examples of course works

How to Write a Coursework

Coursework projects do not resemble essays, research papers, or dissertations. They are the combination of all three. Students spend less time writing coursework than on making a term paper, but this type of work requires more time and efforts than an ordinary essay - it is made of several essays. Thanks to our guide, each student can discover how to write coursework. If you are running out of time or lack experience to complete the specific coursework, we recommend using our coursework writing services to hire professional academic writers.

What is Coursework and Why Does It Matter?

Coursework definition: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) coursework is a typical academic assignment, given in the course of study to evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, and identify the final grade. Many students face this type of writing in the US colleges. One of the examples is a coursework UTD (The University of Texas at Dallas) - the requirements of this institution are strict, and many students fail to submit their papers and pass the corresponding courses.

Such type of assignment helps to have the ‘detective’ hat on: a student observes, examines, and evaluates the chosen topic using credible, up-to-date, and relevant sources. Working under controlled conditions is important. Participating in every school class will help to prepare good coursework by the end of the term. Take a look at the examples of what students of various profiles may face:

• English Composition - English coursework is an extended essay in most cases. A student has a right to pick the topic. The tutors provide their students with the list of recommended titles to choose from, sources to observe & analyze, and a format (e.g., a comparison between different relevant articles)
• Sciences - coursework for science is a complicated assignment. Such type of work appears in the form of a scientific paper to test what a writer investigates and reports independently.
• Geography - geography coursework is about collecting, reporting, and explaining information to reply to a certain geographical question or offer solutions to the problem. One idea is to explore the usage of a shopping mall or analyze the recent tornado. No matter whether you have to prepare a coursework Columbia or such paper for other educational institutions, keep in mind these differences!

Types of Coursework Explained

English Language coursework is the most common type of this assignment. At advanced GCE level, the student will be expected to write a couple of essays, totaling 3,000 words. Every assignment is 20 marks maximum.

An analytical essay : Evaluate, compare, & contrast 3 different sources of data interconnected by a common theme; written /spoken / multimedia content. Discuss different uses for targeting various audiences. Learn more on our blog.

Original essay with a supportive commentary : A student will have to come up with a single piece of media writing in the observed modes (written, spoken, or multimodal). Add a supporting piece with details about the aspects of English language. English Language & Literature coursework is a bit different. The basic requirements are the same, and the parts are:

An analytical study : Sharing an analysis of the chosen piece and its relation to the related content. It will show how well the writer understands the original piece. Tutors grade such works based on the:

• Use of the proper terminology and the coherence of the written words;
• Understanding & evaluation of the way a structure, form, and language create the written & spoken word;
• Opportunity to observe relationships between various pieces of writing.

Creative writing & commentary : Produce a creative piece that imitates the style of the assessed text. Share comments to backup your understanding. The goal is to show the knowledge, prove the competence, and use appropriate language skills in communicating with the target audience. You will also need a relevant coursework resume (review) in both cases. Keep on reading to learn how to write coursework of A level.

How to Write a Coursework: Guide for Students

Several factors may lead to the coursework being disqualified. It is a serious matter! The risk factors include:

• Plagiarism - it is the worst thing that could happen to any type of academic assignment. Lots of relevant information is available on the world wide web today, and the tutors are strict about the issue of plagiarism. Write everything in your own words! If you decide to insert the quotes from the sources, apply the suggested citation format and develop a list of references. Sign the declaration claiming it is your original project. If you're unsure about how to approach this, seeking professional help by choosing to write my coursework can be a wise decision.
• Word count - do not ignore the specific requirements concerning the length of the coursework. Specify if the footnotes, appendices, & references are included in the word count.
• Topics - go through the list of available themes. If there is an examination planned on the specific topic, try to pick another idea for the coursework.
• Tutor’s assistance - do not ignore the help of your instructor, ask them to provide guidance on what to write. Ask the questions to learn more details, but keep in mind they can go through the 1st draft once and just offer some general recommendations.

Choosing a Topic for Your Project

Dedicate enough time to this extra important question. Select the field of your interest if it is possible to relate it to the course. That is the golden rule of choosing a coursework topic - keep in mind the rest of the hints:

• Analyze the offered list of topics or develop yours
• Pick a topic from the area of your expertise related to the studied subject
• Select the topic you are interested in
• Choose the topic you’ve started to observe in the past
• Check how much relevant, up-to-date information is available on the Internet about each of the topics
• Pick what you can measure, change, & control (they call it a ‘fair test’)
• Use the ideas of previous researchers and students
• Do not choose a topic with a vast scope - you risk struggling to research it correctly

10 Good Coursework Topics

• Non-traditional Forms of Poetry with TC Tolbert
• Documentary Foundations: Usage of Oral Histories with Beth Alvarado
• Traditional Forms of Poetry
• Hermit Crabs: Type of Fiction
• Writing the Autobiographical Poem
• Creative Non-Fiction on the Examples of New Journalists
• Authors without Borders
• Writing the Sticky Stuff
• Socially Engaged Literary Arts
• Common Vocabulary

Research & Data Collection

Research is an integral part of coursework. Have you written research papers before? If yes, you will find it easier to select proper primary & secondary sources and gather the necessary information (evidence to support the main point - thesis). Depending on the required paper format, cite & reference the following sources:

• Books & e-Books

Base the project on a specific hypothesis. The research must start with minimum one hypothesis. The research stage for some topics may consist of visiting websites to collect information. Leave another time for collecting the data as it is the heart of the research. Three methods of data collection are known:

• Direct personal investigation : The one an author does individually (using literature and findings from previous studies);
• Interview/Questionnaire : The researcher should gather the data from the respondents asking questions regarding required data;
• Discussion with community leaders : Community leaders are approached to fetch information for the necessary data.

