what course work to include on resume

by Lionel Wunsch 10 min read

  • Add Relevant Coursework. When creating a resume, you can add a section titled “Relevant Coursework." In it, include the courses directly related to the position you are applying for.
  • List Projects. Similarly, if you have completed any research projects related to your future career, list these too.
  • Emphasize Your Achievements. Beyond related coursework, you should also emphasize any academic successes, such as a high GPA or an award from an academic department.

Key Takeaways
Listing relevant coursework on a resume is optional. It makes sense to put relevant coursework on student and entry-level resumes. If you have at least one year of experience, drop relevant coursework from your resume entirely, and focus on tailoring the job description and key skills sections.
May 10, 2022

How to list relevant coursework on a resume [10+ examples]?

What Courses and Projects to Include

  • Add Relevant Coursework. When creating a resume, you can add a section titled “Relevant Coursework." In it, include the courses directly related to the position you are applying for.
  • List Projects. Similarly, if you have completed any research projects related to your future career, list these too.
  • Emphasize Your Achievements. ...

How do I list relevant coursework on a resume?

Ways to include your coursework on a resume

  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. ...
  2. 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. ...
  3. Use a detailed format

Should I list all courses I attend on my resume?

When to include certifications on your resume

  • If the employer specifically requires certification. This is perhaps the most important reason you might choose to include your certification on your resume.
  • To demonstrate industry experience. ...
  • To demonstrate additional skills. ...
  • If you have limited practical experience. ...

What are relevant courses on a resume?

“Relevant coursework” is an optional entry-level resume section that includes coursework you’ve completed related to the job you’re applying to. Additionally, this section can include projects, academic achievements, extracurriculars and volunteer opportunities.

What do I put for courses on a resume?

When creating a resume, you can add a section titled “Relevant Coursework." In it, include the courses directly related to the position you are applying for. For example, if you're applying for work as a paralegal, list any classes you took related to law or politics.

How many courses should you include on a resume?

While there isn't a hard and fast rule about how many classes you should list on your resume, between 3 and 8 is a good goal. If you include more than 4 classes, look at our advice about how to format your skills on a resume and apply it to a list of courses instead.

What are relevant courses?

Relevant coursework are the classes or academic experiences you have that make you a good fit for a particular role. On your resume, you can make a section called 'Relevant Coursework' and list any specific classes that are useful for the job you're applying to.

Should I add courses in resume?

It makes for a better interview. It's not every day that an interviewer sees an online course or program on a resume (though it is becoming more common). Adding relevant online coursework can really help you stand out. It's unique and invites conversation, so be prepared to answer questions.

Should you put specific classes on a resume?

Key Takeaways Listing relevant coursework on a resume is optional. It makes sense to put relevant coursework on student and entry-level resumes. If you have at least one year of experience, drop relevant coursework from your resume entirely, and focus on tailoring the job description and key skills sections.

How do you list online courses on a resume?

Listing online courses on your resume: A step by step guideFocus on relevant courses. ... Choose where to list them. ... List the name of the course.Include the name of the provider.Specify the date you completed the qualification.Include 1-3 accomplishments or key learnings in bullet points (optional).

What skills can you put on your resume?

What are the best job skills on a resume?Computer proficiency.Leadership experience.Communication skills.Organizational know-how.People skills.Collaboration talent.Problem-solving abilities.

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 ...

Is coursework a good way to demonstrate your expertise?

If you are a student or have just graduated, relevant coursework is a good way to demonstrate your expertise even if you don’t yet have professional experience.

How to include coursework in resume?

Consider the following steps while including relevant coursework on your resume: 1. Firstly, make sure your placement is accurate. The placement of your coursework information can create a big difference in the effectiveness of your resume. If your resume is meant to highlight your educational ...

Where should coursework be placed on a resume?

However, coursework showing your experience or skills could be placed in the skills section. If your coursework is related to a specific type of job, you may include it in the education section. 2.

How to remove redundancies from a resume?

Make sure to thoroughly edit your resume to remove out any redundancies from the coursework section. Consider the employer’s perspective. Ask yourself how your potential employer would view the courses and projects you’ve mentioned in your resume. Include them only if you believe it would impress the hiring manager.

Why do you put a subsection in your resume?

You may create a subsection in the education section of your resume to make your coursework look more relevant to the job. You may use detailed bullet points mentioning crucial information about the coursework.

What is important to add to a resume?

Different jobs have varying levels of educational requirements. Usually, relevant coursework details are important to add to a resume for an entry-level position that’s relevant to your desired career.

How to make your coursework more credible?

