Listing relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to illustrate your knowledge, especially if you’re a student or graduate with little to no work experience.

If done correctly, this can be a beneficial way to show prospective employers that you have the skills necessary to do the job.

In this guide, we'll explore how to put relevant coursework on your resume. We will also provide tips on formatting and placement to make the most of this information.

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What is relevant coursework?

Relevant coursework is any academic-related classor project you’ve taken that pertains to the job you are applying for.

This can be courses that gave you technical know-how or provided insight into topics that are important to your field.

For students, recent graduates, or career changers, a resume with relevant coursework is a vital tool to use when you don’t have much experience yet.

Think of coursework as the path from your education to a job. If you studied subjects relevant to the role, listing them indicates to the employer that you have at least been exposed to the concepts.

For example, a marketing student might include courses like "Consumer Behavior" or "Digital Marketing", while an engineering grad might list "Thermodynamics" or "Circuit Analysis".

Why include relevant coursework on resumes?

But you might be thinking, My coursework? Really? Should I put it on my resume? And what exactly do I mean? The short answer is yes. Yes, if you’re still building a work history, coursework is a good way to pad your resume. Here’s why:

1. Fills the experience gap

If you are a new grad or changing fields, you might not have a whole lot of experience to leverage in the role you seek.

In this case, relevant coursework helps fill that gap, serving as evidence you learned a lot for the job.

2. Demonstrates industry-specific knowledge

Some of the things that you need to know about the workplace are very specific. They’re not something you’re likely to have learned on another job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing data science, saying "Statistics", "Machine Learning", or "Python Programming" on your resume shows that you have been exposed to concepts that are key to success in this job.

Employers can see that you’ve been formally educated on the subjects they care about. This could mean the difference between getting and not getting an interview, especially if you’re applying for technical or niche roles.

3. Highlights skills and competencies

Many courses give you some experience in valuable situations.

For example, a group project in a business course might demonstrate your leadership, collaborative, and problem-solving skills, while a course in design could show your familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch.

By adding relevant coursework to your resume, you’re also demonstrating transferable competencies you’ve built along the way.

4. Shows initiative and passion

People who hire you want to see that you're passionate about the field you're pursuing. That’s why it’s important to list only relevant courses on your resume that are clearly related to the field.

By doing so, you’re showing that you’ve taken the initiative to educate yourself about the industry. It also means that you went out and searched for classes that would help you get a job in your chosen sphere. This is a signal of motivation and determination.

When should you add relevant coursework?

When do you need to include coursework on a resume? It’s not always necessary, but there are certain situations in which it can be helpful to mention it.

If you’re a student or recent graduate

If your work experience is limited due to still being in school or having just graduated, education can give prospective employers a sense of what you’ve learned to date.

For recent graduates, coursework can be listed for the first one to two years after graduation.

When applying for internships

Internships are typically for students, so employers don’t expect to see much experience.

Instead, they’ll look for signs that you have the necessary background or skills to start benefiting the company from day one. Listing relevant coursework on a resume can be very helpful here, as it demonstrates that you’ve covered the basics in class.

If you’re changing careers

Let’s say you’re shifting from a marketing to a more data-driven role.

Including courses such as "Statistics" or "Data Analytics" on your resume demonstrates to a potential employer that, though your work history is in another area, you’ve already gotten a head start on the type of knowledge that you’ll need in your new field.

Applying for technical roles

Most jobs in this category, such as doctor, engineer, or web designer, will require a certain amount of "on-the-job" training, but also a body of specific knowledge that can be acquired through a course.

For a software developer role, for instance, you might list courses such as "Algorithms" or "Database Management" to show that you understand some key aspects of the position.

When the role description aligns with your studies

If your coursework delivered knowledge areas or skills that are explicitly named in a job description, you’d be well advised to include them.

This is a great way to show the employer that you’ve studied the exact concepts they’re looking for, even if you haven’t had professional experience in those areas yet.

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Which courses to include?

No need to list every class, as this would likely overwhelm the hiring manager and dilute the impact of your resume. Instead, keep the list of the classes that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Look at the job posting and find the main skills or knowledge areas that the employer is looking for. Then map courses you have taken against those areas.

First-year courses are unlikely to impress an employer. It’s far better to tell about more advanced classes that reflect a sophisticated level of knowledge or a specialized topic.

For example, "Advanced Corporate Finance" versus "Introduction to Economics", if you’re seeking employment in finance.

If the course resulted in a certification or an award, include those as well. Certifications can demonstrate that you have come to a certain level of competence, which can be really appealing to employers.

Similarly, academic honors can signal that you were able to excel in particular subject areas.

How to list relevant coursework on a resume?