In case a student works on a scientific experiment, they should pay attention to planning the analysis with the help of rigorous scientific methods (keeping in mind the Health & Safety precautions you take). Review background information and theories. Take notes to express what you expect to occur to compare & contrast it to what happened in real life. In the write-up stage, one has to evaluate and present the findings.

Writing a Coursework Outline

The writing process follows the research. Do not start it without preparing an action plan and scheduling the work - a paper pin for English coursework is based on an extended essay . An outline will look different for the science coursework projects. The goal of creating a plan is to prevent a writer from being disorganized and waffling.

Let us explain coursework outline on the specific example - a project on the global pursuit of lower costs and the role of human rights.

Start with the brief introduction explaining why it might be a topic of interest for many people. Mention those vast corporations like Wal-Mart abuse human rights by choosing and using child labor in the factories.

Provide an overview of the problem . Define human rights and costs. Pick the definitions from the official dictionaries and cite them properly when inserting in the text. Try to explain the terms in your own words.

Develop a body of the coursework , start with the case for & against ethical business practices. Using evidence and examples, list the arguments supporting ethical business practices and another side of the coin. Include a business case for ethical practices after the opening body paragraph.

Move to discussing ethical responsibilities ; explain why business organizations should care about the ethical aspects of their activities. After three sections of the body, one can conclude the paper. It can be a good idea to share a fact or statistics stressing the importance of research problem in the essay conclusion. End up with the reference list that may look this way:

• Klein N (2000) No Logo (Flamingo, London)
• Marcousé I, Gillespie A, Martin B, Surridge M and Wall N (2003) Business Studies 2e (Hodder Arnold, Oxon)
• Royal Dutch Shell (2006) 4th Quarter Financial Report at (site example)

Additional Elements

Supporting materials and pictures are a must! The sciences & geography projects require tables, charts, graphs, and other types of images to illustrate the complicated topic. Not only should you add the pictures - it is essential to interpret and reference each of them. A separate part of the coursework where the student list and explains every visual element is Appendix , and it is an optional part. The presence of appendix increases the chances to earn an A+.

How to Write an Introduction for Coursework?

Most of the students underestimate the role of introduction & conclusion when it comes to writing an essay. An eye-catchy introduction is a key to success. The primary purposes of a coursework introduction are:

• To grab the reader’s attention
• To introduce the topic
• To explain the research importance
• To come up with a compelling thesis statement

The opening paragraph shows the depth of the writer’s acquaintance with the topic. Look at the expert tips below. They will help to learn how to write a coursework introduction to make the tutor want to read your entire paper.

What Is an Introduction?

The introduction of GCSE coursework is the opening paragraph that aims to interpret the central questions and purposes of the entire paper. It should have several elements to be effective. Those are:

• A hook sentence
• Background information
• Problem significance
• Solid thesis statement

Advice from our Experienced Writer

How to write an introduction to coursework? The quality of this part predetermines paper’s success. Look at some common mistakes writers do while working on the coursework introduction - try to prevent them!

Ignoring the prompt. Many students tend to neglect the tutor’s instructions. It is critical to read the prompt several times, highlight the main points, research question, rules, and grading rubric details.

Missing a plan. The prompt does not always say to develop a coursework outline. Without a plan for every separate section, it is impossible to write a flawless piece step-by-step. No matter whether you have to write a term paper, research paper, dissertation, or C3 coursework, get ready with the detailed plan. Once you understand how to write an introduction, it will be easier to develop the rest of the paper.

For those who need a helping hand in ensuring their work meets all the standards and deadlines, don't hesitate to buy coursework from trusted professionals.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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How to Write Coursework: Pro Tips for Students

Table of contents

• 1 What is Coursework?
• 2 Types of Coursework
• 3.3 Conclusion
• 4 Coursework Writing Rules
• 5 Coursework Writing Tips For College Students

Coursework is a major component of studying that requires so much attention and effort to write. Students often need to present a massive amount of pages, do experiments, practice their public speaking skills, use the help of teachers, analyze data and discuss it, present information and do so much more if they wish to deliver quality coursework before the deadline.

Before writing, you need to know all the requirements and standards for your coursework as it helps to make the process of writing more successful and achieve the required results that you can demonstrate to the teacher and present in the class.

When writing a coursework paper, you should take into account the advice of your teachers and other senior students who have such experience. This helps to work faster and make the process of working more efficiently so you get better results.

What is Coursework?

Coursework is an academic paper that shows how a student knows and understands what he or she has learned during the course. It can be based on a science project or other experiments and includes as much data as stipulated by the requirements.

Every paper has specific formatting and structure. Students should select a topic and thesis before writing the main sections, they also should outline the main structure and only then create the content for all sections.

The topic and thesis, size of work, and the subject and objectives of coursework can be very different. That is why students need to know their requirements even if they have made and read many similar papers before. Coursework papers are usually also checked for plagiarism and grammatical correctness using such tools as plagiarism checker free by PapersOwl.

Types of Coursework

The first thing you need to know here is that there are a few different types of these assignments. In order to know how to write coursework, you need to understand each type. Below we have explained them in detail so you will be able to learn the basics in no time and apply these to your writing. Keep in mind that the differences are massive. Hence, you will want to understand this part of the task as much as possible.

