how to list a bachelor's degree and community college course work on a resume

by Craig Emmerich 9 min read

If you are a college student with work experience, place your education section above work. Include the name of the institution, degree type and the expected year of graduation. You can also mention coursework, extracurricular activities, organizations and other academic achievements relevant to the role.

Here's how to list a degree on a resume:
  1. Create the education section on your resume.
  2. Put it either before or after the experience section (depending on your experience).
  3. List all your degrees in the education section of your resume.
  4. Put your degrees on a resume in the reverse-chronological order.
6 days ago

Full Answer

How do you list a bachelors degree on a resume?

Pro Tip: You can use periods or not (e.g. B.A. or BA) when you put the abbreviated name of your degree on a resume. Either spelling is correct. If you didn’t manage to finish your degree, you can still list it in your education section.

Who should include coursework on a resume?

Who should include coursework on a resume? Listing coursework on your resume is most effective when you are applying for a job and you don’t have a lot of experience, or if you are applying for a job that requires specific course completion.

How do I list college credits on a resume?

Match the college courses you have completed with keywords from the job advertisement. Draw a simple "T" format chart on a piece of paper, with two columns and 10 rows. Label the first column "Employer's Needs" and the second column "My College Credits."

Do you have to list College on a resume?

If you didn't go to college or only took a few courses, you don't have to list them. Of course, you also have the option of leaving college off of your resume entirely, which becomes a better option as you gain valid, relevant work experience.

How do you list community college courses on resume?

8. What about listing community college? Only include community college if it adds specific information to your resume, and only if you earned a degree or certification. If you are trying to condense your resume down to one page, community college is something you can easily omit.

Do you list Community College on resume?

How to List Community College Education on Your Resume. You list community college education pretty much the same way as any other undergraduate degree.

What section of a resume do you list your college course by name?

Explanation: For many applicants, the education section is the easiest part to write on their resume. They just list their alma mater's name, degree, and graduation date.

How do you list multiple college degrees on the same resume?

List your degrees in reverse chronological order. In your education section, start with your most recent degree first. That means that if you got a dual bachelor's degree in 2017 and a master's degree in 2020, you would add the master's degree first.

Do associates and bachelors go on resume?

If you have a Bachelor's or a Master's degree, you should put them first. But if associate degree is as good as it gets in your Education Section, make sure you put in on top and bold it, as it is the most important part of your education.

Why is community college looked down upon?

If community college students were to take their opportunities seriously, taking advantage of the benefits, they might be able to help the public change its perceptions. People tend to be skeptical of things they do not understand and this may be one reason why community colleges are still looked down upon.

How do you list college credits on a resume?

You can simply list the college and years attended. If you excelled academically, include your academic achievements such as a high GPA, inclusion in the Dean's List, or other academic awards or scholarships. If you took some courses related to the job, include those under your university information.

How do you list a degree in progress on a resume?

Here is how to put your unfinished college education on a resume in a way that shows your progress:List the number of credits you have earned, along with the major you pursued, like this: Completed 90 credits toward Bachelor of Arts, Economics, 1997-2000.If your degree is in process, you should note that as well.

Is a Bachelor a degree?

A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree in which students study a subject of their choice at an academic institution and is commonly known as a college degree. Getting a bachelor's degree can open access to job opportunities, expose you to new ideas, and boost your earning potential.

How do you write multiple Bachelor's degrees?

Both majors should be written on the same line. For instance, if you received a double major, do not write “Bachelor of Arts in French” and “Bachelor of Arts in Politics” on two separate lines. Writing your double major in this way suggests you graduated with a dual degree rather than a double major.

How do you list a Bachelor's degree?

How to list a bachelor's degree on a resumeBA = Bachelor of Arts.BBA = Bachelor of Business Administration.BEd = Bachelor of Education.BLA = Bachelor of Liberal Arts.BSW = Bachelor of Social Work.BS = Bachelor of Science.

How do you list two bachelors on a resume?

Use the following steps when including a double major in your resume:Format your education section.List degrees separately.List your primary major first.Include additional certifications.Proofread your resume.

How to put degrees on resume?

Create the education section on your resume. Put it either before or after the experience section (depending on your experience). List all your degrees in the education section of your resume. Put your degrees on a resume in the reverse-chronological order.

How many years of college do you need to get a bachelor's degree?

A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree you can earn after four (sometimes five) years of full-time study . Just like any other degree, you should list your bachelor’s degree on a resume in a dedicated education section.

What is the abbreviation for a bachelors degree?

