Listing Major and Minor on a Resume: Complete Formatting Guide
Your academic credentials form an important part of your professional profile, especially in the early years of your career. How you present your major and minor on your resume can influence whether employers see you as qualified for positions requiring specific educational backgrounds. Understanding the proper formatting conventions and strategic considerations helps you present your academic achievements effectively.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about listing majors and minors on your resume. From standard formatting conventions across different degree types to strategic decisions about what to include and when to emphasize or de-emphasize academic credentials, you’ll learn how to present your education in ways that strengthen your candidacy for target roles.
Understanding When to Include Your Minor
Before diving into formatting, it’s worth considering whether including your minor actually benefits your resume.
When to Include Your Minor
Include your minor when:
It’s Directly Relevant to the Position: A business administration major with a computer science minor applying for a business analyst role benefits from highlighting both credentials.
It Demonstrates Complementary Skills: A nursing major with a psychology minor shows breadth relevant to patient care. An engineering major with a business minor indicates potential for management tracks.
It Differentiates You From Other Candidates: If your minor is unusual or particularly valuable in your field, highlighting it can set you apart from candidates with similar majors.
You’re Early in Your Career: Recent graduates have fewer professional accomplishments to highlight, making academic credentials more important for demonstrating qualifications.
The Job Description Mentions Related Skills: If a job listing specifically mentions knowledge areas covered by your minor, including it directly addresses stated requirements.
It Shows Intellectual Breadth: For roles valuing diverse perspectives or interdisciplinary thinking, showing varied academic interests can be advantageous.
When to Omit Your Minor
Consider omitting your minor when:
Space Is Limited: If you’re an experienced professional fitting significant accomplishments onto one page, academic details may warrant condensing.
It’s Completely Unrelated: A chemistry minor when applying for graphic design positions adds little value and consumes space better used for relevant content.
You’re Well Into Your Career: With 10+ years of professional experience, your work history speaks louder than academic credentials. Educational details often condense over time.
It Might Raise Concerns: In rare cases, a minor might signal interests that could raise questions about career commitment (though this is usually not the case).
The Degree Itself Is Sufficient: Sometimes the major alone communicates everything relevant, and adding the minor provides no additional benefit.
Strategic Considerations by Industry
Different industries weight academic credentials differently:
Academia and Research: Include all academic details; credentials are highly valued.
Healthcare: Include relevant minors, especially in sciences or patient-related fields.
Technology: Technical minors add value; humanities minors may be less relevant but can demonstrate communication skills.
Finance and Consulting: Quantitative minors strengthen candidacy; broad liberal arts minors show analytical breadth.
Creative Industries: Diverse minors can demonstrate creative range; technical minors show production capabilities.
Government and Nonprofits: Include minors that demonstrate relevant knowledge areas or policy expertise.
Standard Formatting for Major and Minor
Several accepted formats exist for presenting your major and minor. Choose based on your specific situation and resume style.
Basic Format Examples
Format 1: Degree with Major and Minor
Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Minor in Data Analytics
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | May 2024Format 2: Degree, Major, Minor on Separate Elements
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Psychology | Minor: Statistics
Boston University | Boston, MA | May 2023Format 3: Degree with Comma-Separated Fields
B.S., Computer Science, Mathematics Minor
Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2024Format 4: Simple Single Line
B.A. in English, Minor in Business Administration | UCLA | 2023Format 5: Emphasis on Both Fields
Bachelor of Science
Double Major: Finance and Economics | Minor: Spanish
New York University | New York, NY | May 2024Formatting for Different Degree Types
Bachelor’s Degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Business
Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | May 2024
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minor in Economics
Georgetown University | Washington, DC | May 2023
Summa Cum LaudeAssociate Degrees:
Associate of Science in Nursing, Minor in Psychology
Community College of Denver | Denver, CO | May 2024Note: Associate degrees less commonly include formal minors, but some programs offer concentrations or focus areas that can be listed similarly.
Graduate Degrees:
Master of Business Administration, Concentration in Finance
University of Chicago Booth School of Business | Chicago, IL | May 2023
Undergraduate: B.S. in Engineering, Minor in Economics, MITGraduate degrees typically don’t have minors, but you can reference undergraduate minors when relevant, especially if they complement the graduate degree.