• Analytical essay This is a very common option, and it involves 3 sources that are connected. They are connected by the same theme. You can pay close attention to the spoken, written, and also multimedia sources that are important to your topic. You also need to target a specific audience in order to produce more detailed and accurate writing.
• Essay that has supportive commentary Here you will need to find one piece of the media element. It can be watched or read from the source. Then you will add your own details and specifics that are related closely to the English language.
• Creative paper paired with commentary The goal here is to produce a paper that reveals your skills and your knowledge when it comes to addressing a specific audience. Your paper needs to imitate the style of the assigned piece.
• Analytical study This is a very appealing and one of the simplest options here. A student will have to pick, or he will be given a piece of work. His mission is to analyze it in detail. The goal is to see how well the student has understood the piece. Teachers will evaluate terminology, details, and specifics used in the writing process.

If you are looking for assistance with writing your coursework, PapersOwl offers a convenient coursework writing service that can help you to get the best results quickly. Coursework writing can be challenging and time-consuming, but with the help of our experts, you can be sure that you will receive a high-quality paper. Our team of experienced writers has been thoroughly trained to provide you with the best coursework writing service available.

Steps of Writing

These tasks are complicated, so you will need a lot of time, and you need to know how to write each section perfectly. This is something we will reveal below. Keep in mind that you must conduct proper research, which is more time-consuming than any other paper requires. You need a lot of time to produce a proper paper of this kind as well.

how to write a coursework introduction? The best thing to do is to start with a hook. It is one sentence designed to catch the attention of the readers. You can use a joke, a fact, statistical data, or something else.

Then, you will have to briefly mention what you are going to discuss in the sections below. You can check coursework examples and learn more about this step. It is that important. Some students prefer completing it as the last part of the task.

All coursework assignments will have body sections where you need to present all your facts and data. This is the most important part here. Keep in mind that you need to have a single paragraph explained in detail, and you need to make sure each section is well-written, has no mistakes, and is directed.

The latter means that you will be focused on one point and explaining the point. Once you are done, move to the next paragraph. This is something we can see mandatory with related articles as well. One of the common mistakes is mixing the facts you want to reveal.

How to write a coursework conclusion? In this environment, you will need a strong conclusion that is done in a proper manner. You need to conclude the paper by revealing the specifics and what you have discovered. Do not introduce new elements here, and don’t try to stay positive and negative about the topic. Be direct and try to write a strong conclusion that will make readers wonder.

Writing coursework can be a daunting task, but Papersowl is here to make the process easier for you. Our team of experienced writers is ready to help you create exceptional coursework that will help you achieve your academic objectives. At Papersowl , we are committed to providing reliable and high-quality coursework writing services. We understand the significance of submitting well-structured and high-quality coursework, and our aim is to help you get the best possible grades.

Coursework Writing Rules

You need to check what the teacher wants of you and what results you need to show him or her. You are able to discuss the main points with your teachers until you understand them and know what to do. However, be careful and do this only when you really don’t have any idea what to do.

A good topic helps you in writing all the other sections of your paper, you should choose the topic that interests you and motivates you to go forward. This is a way to make the work go quickly and make the process more exciting for you.

• Don’t copy the work of other students. You can use literature and other sources if you cite them correctly in your paper because copying other papers can be easily recognized by systems for finding plagiarism.
• You should also use words and phrases that are common for scientific work. There are websites and other resources that you are able to use to check the grammatical correctness of your papers, be sure to revise and edit your work several times before publishing.
• The main sections of your work should support your topic and thesis given in the introduction. You can use many ways to present data such as text, numbers, tables, graphs, etc. From time to time, you need to return to paragraphs you have already revised and check for mistakes.
• There are usually specific terms for writing coursework. That is why your work should be planned so you are able to finish it yourself or use service “ complete coursework for me ” online. It may require more time than you think so the earlier you start working, the better it would be for you.
• To get the data you need, you can use different types of sources. Look for information in brick-and-mortar and web libraries, and browse specific databases. You have to cite all the sources you use in the appropriate sections of your coursework.

Coursework Writing Tips For College Students

There are ways to complete your coursework fast and get the results you need. If you use these ways from the start, you can do less and get more. Experienced students know them and use them when working on all their studies and projects.

• Planning your work is crucial if you also have other activities and have to spend time on other courses, make a schedule of activities by starting writing the introduction to the main presentation. You should ensure you have a few days to check and edit your work, even if you think it is ready for publishing.
• Organize your workplace in a way that you can learn with no distractions. You can learn at home, in the library, and even in parks, but choose the places where you won’t be distracted and can work on your paper with excitement. You should also relax a little bit to make your writing clearer and check the paragraphs you have created.
• Discuss your paper with other students who are assigned to write their coursework papers. Sharing experiences can help do research well and write more legible and interesting papers. You can also read papers from other students to understand the correct knowledge and data presentation.
• Use such services as Google Drive , cloud databases, etc., as it helps you access data from different devices and not worry. You can use the services for storing your texts and tables, images, and diagrams, and there is also a system for reviewing texts and adding comments.

When writing coursework, students show what they have learned during the course. This is a process that requires a lot of attention and research. Coursework should be checked for easy readability and understanding, free of grammatical errors and plagiarism.

Students need to know the requirements and what they need to create. The structure and formatting of the work should also be considered before writing the main sections. To learn more, students can read ready papers and check the coursework of experienced researchers.

This process could be difficult and require a lot of effort, but there are ways to make it easier. In a productive workplace, planning, and scheduling, and using different sources can help to have less effort and get what you need in a shorter timeframe.

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How to Write a Coursework: Complete Guide

In all academic writing assignments, coursework is the most important. It reveals students` writing skills. This type of academic writing is used to assess a student’s understanding of a subject. Coursework combines all the requirements needed in all types of academic writing. This means that a perfect coursework paper requires more than just decent and basic writing skills. However, this has been made easier by our team of experts who have combined their experience and expertise to create a guide on how to write an excellent coursework paper and ultimately improve our writing.

