Interested in C Programming? - register now for our online course

Photo: Aki-Pekka Sinikoski

The C Programming MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) was designed by the Aalto University Department of Communications and Networking and was opened in collaboration with the University of Helsinki Department of Computer Science. The online course, which can be completed during the summer, focuses on the C Programming language starting from its basics.

'The course is suitable for anyone interested in programming, and does not require any in-depth background knowledge. The course is completed each year by some 400 Aalto University students and has been established as essential for students at the School of Electrical Engineering. This is a good opportunity for pupils graduating from upper secondary school to familiarise themselves with university studies,' university lecturer Pasi Sarolahti states.

C Programming differs from many other programming languages in that it is more closely integrated with the computer system. The C language has been used to implement e.g. the Linux operating system, several communication implementations, and many systems integrated into the industrial Internet that have become more common. In addition, as a result of the digitalisation of society's services, software skills are increasingly important in working life as a large portion of new jobs are generated around software development.

'An understanding of basic software terminology is now considered a pretty much a civic skill in many fields,' Sarolahti points out.

Course materials and assignments are available both in Finnish and English. In its first phase the course gives brief overview of the basic structures of programming. The students learn the basics and concepts of C Programming. The course is already open and studies can be undertaken immediately. The deadline for completion of the course is 31 August. For more information on the course and on how to get started, please see the course web pages.

Aalto students should first complete the C Programming course (ELEC-A7100), which can be found in both Oodi and the My Courses service.