Once you’ve decided what exactly to include, the next step is to figure out how to structure and format your coursework on a resume. It's important to make it clear and easy to read. Here are a few ways to do it.

1. Education section

The most common place for relevant coursework is in the education section of your resume. If you're still in school or a recent graduate, this part is likely near the top of the page.

Here's an example:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

Kansas State University, May 2024

  • Relevant Coursework: Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing, Market Analytics, Branding Strategies

This format keeps things neat and allows the recruiter to catch your coursework at a glance.

2. Separate section

If you're applying for a technical position, you might want to add a new section for it, after education and experiences.

Sample relevant coursework section of resume:

  • Relevant Coursework
  • Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Database Management
  • Web Development with Python
  • Machine Learning

This option works best if you have several key courses, or if your education is more extensive than your experience.

3. Experience section

Another way is to integrate coursework into your experience section, especially if you worked on any substantial projects or assignments.

For example:

Capstone Project: Marketing Strategy for Miller & Rhoads Company

In the Digital Marketing course, I created a full-scale plan that included surveying a target population to determine market needs, creating a customer demographic, and developing a targeted social media campaign.

This approach also highlights the potential practical applications of your academic work, which makes your coursework even more useful for prospective employers.

Formatting tips

  • Use the same font and size throughout your resume. Common choices include Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in a 10-12 point size.
  • Bullet points are one of the best tools for breaking up text, making it easier to read.
  • List only 3-5 courses that are most relevant to the job and that come across as very applicable to you.
  • Mentioning only course titles is fine for most cases. However, if you took a class that is particularly impressive, it might be worth describing why.
  • You don’t need descriptions longer than one or two sentences.
  • If you’re listing multiple courses, consider organizing them by relevance to the position.
  • Make sure there is white space around the text. Don’t try to pack your resume with too much information in a small amount of space.
  • For emphasis on important concepts or specific skills gained, consider using italics or bold text sparingly.

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Relevant coursework resume examples

Example 1: Dedicated section

Liam Fennell

Springfield, IL

(555) 468-1357 | liam.fennell@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/liamfennell

Objective

Ambitious Marketing Graduate seeking an entry-level position at Pinnacle Marketing Group to apply skills in digital marketing and data analysis to help drive brand awareness and engagement.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Expected Graduation: May 2023

Relevant Coursework

  • Digital Marketing Strategies
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Brand Management

Experience

Marketing Intern

Pinnacle Marketing Group, Chicago, IL

June 2024 – August 2024

  • Developed and implemented social media campaigns, achieving a 30% increase in audience engagement.
  • Conducted market research to assess competitive positioning and identify consumer trends.
  • Collaborated with the marketing team to create promotional materials for product launches.

Skills

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
  • Social Media Advertising
  • Google Analytics and SEO

Example 2: Included in education

Sofia Torres

Boston, MA

(555) 678-9012 | sofia.torres@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sofiatorres

Objective

Analytical Data Analyst with a passion for transforming data into actionable insights, seeking to join TechWave Solutions to support data-driven decision-making processes.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Data Science

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Graduated: May 2023

  • Relevant Coursework: Data Mining, Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Machine Learning

Experience

Data Analyst Intern

TechWave Solutions, Boston, MA

June 2023 – August 2024

  • Analyzed complex datasets to uncover insights, leading to a 15% improvement in operational efficiency.
  • Created interactive dashboards in Tableau that streamlined data reporting for stakeholders.
  • Worked closely with product teams to develop data solutions for new features.

Skills

  • Proficient in Python, R, and SQL
  • Data Visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Example 3: Integrated into the experience section

Ethan Kwan

San Francisco, CA

(555) 234-5678 | ethan.kwan@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ethankwan

Objective

Creative Graphic Designer with a solid foundation in branding and visual communication, seeking a position at DesignHub Agency to deliver innovative design solutions that enhance brand identity.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA

Graduated: May 2024

Experience

Graphic Design Intern

Artistry Studio, San Francisco, CA

January 2024 – May 2024

  • Utilized skills from coursework in Typography and Layout Design to create visually appealing marketing materials.
  • Assisted in the development of social media graphics, leading to a 25% increase in client engagement.
  • Engaged with clients to understand their branding needs and deliver customized design solutions.

Skills

  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
  • Strong understanding of Branding and Identity Design
  • Excellent communication and collaborative skills
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Conclusion

Relevant coursework can be a valuable addition to your resume. It is especially important if you’re applying for a job where you want to highlight your educational qualifications and not your work experience.

Selecting and presenting your courses carefully can demonstrate to employers that you’re a good fit for the job.

Remember, your coursework section should be tailored to the job description, clear, and relevant.

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