Coursework is a type of academic writing that can show the full capabilities of a student. It offers a different environment from an exam room while giving a student a chance to excel. The coursework assignment is an opportunity if you look at it in a literal way. If you cannot perform well in your exams, it can be a lifesaver, but it can be as challenging as an exam.

If that is not enough, our experts can also craft the best coursework paper for you to reinvent your writing ultimately. They have passed through special vetting and training to allow them to provide the highest quality of work for customers. Our company’s primary goal is not to make money but to give the top quality services to students all across the world at affordable prices.

Table of Contents

Coursework Simplified – What is Coursework?

Coursework papers can be described as an extension of a school project or essay. The role of coursework varies from different disciplines that a student is majoring in. When writing your coursework paper, conducting relevant research plays a very vital role. The emphasis required is independent for various topics. Doing the research is like an investigation, and every bit of detail matters largely. Act like a detective when searching, analyzing, and investigating sources of information for your topic.

How to Write a Good Coursework

We strongly recommend you to begin your coursework as soon as you are given such a task. Brilliant coursework needs a lot of time, so you have to start as early as possible. Always stay calm so that you cannot mess up your performance due to pressure. Do not rush to complete your assignment on one sitting. Divide your workload precisely and work slowly from day to day. This way, you can have manageable work to do every day, enabling you to pay great attention to your assignment.

Brilliant Writing Tips – How to Start a Coursework

The most important and vital part of coursework writing is research. Always make sure all the sources of information you use are credible. Various sources like material written by authentic writers, visiting the libraries, surfing the internet, or written class notes can be used as great sources.

Try to be organized and make an efficient timetable before you start working on your assignments. Follow your set timetable and avoid rushing your work. Never work on your coursework when your deadline is approaching. In case of emergencies, preset a completion date before you are required to submit your work.

The Perfect Way on How to Structure a Coursework

If you want to excel in coursework writing, you need to have a good structure. This means:

• Structuring your coursework is essential for all academic writing for a reason. A structure allows a writer to thoroughly layout your assignments and plans on how your final paper will look.
• A coursework structure is created after finishing the studying of your research sources. When doing this, you can loom at good coursework written by other students.
• Be careful not to have plagiarism because it is a huge mistake that can cause you to ultimately fail your coursework paper.
• Create a structure that can provide you with reliable follow up when writing your assignment.

A Proven and Brilliant Coursework Introduction

The introduction is what draws in a reader. It should be enticing but short. Your beginning statement should always draw in your reader. This will make the argument or information interesting, leaving your reader asking for more. Once you have a great beginning and all the context needed, countercheck your paper to make sure it is consistent and coherent. Don’t be discouraged if you write your introduction many times, it means you have a grasp of the right thing to do.

A Great Coursework Body

The body is where a writer states the main argument and fully develops it. Each paragraph should contain a key point clearly supporting an argument. The follow up should support all key points and be backed up with substantial evidence. The body of the essay is the building block for the coursework assignment. The body paragraph will be quite readable if it doesn’t contain large chunks of text. Simple paragraphs of 4-5 lines are quite enough.

Coursework Examples and Samples

Discover how reading our coursework samples can give you a better understanding of how coursework is written. Our samples are written by professional writers with expertise in a wide variety of subjects.

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What Is a Coursework and How to Write a Paper: A Simple Guide

• Icon Calendar 16 May 2024
• Icon Page 2715 words
• Icon Clock 13 min read

Academic writing is an essential activity in higher education and comes in various forms. Basically, one of these forms is coursework writing, where instructors assess students’ level of understanding of a course during a semester. In this case, unlike other papers, coursework assignments evaluate students’ understanding of the course and not just a topic in the class. Moreover, various forms of coursework writing include essays, term papers, theses, dissertations, and report projects. Hence, students need to learn what is a coursework assignment and how to write such a paper.

What Is a Coursework Paper

College and university students undertake different kinds of academic exercises, with writing projects taking a significant portion. Basically, one of these exercises is the writing of coursework, an assignment that they submit at the end of the semester. Ideally, this kind of work assesses students’ understanding of a particular field of study within a single semester. In turn, instructors rarely require students to write a coursework assignment for things they learned during the previous semester.

Definition of a Coursework

By definition, a coursework assignment is an academic project that students undertake in the course of study and which they must submit before the closure of the semester. For example, such types of papers aim to evaluate students’ level of knowledge and skills acquisition, meaning the work contributes to students’ final grades. Ideally, coursework is what students learn during a semester, and such an assignment is meant to measure how well they have understood the subject matter. Moreover, students use reliable and relevant sources to study, examine and evaluate the chosen coursework topic. Therefore, a coursework assignment is very similar to other writing assignments, such as essays, reports, thesis writing, and dissertations.

Differences With Other Papers

In the course of their classes, students write different types of papers, including essays and reports. Basically, the major difference between coursework writing and these papers is that it assesses students’ understanding of what they have discovered throughout the semester. In contrast, essays and other papers assess students’ understanding of a specific topic, concept, result, or theory. Moreover, students may need to address an issue in their coursework that they might have addressed in an essay assignment sometime during the semester. As such, a coursework assignment is broader in scope than other papers.

Expectations

Like essays and other papers, a coursework assignment varies from one area of study to another. For example, there is a coursework for the English subject and another for the sciences. Therefore, students are expected to complete their coursework assignments according to their instructor’s or department’s instructions. In most cases, this expectation includes presenting the assignment in an essay format, where they select a title of their choice. Depending on the subject, some coursework assignments expect students to collect, examine, infer, and report data when answering a specific question.

