How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume

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Highlighting relevant coursework on your resume as a student or recent graduate can offer some advantages. Students must often have to take a different approach when they don’t have much work experience to put on their resume. This article explains how to include relevant coursework on your resume so you can enhance your image when applying for a job.

Should you include relevant coursework on your resume?

Here are some situations in which it’s appropriate to include relevant coursework on your resume:

You don’t yet have much work experience

Work experience is a necessity for a resume. However, if you are inexperienced, submitting a resume with relevant coursework details can improve your chances of recruitment.

Coursework is relevant to the position

You should consider the type of job you are applying for before including any coursework. 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.

The coursework would benefit you in the position

Make sure that any coursework you add shows the employer your qualifications for the position. For example, if you are applying to be a professor or a researcher at an academic organization, it’s a good idea to add coursework that highlights your academic achievements.

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 include relevant coursework on your 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 achievements, you may place it near the top of your document. 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. Secondly, include only the most relevant details

You may mention the relevant coursework alone instead of adding other classes to your resume. This is also a good place to highlight any volunteer opportunities you’ve undertaken if you don’t have any prior work experience.

3. Thirdly, highlight the coursework with academic achievements

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.

4. Next, mention relevant personality factors or experience

If you have a skill that complements your coursework, you may include it on your resume. For example, if you are applying for a position as a content writer and mention coursework in which you were required to create an online magazine, you could discuss your ability to create search engine optimized content. Another method is to add relevant projects that you’ve completed. For example, you may mention any research papers you wrote that are pertinent to the job.

5. Fifthly, include online courses

Many people take online courses in their free time to enhance their professional skills. You can add these courses to your resume if they are relevant to your job application. If you have taken an optional course designed to improve your performance at work, include any relevant experience you gained from it.

6.  Next, make sure to include the job post’s keywords

You may include keywords from the job post when discussing your coursework. The employer may find it relevant and thoughtful, and it can also help your resume make it through any applicant tracking systems the employer may be using. For example, if the employer talks about the importance of programming skills in their job posting, you can discuss a project in which you used JavaScript to help create a website. 

7. After that, create an additional section if needed

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. 

For example, if you include writing coursework, you may mention any specific writing formats or referencing styles you learned. You may create another section if you are creating an online resume that anyone can access. In some cases, it may be better to list your coursework details on a subsection on your webpage dedicated to your educational achievements.

8. Finally, always stay relevant

Any coursework you put on your resume must always be related to the job. It should be direct enough to convince the employer that you have the required skill set for the position. You may also include your most recent coursework if it applies to the position you’re seeking. 

Tips for mentioning relevant coursework on a resume

Below are some additional tips that can help you effectively add relevant coursework to your resume:

  • Proofread and edit. 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.
  • Use consistent formatting. Follow the same format when referring to all coursework material to create a more formal and professional look to your resume.
  • Include the necessary details. Add details about the coursework you mention, such as the projects you completed or the professional skills you learned.

It’s a good idea to prioritize your most relevant courses and projects when adding these details to your resume as a student or recent graduate.

Relevant coursework on a resume template

Here’s a template you can use if you’re considering adding coursework to your resume:

[Name and location of school]

[Years attended]

[Details about the coursework that explain the professional skills you gained from it] 

Example of relevant coursework on a resume

Below is an example of relevant coursework that has been added to a resume:

Resume example for a market research analyst position

Paramount University, Providence, RI

2014 to 2018

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with courses related to institutional and educational sociology, psychology and sociological culture.

Relevant coursework

  • Institutional sociology: Explored the influence of various social institutions on the process of socialization.
  • Educational sociology: Learned how education plays a crucial role in defining the social structure of society, which can guide the direction of a marketing campaign
  • Psychology and sociology: Gained a thorough understanding of the link between sociology and psychology as social sciences that interact in the real world.
  • Sociological culture: Explored the various ways in which culture is defined by sociology, which could influence different markets and their preferences

Resume example for an HR position

Inston College, Nashville, TN
2015 to 2019
Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, with courses focusing on project management, leadership, recruitment and staffing

Relevant coursework

  • Motivation theories: Learned different practices for improving employee morale, studying real-life examples as guides
  • Recruitment processing: Practiced creating recruitment forms and job descriptions. Studied the process involved in interviewing applicants and choosing the correct candidate for the job.