Fresh-faced and eager to learn? If you’re a recent graduate or current student with little work experience, the education section of your resume needs to shine. Never fear. You can make up for what you lack in hands-on experience by focusing on the lessons you learned in school.
Including relevant coursework on your resume can give you the extra edge you need to land an interview. In this article, we’ll show you when and how to list courses on a resume, whatever your level and situation.
When to include relevant coursework on a resume
Typically, hiring managers pay more attention to an applicant’s work history than their education section. But in some situations, it makes sense to expand on your academic qualifications.
Include relevant coursework on your resume if:
- You’re a student or recent graduate. If you’re lacking work experience, adding coursework can show that you’ve studied relevant topics in your field. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level accountant position, you can mention your coursework in Microsoft Excel to prove that you have this skill.
- You’re changing careers. If you’re transitioning into a new field, relevant coursework from a certification or degree program can show employers that you’re a qualified candidate, even without relevant experience.
- The job description specifically requests it. For some positions, such as those in academia, employers may specifically ask you to put relevant coursework on your resume.
When to remove coursework from your resume
As you gain work experience after graduating or changing careers, your coursework becomes less important. Once you have two years of on-the-job experience, you can start to remove relevant courses from your resume. However, you should continue to list your degree, field of study, and the school you attended.
4 Methods for how to list courses on a resume
When listing relevant coursework on your resume, you have a few options. Here are four ways to highlight your academic courses and projects:
1. Bullet points
First up, you can list relevant coursework in resume bullet points below your degree title. Recruiters may only spend a few seconds with your resume, so this format allows them to see your relevant courses quickly.
Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Media
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Relevant Coursework:
- Graphic Design (Adobe InDesign and Photoshop)
- Copywriting and Editing
- History of Advertising
- Media Law
2. Expanded bullet points
If you’d like to add more details about your resume relevant coursework, use the expanded bullet point approach. For each course, add a brief definition of what you learned. Write concisely and stick to the essential details about each class.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Relevant Coursework:
- Software Engineering Principles: Studied software development life cycles and coding practices.
- Database Management Systems: Learned about relational databases, SQL querying, and data management techniques.
- Data Structures and Algorithms: Mastered data organization methods and algorithm design for optimal software performance.
3. Standard list
Resume real estate is valuable. If you don’t have much white space on your resume, list your relevant courses directly beneath your degree, using a comma to separate them.
Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing Strategy, Consumer Behavior, Market Research, Marketing Analytics, Brand Management
4. Mix and match
Did you complete an exam in a subject or certification relevant to the job? Don’t forget to include it on your resume. You can use a mix-and-match approach to cover this information. List your relevant coursework and then add your exams below that.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Duke University, Durham, NC
Relevant Coursework: Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Patient-Centered Care, Health Assessment
Exams: NCLEX-RN
How to put relevant coursework on your resume
Once you know which approach you want to use, here are the five steps for how to list courses on your resume:
1. Include relevant courses only
Think carefully about the relevant classes you want to have on your resume. Before you include a course or project, ask yourself two simple questions:
- Is it relevant to the job?
- What skills did it teach you that you’ll use on the job?
Consider what value this information adds to your application. If you can’t communicate why the course matters to the job, it’s best to leave it off your resume.
2. Keep it brief and simple
When discussing your relevant coursework or projects, keep the details brief. You don’t need to outline an entire syllabus on your resume. Only highlight the parts that are relevant to the job.
If you’re not sure what information to include, review the job description again. What skills has an employer mentioned? Consider how your coursework can show a hiring manager that you have the required knowledge necessary for the role.
3. Adjust course names for clarity
Avoid listing generic course names that don’t give employers the full story about what you learned. It’s fine to adjust the names of classes to better reflect the skills and knowledge you gained.
For example, instead of listing “Introduction to Microbiology,” you might list the class as “Microbiology: Pathogens and Laboratory Techniques.”
4. Add academic projects
Including academic projects on your resume can show employers how you applied the knowledge you gained in the classroom. Relevant projects can also demonstrate your basic understanding of how to do an entry-level job.
Consider the example below from an entry-level mechanical engineer resume. The project listed proves that the applicant has some hands-on experience related to the job.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Expected graduation: May 2026
Courses:
- Advanced Calculus
- Design Thinking
- Product Engineering and Execution
- Production Management Essentials
- UX Design
Product Design Project:
- Conceptualized and designed a quick-release water bottle holder for mountain bikes.
- Developed the manufacturing process and chose materials, aesthetics, and sizes with the safety of bike riders in mind.
5. List a high GPA
If you’re a current student or recent graduate, listing an impressive GPA can highlight your academic strengths. Include your GPA if it’s at least 3.5 or higher. List this information below your degree and school.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
GPA: 3.8
Courses:
- News Writing and Reporting: Learned how to pitch, research, and write news stories following AP Style guidelines.
- Investigative Journalism: Developed skills in source cultivation and public records research to report in-depth, topical stories.
- Interviewing Techniques: Practiced interviewing methods and active listening to conduct professional interviews with news sources.
Relevant coursework resume examples
Check out these examples of resumes with relevant coursework for various situations:
Relevant coursework resume example for a student
For a student resume, your education section should be front and center. Choose a functional or hybrid resume format so that you can expand on your studies and projects. List the classes that are most relevant to the entry-level job you want to get.
Here’s an example of relevant coursework on a student resume:
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Expected graduation: December 2026
Coursework:
- Cognitive Psychology: Explored how people perceive and remember information while strengthening research skills.
- Research Methods in Psychology: Conducted experiments and wrote reports using knowledge of statistical analysis.
- Social Psychology: Examined how group dynamics affect interpersonal behaviors through practical applications of social theories.
Relevant coursework resume example for a career changer
When changing careers, highlighting your relevant education can help bridge the experience gap between your former role and your new field. Use a hybrid or functional format to showcase the transferable skills you’ve gained through courses, certification programs, or formal education.
View this example resume for an applicant making a career change from communications to user experience (UX) design:
Bachelor of Arts in Communications
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Coursework:
- Visual Communication
- Digital Media Production
- Organizational Communication
Google UX Design Certificate
Coursera, 2025
- Completed seven courses on UX research, prototypes, and wireframes.
- Built wireframes and mockups for a mobile app and responsive website using UX design principles.
Relevant coursework resume example for a specialized degree program
If you’re in a specialized program or have a nontraditional degree combination, add some more details to explain your education. Describe your degree and list your most relevant classes below.
Check out this example resume for a student with a unique double major:
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Expected graduation: May 2026
- Double bachelor’s program designed to understand how sociology influences what products and services become popular and how to design with demand in mind.
Relevant Courses:
- Sociology of Consumption
- Economy and Society
- Law and Society
- Product Engineering Process
- Product Development and Systems Engineering
Tips for listing relevant courses on your resume
Here are a few more tips for how to list relevant coursework on your resume:
- Use specific keywords. Many employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter resumes by keywords. When listing courses on your resume, use specific keywords from the job description wherever possible.
- Quantify your achievements. Recruiters want to see tangible proof of your skills. Include quantifiable academic achievements, such as a high GPA or stellar exam scores, to set your education apart.
- Proofread carefully. After you add new information to your education section, proofread thoroughly for potential errors. Edit for grammar and spelling, check the names of classes, and review the formatting before submitting your resume to employers.
- Get help with resume.io. Our resume builder tool offers easy-to-use templates with drag and drop sections that simplify the process for adding your relevant coursework and building out your resume.