When it comes to the grading of academic assignments, instructors look at how well a student has attended to all the requirements and expectations. For instance, these requirements include writing about a choice of themes or text excerpts in a given format. In this case, students must use an approach that they believe is likely to give them a higher grade, meaning an approach that helps them to answer the question methodically, logically, and critically by using relevant information. In essence, these are three dimensions for grading a coursework assignment.

Constructing a Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Coursework Assignment

Like an essay, a coursework assignment takes a particular structure. Basically, students should understand the core components and make sure that they address them in their academic writing. In this case, the most significant issue for students is to ensure a logical flow of ideas. Moreover, developing a thesis statement is essential to provide high-quality essays with a guideline on focal issues. Primarily, these issues are the concepts and theories that the student has learned in a specific course during the semester.

Step 1: Preparation

Planning or preparation is the first step in writing a coursework paper. For instance, the essence of any form of academic writing is to measure a student’s level of understanding about a particular area of study. Since the coursework measures what a student has learned in a given course, it is paramount for each person to prepare well when executing the assignment. Here, learners have to choose a topic that they are comfortable with, one that they are passionate about. Additionally, they should generate ideas about their coursework by deciding what is relevant and what is not. In this case, the reasoning that guides this decision is the expectation outlined in assignment instructions. Lastly, students should understand their audience – consumers of their work or readers. Like any other assignment, the audience is course instructors. Hence, writers should ensure coursework satisfies a curiosity of readers.

Step 2: Setting Up

After preparation, students should set up the stage for coursework writing. Basically, the first preoccupation is to find sources relevant to the assignment prompt – those that are more likely to provide enough evidence and support needed claims. As students review credible sources, they should take notes to provide a strong argumentation in their coursework. Then, another activity involves deciding on the coursework outline, which should help answer the assignment prompt logically and critically. Lastly, learners should create an annotated bibliography, a summary of each source they intend to use as the basis of their arguments in the coursework.

Step 3: Writing the Coursework

After preparing and setting up the stage, students should start writing the coursework assignment. In this case, armed with notes taken during the review of reliable sources and the outline they have created, students should start with the first draft, where they develop a thesis statement. Basing all opinions and arguments on the thesis, writers should answer the assignment prompt methodically, logically, and critically. Moreover, the thesis statement should ‘hook’ the audience and make them interested in reading the substantial part of the paper – the body. In essence, the body is where students use all the evidence they have gathered about the topic, while the thesis informs the audience of what individuals have focused on in the paper.

Step 4: Wrapping It Up

It is normal for a writer to make mistakes when writing an academic document. For example, these mistakes include inconsistent arguments, irrelevant content, punctuation errors, and countless grammatical mistakes. Therefore, after completing the draft, students should read it through, at least twice, to identify these mistakes and correct them. Basically, the processes of correction include revising and editing the paper. Regarding revisions, students should give their work to a friend or mentor to read it through. In their feedback, these individuals are likely to point out areas where authors should make corrections for the paper to be logical and interesting to read. Concerning editing the paper, students should proofread their work to ensure it is free of spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and other grammatical mishaps.

Step 5: Developing Body Paragraphs

The body paragraph of any academic text, including a coursework assignment, utilizes several features to make the paper logical. Basically, the first feature is the topic sentence that opens up each paragraph. Also, the purpose of this feature is to strengthen the central idea captured in the thesis statement. Then, the rest of the paragraph structure backs up this claim using evidence gathered from different sources. In turn, another feature is a concluding sentence, which closes each paragraph. For instance, the goal of this aspect is to connect the topic sentence with the thesis statement. Finally, another feature is transition words and phrases that help readers sense a logical flow of ideas throughout the paper. In short, writers use transitions within and between paragraphs to create a logical flow of information and ideas.

Step 6: Referencing Format and Peer Reviewing

Besides ensuring the paper is written methodically and logically, students should see that it meets the highest academic writing standards. In this regard, they should ensure it follows after a particular format – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian. In most cases, the assignment prompt dictates the format that learners should use. Moreover, the referencing format informs about the structure of the paper and the format of citations. In turn, another essential activity that students should perform is to commit the paper to peer review. Here, authors give coursework papers to distinguished scholars, such as a professor or classmate, to assess the validity and quality of information used, including sources.

Step 7: Writing the Final Draft of a Coursework Paper

After subjecting the first draft to vigorous scrutiny through revisions, editions, and peer review, students should start writing the final draft of a coursework paper. Basically, this draft should be thoroughly polished, meaning it should be free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes, as well as inconsistent arguments and irrelevant sentences. Moreover, it should indicate an effective use of transitions in the body paragraphs. In short, the final draft is an improved version of the first draft because writers have revised and edited it and incorporated feedback from a friend, mentor, or professor. However, they still need to read through the final draft, at least once, to ensure it is perfect before submission to the department. In turn, if students note several mistakes, it means another revision is necessary. Hence, the student’s focus should be the content, organization of ideas, style of writing, and format.

Types of Coursework

Given that coursework assignments test students’ level of understanding about a course’s content in a given semester, it means that it takes several forms. For example, these include a term paper, a Master’s thesis, a dissertation, or a report project. Ideally, the coursework is an essential requirement for a student to complete the course successfully. It also means the coursework is essential to be awarded a degree. In turn, the only difference between these types of coursework assignments is that they take a different approach to examining and analyzing course content, with each subject taking a unique approach.

Coursework Writing Techniques

The dream of every student is to pass any assessment and attain a higher grade. In a coursework assignment, students can utilize different techniques to ensure they attain higher grades after assessments. As indicated earlier about the grading of coursework, learners should use an approach that they believe answers the assignment prompt methodically, logically, and critically. As a result, every technique they use must allow them to answer the question in a way that satisfies these three grading dimensions.

