How to Put Your College Major and Minor on Your Resume

How to Put Your College Major and Minor on Your Resume | Tips & Examples

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Students often choose both a major and a minor area of study when they are in college. Knowing how to add your college major and minor to your resume can help make your education section stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. This article discusses how to list your college major and minor on your resume with tips and examples to guide you.

Should you list major and minor on your resume?

There are several reasons you should list your college major and minor on your resume. If you are a current student, recent graduate, or a candidate with limited relevant work experience, including a detailed education section in your resume can help your resume stand out. If you are a professional with a significant amount of experience, you can still list your major and minor on your resume to highlight expanded knowledge in your field.

However, while you should typically include your major, consider whether your minor is relevant to the job. It may be better to omit the minor if it has no relation to your career.

How to put major and minor on a resume

Follow these steps to list your college major and minor on your resume.

1. First, create an education section

Add an education section to your resume by creating a separate heading. Suppose you are a recent graduate or have limited relevant work experience. In that case, put your education section near the top of the resume before your experience section. For professionals with more relevant work experience, put your education section below the experience section. Additionally, your education section should include the name of the college or institution you attended, its location, the degree earned, major and minor, and the dates you attended the school.

2. Next, begin with your most recent educational experience

Begin the education section with your most recent academic experience, even if you are a current student. The number of entries may vary depending on the types of degrees, the relevancy of each degree to the position you are applying for, and the amount of relevant work experience you have.

For those with a bachelor’s and master’s degree, you can include both degrees in your education section and begin by listing your master’s degree first. For those with a bachelor’s degree, you can list the degree and some relevant work experience. And, if you have an associate or technical degree and limited work experience, you might choose to list both your college and high school experience, beginning with your college degree.

3. Next, add your major first

The first line of your education section should list the name of the college or institution you attended and its location. Include the dates you attended on the first line, though you can also put them at the end or justify them to the right of the page. The next line should begin by identifying the degree you are pursuing or earned, followed by your declared major. For example, you could write ‘Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.’

4. Finally, determine whether or not to add your minor

Decide whether including your minor in your resume adds value to your application. You want to keep your resume clean and straightforward to ensure that employers see your most important hiring qualities. Only include your minor if it is relevant to the position you are applying for and adds value to your qualifications. And, if you include your minor, place it on the same line as your major, separated by a comma, or on a separate line below your major.

Major and minor resume examples

Use the following examples to guide you when listing your college major and minor on your resume.

Example of college major without a minor

Here is an example of an education section that lists only your major.

Arizona State University, Temple, AZ
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
2015 – 2019

Example of a double major

Here is an example of an education section that lists a double major.

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Bachelor of Arts in English and Marketing
2015 – 2019

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Bachelor of Arts in English
Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
2015 – 2019

Example of a college major and a minor

Here is an example of an education section that lists both a major and a minor.

University of Southern California, Las Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Health Sciences
2015 – 2019

University of Southern California, Las Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Minor in Health Sciences
2015 – 2019

Example of a double major and a minor

Here is an example of an education section that lists a double major and a minor.

University of Houston, Houston, TX
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Law, Minor in Communications
2015 – 2019

University of Houston, Houston, TX
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Law
Minor in Communications
2015 – 2019

Example of education section with additional information

Here is an example of an education section that lists a major and minor with additional supporting information.

Education

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2015 – 2019
Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Marketing
GPA: 3.75/4.0
Relevant Coursework: American Literature, Literary Theory, Nonfiction and Creative Writing, Consumer Behavior and Digital Marketing

Tips for adding your major and minor to your resume

Here are a few general tips to remember when adding your college major and minor to your resume.

Read the job description

The job description often includes specific education requirements the employer is looking for in qualified candidates, such as a particular type of degree and major or minor. Reading the job description can help you determine which information about your educational experiences is most relevant for the position.

Consider including supporting information

Besides including information about the school you attended and your degree, you can also include other relevant information in your education section, such as GPA, specific coursework, honors, and achievements.

Use consistent formatting

Don’t forget to maintain consistent formatting throughout your resume. Make sure to format your education section in the same way you format your work experience, including using the same fonts, sizes, colors, style, and headings for each section.

Add your major and minor to other application documents

Besides adding your major and minor to your resume, you can also include them in your cover letter and personal summary. Listing your major and minor on several application documents can help ensure the recruiter or hiring manager sees this information.

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