Double Majors vs. Major/Minor
Distinguish between double majors and major/minor combinations:
Double Major:
Bachelor of Science
Double Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | May 2024Major with Two Minors:
Bachelor of Arts in English
Minors: Philosophy and Creative Writing
University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | May 2023Major with Concentration and Minor:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Concentration: Marketing | Minor: Psychology
University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | May 2024International and Non-Traditional Credentials
For international degrees or non-traditional programs:
International Degree:
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Marketing
Minor: International Business
University of Toronto | Toronto, ON, Canada | 2023Non-Traditional Programs:
Bachelor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership
Minor in Human Resource Management
SUNY Empire State College | Online/New York | 2024Detailed Education Section Examples
Complete education section examples help you visualize how major/minor listings fit within the broader context.
Recent Graduate Example
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Finance, Minor in Information Systems
Indiana University Kelley School of Business | Bloomington, IN | May 2024
• GPA: 3.8/4.0 | Dean's List (6 semesters)
• Relevant Coursework: Financial Modeling, Database Management, Business Analytics
• Activities: Finance Club President, Investment Banking Competition FinalistExperienced Professional Example
EDUCATION
MBA, Strategy Concentration
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management | Evanston, IL | 2018
B.S. in Economics, Minor in Statistics
University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 2013Career Changer Example
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Minor in Business Administration
Duke University | Durham, NC | 2015
Professional Development:
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification | 2022
• Business Analysis Fundamentals | LinkedIn Learning | 2021Multiple Degrees Example
EDUCATION
Master of Public Policy
Harvard Kennedy School | Cambridge, MA | May 2024
Bachelor of Science in Economics, Minor in Political Science
Yale University | New Haven, CT | May 2020
• Magna Cum Laude | Phi Beta KappaStrategic Positioning of Academic Credentials
How prominently you feature your education affects how employers perceive your qualifications.
Position Based on Career Stage
Recent Graduates (0-2 years experience):
- Place Education section immediately after Professional Summary (if used) or at the top
- Include full detail: GPA (if strong), honors, relevant coursework, activities
- Give equal or greater weight to education as experience
Early Career (2-5 years experience):
- Place Education after Work Experience
- Include major, minor, school, graduation year
- May reduce additional details
- GPA becomes optional (include if 3.5+)
Mid-Career (5-10 years experience):
- Condense education significantly
- Degree, major, school sufficient
- Minor optional—include only if directly relevant
- No GPA, limited additional details
Senior/Executive (10+ years experience):
- Minimal education details
- Often just degree, school, year
- Exception: Prestigious programs or highly relevant advanced degrees
Emphasizing Relevant Credentials
When your minor is particularly relevant, emphasize it appropriately:
Technique 1: Lead with Minor in Summary
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Marketing analyst with B.S. in Business Administration and Data Analytics minor combining marketing strategy expertise with strong quantitative analysis skills...Technique 2: Expanded Education Details
EDUCATION
B.S. in Business Administration, Minor in Data Analytics
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 2023
Data Analytics Minor Coursework:
• Statistical Analysis and Modeling
• Database Design and SQL
• Business Intelligence and Visualization
• Predictive AnalyticsTechnique 3: Skills Section Connection
SKILLS
Data Analytics (academic minor): Python, SQL, Tableau, Statistical Modeling
Marketing: Campaign Management, Market Research, Brand StrategyDe-Emphasizing When Appropriate
When your minor is less relevant, minimize its prominence:
Technique 1: Simple Single-Line Format
B.A. in Communications, Minor in Art History | USC | 2020Technique 2: Omit Entirely For very experienced professionals or when completely irrelevant, simply omit the minor:
B.S. in Computer Science | MIT | 2015Common Questions and Situations
Several common scenarios require specific guidance.
What If I Completed Minor Coursework But Didn’t Officially Graduate With It?
If you completed significant coursework in an area but didn’t formally receive a minor designation:
Option 1: Relevant Coursework Section
B.A. in English
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 2024
Relevant Coursework: Business Communications, Marketing Fundamentals,
Consumer Behavior, Business StatisticsOption 2: Concentration or Focus
B.A. in English with Business Focus
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 2024Avoid claiming a formal minor you didn’t receive, but you can highlight relevant coursework that demonstrates knowledge in an area.
