology, Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radiology, Image Analysis, Data Analysis, Analysis, Data Manipulation, Experimentation, R Programming, Statistical Analysis, Psychology, Network Analysis, Data Processing, Regression Analysis, Research Design, Scientific Visualization, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Matlab
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google
Get Started with Python
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Data Structures, Jupyter, Python Programming, NumPy, Pandas (Python Package), Programming Principles, Scripting, Data Manipulation, Algorithms
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers
Skills you'll gain: HTML and CSS, Javascript, Responsive Web Design, Ajax, Front-End Web Development, Web Design, Web Applications, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Browser Compatibility, Web Development, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Usability, Cross Platform Development
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Processing, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Python Programming, Exploratory Data Analysis, Algorithms, Data Analysis, Web Scraping, Unstructured Data
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
14K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California San Diego
Interaction Design
Skills you'll gain: Design Research, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Statistical Analysis, Usability, Ideation, User Research, Graphic and Visual Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Experimentation, Prototyping, Human Centered Design, A/B Testing, Usability Testing, User Centered Design, Mockups, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Collaborative Software, Telecommuting
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
4K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Toronto
Self-Driving Cars
Skills you'll gain: Computer Vision, Image Analysis, Control Systems, Embedded Software, Automation, Deep Learning, Software Architecture, Computer Graphics, Simulations, Safety Assurance, Artificial Neural Networks, Global Positioning Systems, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Hardware Architecture, Estimation, Algorithms, Machine Learning Methods, Predictive Modeling, Scenario Testing, Spatial Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google Cloud
Google Cloud Digital Leader Training
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Management, Serverless Computing, Google Cloud Platform, Digital Transformation, Data Governance, Cloud Services, Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks, Cloud Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Application Programming Interface (API), Real Time Data, Tensorflow, Data Management, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Data Warehousing, Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Cloud Computing, Big Data, Data Security
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.6K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months