1. Compare and Contrast Technique

A compare and contrast essay technique is about analyzing two subjects, ideas, concepts, or theories by comparing them, contrasting them, or doing both. Basically, the purpose of answering a coursework assignment through this approach is that students must not state obvious things. Instead, they need to shed light on the subtle differences or unexpected similarities between subjects, ideas, concepts, or theories.

2. Cause and Effect Technique

A cause and effect essay technique allows writers to develop their paper’s body by analyzing the reasons for and the consequences of a decision, action, or event. When organizing a paragraph, students adopt a structure that allows them to arrange the causes and effects in a chronological or reverse chronological order. Alternatively, authors can present their arguments through emphasis, starting from least important to most important aspects, or vice versa.

3. Investigation Technique

An investigation technique involves undertaking an in-depth examination of a topic, idea, concept, or theory. Basically, this technique’s primary goal is to demonstrate that students have gained a thorough knowledge of the subject, which is indicated in their methodical, logical, and critical analysis and presentation of information. In this case, ensuring that research findings are interpreted and presented in an organized manner throughout the essay is critical. Ultimately, the technique enables writers to demonstrate their articulate understanding of the various viewpoints about the issue under investigation. 

How to Present Strong Arguments

For an academic paper to capture the audience’s attention and interest, students must not only develop a thesis statement but also ensure they use strong arguments to back up the central idea in the statement. Basically, the “they say, I say” technique is the simplest method to present arguments properly. In this regard, the information that the student uses in answering the coursework assignment prompt should be free of plagiarism. For instance, they need to cite sources properly. Then, another way to ensure that the writing is persuasive is to confirm that they have attained the required word count without counting footnotes, endnotes, references, and appendices. Ideally, selecting a topic that one is comfortable with and passionate about enables the writing to be high-quality in terms of argumentation. Also, students should discuss alternatives with their mentor or instructor. Finally, the thesis statement should not be complicated.

Major Mistakes in Courseworks

Students make different kinds of mistakes when writing academic texts. For example, a common mistake in coursework writing involves a scope, where students fail to focus on one area of the topic and instead try to be broad in their argumentation. In this case, the problem with this approach is that they waste space talking about irrelevant material, leaving them with little space to write about the core idea. Also, the solution to this problem is to develop a thesis statement that sets out the paper’s specific agenda. In doing so, students can realize every time they go off-topic.

Another common mistake involves colloquialism, where students use a language that is not standard for academic writing. Basically, this problem is particularly common with students who become excited about the topic and try to express their ideas creatively. Moreover, the problem is that the coursework shifts from being evidence-based to a document about the student’s opinion. In turn, the solution to this problem is to pick a topic that is exciting and critically discussed in the literature. As a result, they can identify several sources that discuss the topic to use as bases for evidence of their claims and arguments about the topic.

Sample of a General Coursework Outline

The coursework paper adopts a typical outline, as indicated below:

• Table of Contents
• Abstract or Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Body Paragraph(s)
• Reference list

Reason for Similarity of a Coursework Assignment With a Research Paper

Ideally, the outline of a coursework assignment is similar to that of a research paper. In this case, an abstract serves as a brief overview of a research paper and informs readers of the writer’s focal points. More importantly, the coursework outline has a body, where writers use different paragraphs to make an argument about the topic. Also, each of the paragraphs begins with a topic sentence and ends with a concluding sentence. Like research papers, body paragraphs of a coursework assignment serve to cement the writer’s claims and arguments, which are linked to the thesis statement.

Summing Up on What Is a Coursework Assignment and How to Write a Paper

A coursework assignment is among the writing assignments that students in colleges and universities undertake in preparation for their degree. Unlike other papers, this assignment assesses students’ understanding of what they have learned in a course in a given semester. As such, students must complete and submit it before the semester closes. Moreover, the different types of coursework include essays, term papers, theses, dissertations, and report projects.

Students should master the following tips when it comes to writing a coursework assignment:

• Choose an exciting topic and stick to it. Basically, students come across tons of exciting information about their topic. However, to avoid going off-script, they should focus on their core subject and avoid the temptation of using data that may prove irrelevant.
• Use evidence (quotes and statistics) selectively. In this case, relevancy is a significant indicator of a high-grade paper. As such, where students are not going to refer to some data directly because it adds no value to their argument, they should avoid dwelling on it in their paper.
• Cite sources correctly. When citing sources, students should note the standards of the format in use – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian – as each has a unique approach.
• Revise, edit, and proofread the paper. In turn, high-quality coursework writing should be free of inconsistent arguments, irrelevant sentences, and spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes.

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Guidelines and steps for writing a coursework | Tips for good writing

What is a coursework and why to write a coursework.

A coursework is a written or practical work done by student in form of thesis, dissertation, project or paper as a part of course. This is often an essential requirement for being awarded a degree and counts towards successful completion of the course. A coursework is assessed by class instructors or by other teachers in the school. Many students cannot clearly define what is a coursework. In a nutshell, at the “A” and GSCE level , a coursework is written in the form of projects or essays. There are few guidelines and good practices which should be followed while writing a coursework. Perfect examples of a coursework include extended essay, field studies, practical activities, design studies and internal assessment test set. Conversely, each coursework have differing objectives from one course unit to another. In addition, a coursework may incorporate work for which the experiments, topics, themes or parameters of a project or essay have been designed by the teacher, or specified in the syllabus, or selected by the students themselves. Therefore, a coursework is presented in a form of a research assignment meant to reflect the understanding of topics and concepts by the student. Students can handle their coursework either at school under the controlled conditions in class sessions, and/or as homework.