How Do I List an Incomplete Minor?
If you started but didn’t complete a minor:
Generally, don’t list incomplete minors. Instead, highlight relevant courses:
B.S. in Biology
University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 2024
Additional Coursework: Organic Chemistry I & II, Biochemistry FundamentalsShould I List My Minor If My GPA Was Low?
Your minor GPA is typically not listed separately. If your overall GPA was low but you performed well in your minor area:
Option: Highlight minor-specific achievements rather than GPA:
B.A. in History, Minor in Economics
University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 2023
• Economics Minor Academic Achievement Award
• Dean's List (Economics coursework)How Do I Handle Multiple Minors?
List multiple minors when relevant:
B.S. in Marketing
Minors: Data Analytics and Psychology
Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | 2024If space is limited, prioritize the most relevant minor:
B.S. in Marketing, Minor in Data Analytics
Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | 2024What About Certificates vs. Minors?
Distinguish between formal minors and academic certificates:
B.A. in Communications
Minor: Marketing | Certificate: Digital Media Production
Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | 2024How Do I List Study Abroad Programs?
If your minor relates to international study:
B.A. in International Relations, Minor in Arabic Studies
Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 2023
• Arabic Language Studies, American University in Cairo (Spring 2022)Industry-Specific Formatting Considerations
Different industries have varying conventions for presenting academic credentials.
Technology and Engineering
Technical fields often value specific technical minors:
B.S. in Computer Science, Minor in Mathematics
Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | 2024
• Focus: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Senior Project: Neural Network Optimization AlgorithmHealthcare and Sciences
Healthcare values scientifically rigorous credentials:
B.S. in Nursing, Minor in Psychology
Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 2024
• Psychology Minor Focus: Clinical and Health Psychology
• Research: Patient Communication Outcomes StudyBusiness and Finance
Business schools often offer concentrations rather than minors:
B.S. in Business Administration
Concentration: Finance | Minor: Economics
University of Michigan Ross School of Business | Ann Arbor, MI | 2024Creative and Design Fields
Creative fields may value diverse educational backgrounds:
B.F.A. in Graphic Design, Minor in Marketing
Rhode Island School of Design | Providence, RI | 2024
• Portfolio: www.portfoliourl.comEducation and Nonprofit
Educational backgrounds often include multiple teaching areas:
B.A. in Elementary Education, Minor in Special Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 2024
• Illinois Teaching License: Elementary Education (K-9)
• Special Education Endorsement: Learning DisabilitiesProfessional Resume Building Considerations
Creating a polished resume that properly presents your academic credentials benefits from attention to formatting and presentation details. Professional resume building tools like 0portfolio.com provide templates that properly format education sections, ensuring your major and minor information appears in industry-standard formats that both human readers and applicant tracking systems can easily parse.
ATS Considerations for Education Sections
When listing your major and minor, consider how applicant tracking systems will parse the information:
ATS-Friendly Practices:
- Use standard degree abbreviations (B.S., B.A., M.S., M.B.A.)
- Include the complete university name (not just abbreviations)
- Use “Minor in” or “Minor:” clearly before the minor field
- Spell out the major field completely
- Include graduation date in standard format
Example of ATS-Optimized Format:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Minor in Business Administration
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | May 2024Formatting Consistency
Whatever format you choose for listing your major and minor, apply it consistently throughout your resume if you have multiple degrees or academic credentials.
Conclusion
Listing your major and minor on your resume is a straightforward process when you understand the conventions and strategic considerations involved. The key decisions involve determining whether your minor adds value for your target roles, selecting an appropriate format, and positioning your academic credentials appropriately for your career stage.
For recent graduates and early-career professionals, academic credentials including minors play a significant role in demonstrating qualifications. As your career progresses, professional accomplishments take precedence, and educational details typically condense.
Choose a format that presents your credentials clearly, emphasizes relevant qualifications, and fits cleanly within your overall resume design. When your minor directly supports your candidacy, feature it prominently. When it’s tangential, a simple mention or omission may be more appropriate.
Remember that your educational credentials are just one part of the comprehensive picture you’re presenting to potential employers. They should integrate seamlessly with your experience, skills, and professional narrative to tell a coherent story of your qualifications and potential value.
