Rust Fundamentals

Duke University introduces Rust through development setup and the language’s ownership model. Structs, types and enums connect with practical project work and tooling. It suits learners with some programming experience who want to understand the compiler’s constraints while learning to organize, test and debug a program rather than memorize isolated syntax.

What you will learn

• Explore ownership, borrowing and lifetimes.
• Model information with structs and enums.
• Develop and test projects with Rust tooling.

Who this suits

Beginner programming experience, Git and a development text editor are recommended by the provider.

Before you enroll

Install a suitable Rust toolchain and check the edition and crate versions used in demonstrations. Compiler diagnostics, dependency APIs and editor setup can differ from recorded examples. Run code in a project you control and inspect unfamiliar dependencies. Allow time for exercises and debugging beyond video runtime. A completion certificate describes course participation, not independent proof of programming proficiency.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Build a small data model and explain which values are owned or borrowed at each function boundary, using compiler messages to check your reasoning.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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