Coursework writing varies from one subject to another as the need differs for each subject. For example, an English coursework differs from a geography coursework. Whereas the former requires the student to present coursework in an essay format where a student has to select a title of their choice. Whereas the latter highly focuses on collecting, and examining, inferring and reporting data, answering a certain geographical question. For example, in English coursework, a student is often assigned to choice of themes or text excerpt to write on a format of their choice. One can either employ a comparison approach or the cause-effect method. Conversely, coursework in subjects, such as geography coursework, requires scholars to conduct investigations. For example, students can explore on the desert features, river formation or usage of social facilities such as halls, schools and hospital and report the findings.

Some rules & guidelines for writing a coursework

So how to start a coursework? Just like any other academic piece, there are some rules and guidelines that determine what makes a coursework good and exceptional. It is significant for scholars to consider all the following points for writing a coursework to score good grade and avoid having their paper disqualified:

• Students are not allowed to seek help from the instructors or from fellow students unless it is a group coursework or instructed. Though, an instructor is only permitted to deliver directions on how to handle a coursework paper as well as pointing out specific areas that are critically checked by examiners.
• Students should avoid plagiarism. It is a rule that is considered as a serious academic offense if committed. Under this rule, a student is expected to submit an original work written and not copied from other source. This is checked by using various softwares that checks for plagiarism. Therefore, students should make sure there work is their own words by signing a declaration asserting that it is your own piece of work. Buying coursework is also an offense if it is discovered.
• Also, a student has to confirm the word count on their paper to ensure it has the instructed word limits without the consideration of the appendices, references and footnotes.
• Students have to be keen and careful when they are selecting the topics to avoid writing on a wrong topic that is not covered in the coursework. A topic already covered should also be checked or discussed with concerned faculty before writing.

 All these rules are constantly restated in coursework prompts and rubrics to ensure one does not derail and violate them when they are figuring out on how to start a coursework.

Deciding good topic for a coursework

The capability to choose a good topic to write on is a vital skill in coursework writing. All the work and efforts will revolve around the chosen topic. If given the liberty to choose, then the topic should be something you would love to write about.

• Sometimes instructors can assign you to handle a specific topic, but often, as a writer, you are required to develop or select a topic that interests you is the one you may enjoy writing about. For example, you may decide to settle on a topic from either an area you understood well in the syllabus or from an area in the course that you enjoyed.
• However, before deciding on your topic, you need to examine whether you can control, measure and change the topic by conducting a fair taste. It is advisable not to select topics that appear ambiguous or which have a wider scope as it might affect the developing of a precise thesis statement, as they make it difficult to reach the word limit as well as failing to satisfy the topic. Also, students are allowed to seek guidance and assistance on choosing suitable topic to write in a situation where you are not sure on what to write about. For example, you can check previous assignments done by other students to get idea about their approaches on particular topics.

Steps for writing a coursework

• Before writing a coursework, a student has to plan based on duration and the materials needed and as instructed in coursework tips. Concerning the deadline, a student must not wait until the last-minute for the paper to start writing. Last minute rush in completing a paper can cause students to make common grammar mistakes that will affect their final grade.
• Deadlines are normally indicated in all the  coursework assignments and a student has to understand when the deadlines are due for the final assignments as well as time for submitting a first draft for comments from your teacher.
• Proper time planning will spare you plenty of time to make corrections based on teacher’s remarks, as well as creating time for final editing and proofreading.
• To achieve this, you have to set up your own deadlines that are far or within the actual deadline to ensure you complete your coursework writing in time.
• Research is about collecting significant and supporting literature from both primary and secondary sources. You will be required to collect data and know methods of data collection as a part of this step. Conducting surveys and preparing good questionnaires will be a much needed skill in many cases.

• The actual writing of your paper commences after gathering sufficient data that will do justice to the topic.
• Student has to write down the paper structure before writing. Though, the outline provided in the essay instructions where students are expected to follow.
• A standard essay format comprises of an introduction, body and conclusion.  In particular, structure planning in important for big projects, because there is a likelihood of having disorganized and waffling writing since it entails a lot of information to convey that needs to be arranged. This has a significant impact on your data analysis and presentation.
• Consequently, one has to perfect their writing abilities to produce a high quality paper that bases around the standard essay format. For complex projects in science, you need to be more analytical and interpretive to get the accurate inferences of the data collected in your writing.
• In addition, you look for a quiet and conducive environment that is free from unnecessary distractions to earn the greatest concentration required for thinking and writing. Switching off TV  and logging out from all social media accounts help in reducing external distractions.

Supporting Materials – deal breaker for writing a coursework 

Supporting materials are defined as the evidencing materials that are included in the writing to reinforce the theories explained. For example table, graphs, charts, and images are mostly applicable and relevant in subjects such as geography and sciences. Supporting materials are written in the appendix part of a paper to avoid cluttering of information in the main part of the paper. For instance, the coursework focus is survey oriented, you could put the raw survey responses, survey templates, questionnaires, in an appendix and present the analysis and discussions in the main body of the coursework.

Finalizing Your Coursework

The steps on how to finish a coursework is easy as it necessitates one to edit their papers prior to the submission. Prior to the submission, students would have time to proffered and confirm features such as word count, word choice, grammar errors, spellings as well as the punctuation mistakes. It is advisable to carry out a manual proofreading as the modern spell checking and grammar checking software can overlook some common mistakes. Importantly, a student is required to include in-text citation according to the writing style used. A well-written coursework is thought-provoking, enjoyable for the reader and enhances the reader’s knowledge.

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Quick Guide to College Course Types

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You’re going to have a lot of new experiences in college with different types and styles of courses. You may take a gen-ed in a large lecture hall, or find yourself doing research for a major-specific class in a lab. Here’s an overview of the different college course types and delivery styles.