Bachelors degrees on a resume are commonly abbreviated to: BA (Bachelor of Arts) BS (Bachelor of Science) These two abbreviations are the most common in the US.

What is an associates degree?

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after two or three years of post-secondary education. It’s a degree that’s halfway through a GED qualification or high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree. You should put your associate degree on a resume in a dedicated education section.

Do you put an apostrophe on an associates degree?

Check out your college’s style guide to be 100 percent sure. Remember: Don’t use an apostrophe when you spell out your degree on a resume.

Where should coursework be placed on a resume?

If you feel this would simply be a helpful supplement to the rest of your resume for an employer, it might be best placed below the education section of your resume.

How to organize coursework on resume?

Here are three common ways to organize your coursework. 1. Use a single-column format. The single-column format looks similar to the education section on your resume, simply displaying your relevant coursework in list form. ...

What is a single column resume?

The single-column format looks similar to the education section on your resume, simply displaying your relevant coursework in list form. For example, a candidate applying for a journalism job might include the following:

Do you have to include work experience on your resume?

If you are a student, you might not have a large volume of work experience to list on your resume. This is common, and employers will take your student status into account when reviewing your resume. However, adding coursework that’s relevant to the job or internship you’re applying for can help employers understand the skills you’re developing ...

What do employers look for in a resume?

Education is one of a few key sections employers look for on resumes. This information will inform interviewers of your background, which can be a helpful way to understand more about your fit for the role. If your education is particularly relevant to the position or includes any credentials that are required for the job, ...

Why is it important to include education on your resume?

For example, a recent graduate will want to include more detail and place the education section in a prominent position on their resume because this is the bulk of their experience . Alternatively, a person who has been in ...

What is a director of a department looking for?

A recruiter seeking a director of a department might be looking for business or managerial training, like an MBA. The educational requirements of a job are often listed under a “requirements” or “education” section on the job description, so read carefully to see if your background is a good match.

Can you have a separate professional development section?

You can take steps to boost the section with certifications or other professional development achievements. You can even consider having a separate professional development section, showcasing how you’ve continued education relevant to the job.

How many words should be in education section of resume?

In most cases, the education section of your resume should be no more than 15-30 words. Despite being short in terms of length, the question of how to list education on resume is more important than most job-seekers realize.

What degree do you need to be a job?

For an entry level position, for instance, employers want to verify that you have a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree. For a higher level position, employers may prefer a graduate degree.

Should education be listed at the end of a resume?

two years of sale experience), education can certainly appear at the end of the resume.

Do hiring managers know if you have a college degree?

This way, hiring managers know immediately that you meet basic education requirements. As an added note, employers are finding that applicants frequently fabricate nonexistent degrees. This has resulted in employers making efforts to verify that applicants do indeed have a college degree.

Should I Include Relevant Coursework on My Resume?

Yes, you can and often should include coursework that directly relates to the position you’re applying for on your resume. Doing so highlights your relevant expertise, and helps you include resume keywords that can ensure your resume gets past applicant tracking system software.

How and Where to Put Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

How much coursework you fit into your resume depends on the following three factors:

Takeaways

Highlighting job-relevant coursework on your resume is a fantastic way to demonstrate your knowledge in any given field, and improve your resume if it’s lacking in substance.

What should I include on my resume?

There are many things you can include on your resume besides college, to highlight and prove your qualifications for a job. Relevant coursework, awards, certifications, volunteer positions, and even clubs and hobbies can often be included appropriately in other sections of your resume .

Where should education be on a resume?

How you include education on your resume depends on when or if you have graduated. If you're a college student or recent graduate, your college education is typically listed at the top of your resume. When you have work experience, the education section of your resume is listed below your employment history .

What to do if you didn't graduate college?

If you did not graduate from college, make sure that your resume does not indicate otherwise. Many employers will do a reference check prior to hiring someone. Any information found to be intentionally misleading will end your candidacy and is grounds for firing if you have been hired.

What is an entry level resume?

An entry-level resume will often present more educational or training information than would a resume for someone who has been in the workforce for many years. If you don’t have a lot of work experience to prove your skills and capabilities on the job, it can be important to list any relevant college coursework, ...

Why is it important to review your resume?

It’s a good idea to review resume writing tips to help you present the most important information about you in a way that stands out to hiring managers.

When you land an interview, should you be prepared to discuss your college courses?

When You Land an Interview. You should also be prepared to discuss your college courses in your interview, when the time comes. It’s a good idea, if applicable, to prepare for the question of why you didn’t complete your degree as well.

