How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume
List three to six courses that match the job, by name, on one line under your degree: "Relevant Coursework: Auditing, Federal Income Taxation, Cost Accounting." It belongs on a student's or new graduate's resume. Take it off once you have a full-time job in the field that shows the same skills.
- Under your degree
- 3 to 6 courses
- Students and new grads
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One line under your degree
Education
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting | Expected May 2027
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Intermediate Accounting I and II, Federal Income Taxation, Auditing, Accounting Information Systems
The courses are ones an accounting employer would not assume from the degree alone. Introductory classes are left out.
A separate section, one line of detail per course
Relevant Coursework
Auditing: tested internal controls for a mock retailer and wrote a 12-page findings memo
Accounting Information Systems: built a month-end close workflow in Excel and QuickBooks Online
Federal Income Taxation: prepared Form 1040 returns with Schedules A, C and D for 4 case clients
Cost Accounting (In Progress): job-order and process costing, variance analysis
Use this when the course work used tools or produced work the posting asks for. Mark current courses "In Progress".
Changing careers: new courses above an older degree
Education
Austin Community College, Austin, TX
Data Analytics coursework, 15 credit hours | Completed Aug 2026
Relevant Coursework: SQL for Data Analysis, Business Statistics, Data Visualization with Tableau, Python I
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Bachelor of Arts in English | May 2014
Years after graduating, coursework still earns a line when it is new and is the reason you qualify for the job you are moving into.
Keep it or cut it
| Your situation | Relevant coursework |
|---|---|
| Student applying for internships | Keep it, under your degree |
| New graduate looking for a first full-time job | Keep it: three to six courses that match the posting |
| Working full-time in the field you are applying to | Cut it. Your job bullets now show the same skills |
| Changing fields after taking new courses | Keep the new courses; drop coursework from the old degree |
Rules for listing coursework
- Choose courses that match words in the job posting. Skip general education and intro classes.
- Write the course name, not the catalog number: "Auditing", not "ACCT 425".
- Mark courses you are taking now with "(In Progress)".
- Put the line under the degree in your education section. Give coursework its own section only when you add detail for each course.
- Remove it once full-time work in the field shows the same skills.
Common mistakes with coursework
Listing every course you took
A full list reads like a transcript and hides the courses that matter. Keep the three to six that match this posting, and change them for the next one.
Using course codes
"ACCT 425, ACCT 360" means nothing outside your school. Write the course names.
Listing classes every graduate in your major took
"Principles of Accounting I" is assumed from the degree. List the specialized or upper-level courses an employer would not assume.
Keeping coursework years into your career
Once you have full-time work in the field, a course list suggests you have nothing newer to show. Replace it with a bullet from your current job.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put relevant coursework on my resume?+
Yes, if you are a student or a recent graduate and the courses match the job. It shows preparation your work history cannot show yet. Experienced candidates usually leave it off.
How many courses should I list?+
UC Santa Barbara suggests three to six and Texas A&M four to six; Drexel suggests six to ten. Use the shorter list when a few courses match the posting closely, and the longer one when the job expects a sequence of technical courses.
How do you describe coursework on a resume?+
By default, names only, on one line. If a course included a project or tool the posting names, give it one line of detail in a Relevant Coursework section, or list the project in a Projects section with bullets.
When should I take coursework off my resume?+
Once you have a full-time job in your field. From then on, bullets about real work make the same point with more weight. Keep it longer only if you have taken new courses for a change of field.
Can I list online courses as coursework?+
Yes. The UC Davis Career Center suggests putting online courses and certifications in your Skills or Related Coursework section, and any project from the course in a Projects section.
Sources
- UC Santa Barbara Career Services: Build Sections (Relevant Coursework) · read 2026-11-14
- Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center: Writing Your Resume · read 2026-11-14
- Texas A&M Career Center: Building Your Resume · read 2026-11-14
- UC Davis Career Center: Resume, CV and Cover Letter Guide · read 2026-11-14
- Dice: When do you remove college details from your resume? · read 2026-11-14
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