How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume [+4 Examples]

How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume [+4 Examples] How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume (+4 Examples) Wondering whether to list relevant coursework on your resume? We explain when you should do so, what the advantages are, and provide examples of relevant coursework on a resume. Build My Resume Now Should I Include Relevant Coursework on My Resume? Yes, you can and often should include coursework that directly relates to the position youre 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. When to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume The four main situations where you should include relevant coursework on your resume are when you: are graduating high school or college soon (or have recently) lack professional experience can’t fill a resume without it want to change careers, and think your relevant coursework is related enough to the new industry that it’s worth mentioning Recently Graduated (High School or College) Overall, the best time to include relevant coursework on your resume is when youre applying for jobs right out of college. If you’re a recent graduate, youve spent the last four years studying and completing difficult assignments â€" so showcase the skills you developed from this experience. If you didnt hold a job or internship as a college student, putting relevant coursework on your resume is especially important. Doing so demonstrates you have knowledge related to the position, even if you lack experience in the workforce. Tip If you’ve just graduated you might not know how to write a resume. Learn how to do so and you’ll never be far from your next job. Grad Student Changing Careers If you attended graduate school to make a career change, you should also include applicable coursework on your application. Courses you took in graduate school may have given you more of an insight into your new career path than any unrelated previous work experience. And if your resume doesnt quite fill a page, include other relevant experiences you’ve accumulated in life in addition to your coursework. For example, your time spent doing volunteer work and extracurricular activities   can help showcase certain soft skills you’ve developed over time. Additionally, highlighting your role in student government can demonstrate to employers that you’re reliable, work well with others, and are diplomatic. When Not to Include Related Coursework on a Resume Does your resume already fill a page without relevant coursework on it? If so, you don’t need to include any. Take a careful look through your resume. If your relevant work experience is enough to fill your resume, leave the coursework off. How and Where to Put Relevant Coursework on Your Resume How much coursework you fit into your resume depends on the following three factors: How many relevant courses youve taken How much detail you want to include How much space you have to fill How to Put Relevant Coursework in Your Resume Education Section Most people include coursework in the education section of their resumes. To go this route, write Relevant Coursework beneath the degree name, and then use commas to separate the titles of the courses: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology New York University, New York City, 2018 Relevant Coursework: Language and Identity, Culture and Society, Medical Anthropology, Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality, Humans Rights and Culture If you have plenty of space, turn your relevant coursework into a bulleted list so each course is on its own line: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology New York University, New York City, 2020 Relevant Coursework: Language and Identity Culture and Society Medical Anthropology Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality Humans Rights and Culture And if you want to create a functional resume with a large education section, consider formatting your relevant coursework like you would format your work experience section: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology New York University, New York City, 2020 Relevant Coursework: Studied qualitative research methods by reading and discussing 10+ academic articles Designed an online, 20-question qualitative research survey about language and identity formation Conducted a qualitative survey with 147 college students using an iPad Aggregated and interpreted survey results in a 10-page paper and 5-minute presentation How to Put Relevant Coursework in Your Resume Work Experience Section Including coursework in your work experience section allows you to share detailed information about what you did for each course. In this instance, you should pick the most relevant courses and create a bulleted list for each, and format them as you would past jobs youve had. 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. Heres an example: Online Marketing, MARK 160, Fall 2020 Keyword Research: Used Ahrefs marketing tool to gather and analyze 500+ keywords for my final semester project Content Creation: Created 7 SEO-friendly articles for a potential dental implant website Survey Creation: Ran a survey using Google Surveys to discover what users think about dental implants Search Engine Optimization: Optimized 3 pages using tools including Page Optimizer Pro, Elementor, and Marketing 360 Web Publishing: Explored the WordPress, Wix, and Joomla! content management systems, and made at least one piece of content per CMS Tip Unsure how to format your resume? Browse sample resumes in your field for ideas. 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. Including such information on your resume is particularly useful for if you’re a student applying for your first job, or if you simply have little relevant professional experience for the job you’re applying for. Now it’s time to apply what you learned and create your own resume. You can begin by downloading one of our professional resume templates, or if you’d rather not start from the beginning, use our free resume builder and create an interview-winning resume in under 5 minutes.