How To List Your Major and Minor on a Resume (With Examples)

Some students supplement their education with a minor specialization, and there's a proper way to include it on a resume. Other students choose to double major or double minor, and their resumes become cluttered if they don't know how to list them. If an employer can't follow the information in your resume, they might pass it over.

In this article, we discuss when and how to include majors and minors in your resume, along with a series of steps and examples for properly formatting it.

Related: 6 Universal Rules for Resume Writing

Should you include a minor on your resume?

Obtaining knowledge in a secondary discipline makes you more marketable. Your knowledge either becomes more diverse or more specified, making you a unique job candidate. Minors not only supplement your education but also open additional doors for future advancement. However, inclusion on a resume is only required if there's relevance to the position applied for. Not all students choose a minor as a supplement to their major. Instead, they choose another area of interest. The two degrees are often quite different and don't pair well for positions.

For example, if you apply to a Therapist Assistant position and list a minor in marketing on your resume, it won't make sense to the employer. There's nothing wrong with earning an unrelated minor, but it might not always work on a resume.

Related: When a Professional Degree Will Help You Advance in Your Career

How to list a major and minor on your resume

If you have a minor and want to list it on your resume, there's a proper format for doing so. As with all vital components of a resume, you list and format them so that they're identified easier. The following list of steps outlines how best to list a major and minor:

1. Create an education section

When including any relevant education information on a resume, contain all of it within a designated education section. All sections need a proper heading format so that titles stand out and employers can easily find whichever information they're looking for. Any information pertaining to a major or a minor needs inclusion within this section.

Listing education either at the top or bottom of the resume is at your own discretion. Sections are often listed by importance or relevance. If your experience outweighs your educational accomplishments, list your experience first.

2. List macro information

Macro information includes attendance year range or at least a graduation date. It also includes the name of the institution attended and the city and state where it's located. When listing these entries, sorting them from macro to micro-level is best. It categorizes the information, making it much easier for employers to find, read and digest.

However you choose to format your macro information, keep it consistent. All entries need identical formatting for a clean resume that's easy for reading. Employers are often more favorable toward a resume that presents its information well.

3. List your awarded degree

On the final or main line of an education entry, list your awarded degree. This is your major area of study. For example, if you complete a four-year degree in psychology, you would list it as Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Some students opt for a double major. In this case, summarize your degree level and category and follow it with your two majors. For example, if you earn a bachelor's degree in education and another in mathematics, you might list it as:
Bachelor of Science: Education and Mathematics

4. List your minor

Minors go on the same line, if possible, with your major and a comma separates them. Minors are always formatted the same. Examples include Minor in Mathematics, Minor in Psychology and Minor in Accounting.

Some students opt for a double minor. In this case, list each additional minor separated by a comma. As with a single minor entry, list all minors directly after your major and keep general formatting the same.

Related: 10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land a Job

Importance of listing degrees of study

Listing degrees of study on your resume gives employers a better idea of your background and general knowledge. Many roles require higher education for proper function and usually ask for specific degree types. Although you may not have the specific degree they list, you may have one in a related area. For example, if a job posting asks for a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, but you have a Bachelor's Degree in Business with coursework in accounting, you still may be eligible for the position. An employer wouldn't know how closely qualified you are without the education listing on your resume.

Related: 5 Top College Majors for a Rewarding Career

Examples

The following list of examples exhibit proper major and minor listings within a resume:

Example 1: Major and minor

2007-2011
University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
Bachelor's Degree in English, Minor in Journalism

Example 2: Major and minor

June 2018
Georgia State University - Atlanta, Georgia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Minor in Accounting

Example 3: Double minor

2015-2019
Columbia University - New York City, New York
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Minor in Health Sciences, Minor in Nutrition

Example 4: Double minor

2009-2013
University of Florida - Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Minors in Mathematics and Sociology

Example 5: Double major

2014-2019
University of Colorado, Denver - Denver, Colorado
Bachelor of Science in Economics and Political Science

Example 6: Double major

May 2009
California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, California
Bachelor of Arts: 3D Animation and Creative Writing