You can make your coursework more credible to the recruiter if it is supported by high grades that you have achieved in your classes. You may also add related educational awards to help create a positive impression on your potential employer. You can mention your academic honors, awards and other test scores that are relevant to your resume’s purpose.

Why is coursework important on a resume?

The coursework positioning improves the look and style of your resume. Your coursework details should improve the appearance and content of your resume. In addition, make sure your coursework details only add as much to your resume as is necessary. You can add the most relevant classes to help save room and keep.

How to add coursework to resume?

Decide first if adding coursework on a resume is ideal for you; include related classes if relevant to the job and you have little professional experience. Create a subsection under the education entry on your resume with a clearly-labeled subheading, such as “Related Coursework.”.

What to do if college coursework isn't relevant to the job you're applying for?

If the college coursework you’re thinking of writing isn’t relevant to the job you’re applying for, leave it off!

What is relevant coursework?

Relevant coursework is a term for courses you took at school or college that are related to the position you are applying for. This kind of coursework can be listed on a resume under the education heading. The purpose of this information is to highlight knowledge pertinent to the job.

What to do if your resume doesn't secure your new job?

If it doesn’t help you secure your new career, leave it off your resume.

When to save real estate experience on resume?

Otherwise, when you gain more than a few years of general work experience, save that resume real estate for a more impactful section.

Is it better to take the first or third course?

Though education is important, I’d recommend going with the first course option in most cases, as it takes up less room. However, if you lack real-world experience but have an impressive academic background, the third option might be perfect for you.

Is coursework on resume optional?

Adding related coursework on resumes is optional. However, it is a strategic choice which may help your chances, if done right.

Why is coursework important on a resume?

Putting relevant coursework on your resume is especially important if you’re writing a resume with no work experience. Doing so demonstrates you have knowledge related to the position, even if you lack experience in the workforce.

What should a course description include?

Ideally, your course descriptions should include quantifiable information. For example, you can say you conducted 40+ hours of field work, interviewed 3 professionals about their fields of expertise, and gave a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation to 32 classmates.

What to include on a resume if it doesn't fill a page?

And if your resume doesn’t quite fill a page, include other relevant experiences you’ve accumulated in life in addition to your coursework.

Why do you include coursework in your work experience section?

Including coursework in your work experience section allows you to share detailed information about what you did for each course.

When writing a resume, do you need to include coursework?

The best place to include these classes is after listing the high school, college or technical school you attended.

What does coursework do on a resume?

By showing competence in specific areas with a coursework resume, you could potentially interview and impress the hiring manager with your qualifications and personality.

How to add internships to resume?

1. First, list relevant courses that show experience. For example, if you are applying for a job in education, you can list courses in child development, child psychology and any other classes that will show experience working with children. 2. Second, add internships to your resume. Many courses require you to complete summer internships ...

What to include in a summer internship?

For example, if you are applying for a law firm job, include your internship working as a file clerk or transcriptionist. During these internships, you probably learned to answer phones, talk with clients and specific legal terminology. Listing this on your resume shows you have a knowledgeable background working with attorneys, even if you might not have paid employment experience.

What to include when applying for a job?

For example, if you are applying for a job with a newspaper, include your experience working on the yearbook for both high school and college. If you wrote articles for your school newspaper, include this experience and even some writing samples.

What to include in your resume while attending school?

While attending school, you probably completed several class projects. For example, if you are looking for a business marketing job, include project information where you learned marketing techniques. If you have pictures or examples of brochures and data analysis charts, you might want to include these as an attachment with your resume or take them in your portfolio when you go for an interview.

Do you have to include every class on your transcript?

You do not need to include every class on your transcript. Instead, choose relevant classes for the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a variety of jobs, you might need to change the courses on your resume for different applications.

What is Relevant Coursework on a Resume?

A resume featuring relevant coursework consists of various courses you took at school, alongside the academic experiences that actually apply to the job position. The education section is the best place in a resume for coursework as it highlights your most hirable achievements concerning the role.

How to Write a Resume: The Ins and Outs

If you are wondering how to add relevant classes/courses on a resume, there are a couple of principles to follow for the best results.

When to Exclude Coursework from Your Resume

With all this being said, there are also occurrences when it’s wiser to exclude coursework on your resume:

How to List Relevant Coursework

Depending on the structure of your resume and the information you provide, there are several ways you can add relevant coursework to your resume. Remember, the entry-level candidate resume should not be longer than one page. Also, don’t forget to mention online courses you’ve completed and to place the relevant coursework in the right order.

Coursework on a Resume: Conclusion

If you include relevant coursework on resumes, you make it easier to communicate the value you can bring to a business. Keep the job description in focus when choosing what information to incorporate when listing courses on resumes, and where you position it on the page.

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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 P…
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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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