Do you need to include your GPA on your resume?

INCLUDING YOUR GPA: If the employer doesn't require it, you don't need to include your GPA if it's low or if you graduated more than a few years ago. BE CREATIVE: There are a variety of options you can use to list your college education when you didn't graduate. Related: Best Resume Writing Services.

What is a refresher section on a resume?

A refresher section usually follows the reverse-chronological order rules. However, when you have an advanced degree that goes first. The education field provides a perfect example of how to write educational qualification in resume for freshers.

What does it mean to have a college education after high school?

After graduating from high school, education typically refers to the colleges and universities you attended, along with the degrees you earned. However, as we learned from the previous blog, your educational background relates to much more. It pertains to on-the-job training, professional development, courses, certifications, and licenses.

How many credit hours are equivalent to an associates degree?

In the second updated section, the 60 completed college credit hours equaled an associate’s degree. However, the applicant completed the credits at a four-year university that does not grant associate degrees. In the field of early childhood education, the AA and 60 credit hours are equivalent.

What does it mean to remove high school from a job posting?

Wording in the job posting – if the job requires a high school diploma, but the position does not require college education, include this. Consider removing high school if: Other forms of education take its place – this means you have licenses, certifications, or additional training.

Do you capitalize your major?

If you want to capitalize your major, include the information as part of the degree. Otherwise, only capitalize proper nouns. When using a degree’s acronym, always capitalize it. Follow the style guidelines used in your industry or specified by the job posting when writing education on resume.

What to do if you have completed one degree?

If you have completed one degree and are pursuing advanced education , be sure to clearly state that fact. If your degree is not yet complete, be clear about that as well. Be honest. If you are in the process of withdrawing from school, don’t list that educational program. Don’t try to enhance your education section in any way.

Do you list education in progress on a resume?

As you can see, it is not difficult to learn how to list education in progress on a resume. Yes, you need to know the right format to use, and where to list that information. Still, it is a relatively simple thing to handle if you stick to the basic principles we’ve outlined here. So, be sure to include those educational details, to showcase your developing skills and help you stand out from the crowd!

Should education in progress be included on a resume?

ZipJob’s career experts agree that education in progress should usually be included on a resume. A degree in progress is still important to employers, as well as a degree that was started and holds relevance to a position. However, it needs to be included in an honest way so it’s an accurate reflection of your learning and accomplishments.

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Use A Single-Column Format

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The single-column format looks similar to the education sectionon your resume, simply displaying your relevant coursework in list form. For example, a candidate applying for a journalism job might include the following: Relevant Editorial Coursework 1. Ethical Journalism 2. Global Journalism 3. Fuller Times Student Pa…
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Use A Multi-Column Format

  • You can also group the columns into sections if the job you’re applying to requires expertise in multiple fields. For example: Relevant Editorial Coursework Journalism 1. Ethical Journalism 2. Global Journalism 3. Fuller Times Student Paper, Editor English 1. Technical Writing 2. Research Internship 3. Oral Communications Related: 7 College Resume Tips (With Examples)
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Use A Detailed Format

  • Alternatively, the detailed format provides more information on the courses you choose to include. This format will look more like what you would typically see under a professional experience section, noting the course and school name, dates you took the course and two to four bullet points highlighting relevant learnings or achievements from the course. Here’s an example: Rele…
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Information to Include in Your Resume Education Section

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Hiring managers are looking for a few basic pieces of information when they scan your education section, including: 1. The name of your school 2. Location of your school 3. The degree you obtained (if applicable) 4. Your field of study 5. Graduation year (if applicable) 6. Your GPA (Note: You may not want to include thi…
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What Employers Look For in The Education Section of Your Resume

  • Each employer searches for different things in your education and what they look for depends on the requirements for the job. If you’re applying for an entry-level job, the hiring manager might want to see that you have a high school diploma or college degree. A recruiter seeking a director of a department might be looking for business or managerial training, like an MBA. The educatio…
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How to List Completed Education

  • Recent Graduate (1-5 years) If you’ve recently graduated, place your education section before or in line with your work experience. Your schooling is likely the most prominent piece of your resume, so it is acceptable to make this one of the first sections for employers to see. You can also include your attendance dates, any honors received (cum la...
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How to List Incomplete Or In-Progress Education

  • In-progress education If you’re not finished with your degree, you can still include work you’ve done and when you plan to graduate. Employers are interested in what you’re studying and any specific coursework or special recognitions relevant to the job. If you’re still a student, place the education section just below your contact information and summary statement. Be sure to inclu…
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