Orientation Classes

An orientation course is a short educational program that formally introduces first-year college students to the school. Orientation helps new students learn about their college campus and its rules and familiarizes them with the services and resources that the school offers. Orientation classes are designed to get new students excited and prepared for the start of their academic journey. For most colleges, attending orientation is required.

First-Year Seminars

Many colleges now offer first-year seminars designed to help new students make the college transition. These courses will prepare you for future classes by providing the tools and study habits necessary for success. First-year seminars can be one-to-three credit electives, a full semester course, or part of a longer orientation program. However, these seminars differ from standard orientations, which are more about introducing the school, campus, and staff.

General Education Classes/Core Courses

As the first part of any degree, general education classes or “gen-eds” are the courses a student must take before getting into major-specific studies. General education classes are required by a college’s core curriculum and may include basic math, science, and humanities classes. For example, a student majoring in biology may still need two semesters of English courses as part of their general education. Some general education classes/core courses can be satisfied prior to first-semester enrollment if the student meets certain AP® and IB test scores.

Major-Specific Classes

Major-specific classes are the classes required by your specific field of study. Your academic adviser can help you understand which courses are necessary for your major. It's important that you meet with your adviser at least once a semester to ensure that you remain on the path to satisfying these requirements.

Elective Classes

Unlike the process for general education and major-specific classes, students usually have a degree of freedom in choosing their elective classes. Even though elective credits may be a requirement for your major, your electives don’t necessarily have to be related to your field of study. Many students use elective classes as a way to explore educational interests outside of their major, such as an engineering student taking a dance class.

Lecture-Style Classes

Many gen-eds, electives, and lower-level major courses will be lecture-style classes. These are large classes held in a lecture hall, a theater-like room that may seat hundreds of students. The professor talks for the entire class while students take notes. Lecture classes are common in first-year courses. Students in these classes may also attend a related discussion class.

College Discussion Classes

Discussion classes (sometimes called sections) are often a required part of lecture classes. Discussions usually involve smaller groups of students led by a graduate student. You’ll do additional work, talk about the lecture, and have a chance to ask questions.

Laboratory Classes

Labs are usually part of a science lecture class. Students use what they’ve learned from the lectures to complete a laboratory assignment, such as creating a computer program or doing a physics experiment.

Studio-Style College Courses

Students who take hands-on classes such as art, theater, music, design, or photography will find themselves in a class environment that corresponds to what they are studying. A drawing class, for example, may be divided into two parts: a lesson class and a drawing studio.

Independent Study

For an independent-study class, a student and a professor design a study program for the student that is separate from regular courses . Independent study often requires a research project or a research review of readings on a central theme, as well as a series of papers or one major paper.

Online College Classes

Many traditional and online colleges offer classes to enrolled students over the internet. These online classes are usually conducted via a learning management system, a software or web application that students can use to submit assignments, see their syllabi, and even communicate with teachers and other students. Some courses may combine in-person class meetings with online course elements that are more self-paced and time-flexible.

What is a core subject in college?

Core academic subjects in college are the general education/core course requirements for each major, and they must be taken before starting major-specific studies. They can include basic classes in the humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences, and they may not all be directly related to your actual major.

How long are college classes?

College courses can vary in length depending on the number of credits and how many days a week the class is held. Usually, some classes will run an hour and 15 minutes and meet twice a week. Some classes might be three hours long and meet once a week, while some may be as short as 50 minutes and meet three times a week. Lab classes and discussion classes will vary in length depending on the subject and number of credits they provide; they are usually between 2 and 4 hours long.

What are the basic classes in college called?

The basic classes in college are called general education or core course requirements.

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What is Coursework

First of all, you need to understand what is coursework and how to write it. When one is writing a coursework, they have to do profound research that will reveal their knowledge base. A coursework may consist of design studies, field work, projects, long essays, and other kinds of work. Depending on the particular course, it can be performed in a number of ways. You need to write a coursework not only to show what you know about a particular subject and enlarge your knowledge base but also to prepare yourself to deal with the work you will need to perform in the future.

The Oxford Dictionary defines coursework as the type of practical or written work performed by a student and assessed by their professor. Hopefully, it makes the coursework meaning clearer for you.

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Why coursework is necessary and who assigns it.

Now when you know what is coursework, you also have to understand why it is needed. Usually, a student's mentor or teacher assigns coursework as it is a part of the course structure. Writing a coursework is important since it helps the student reflect on what they have learned from the given course. Realizing the coursework meaning, one can understand the material better and see how their knowledge can be applied in various situations. This type of work also reveals the student's way of thinking and helps them learn how to express their thoughts. Coursework has an utterly diverse nature. A student's instructor can ask them to perform it in a written way and work on an essay, term paper, or thesis (this form of coursework is the most widespread). A coursework can also be done in a more creative way; for example, a student may be asked to create a sculpture. At times, taking a test is preferred by the instructor. In some cases, several types of coursework can be combined into one. Choosing a specific type or a combination of types depends on the course. Whatever the kind of coursework is, it always requires being evaluated. The student's mark will be based on their understanding of the topic, creativity, as well as on the innovative aspect of their work.

How to Perform the Most Important Types of Coursework?

Even understanding the coursework meaning, students have mixed feelings on it. Some of them like to do research, learn new information, and write about the results, while for others, it seems to be an unnecessary task, or even a burden. Whichever opinion is true for you, being a student, you will still have to write a coursework at some point. For this reason, you need to know how to do it successfully. Below you see the list of rules and guidelines that will make this task easier for you.

Read these steps carefully and make sure you follow them as they will help you get started.

Coursework that requires writing:

• Carry out superficial research on the topic of your coursework.
• Settle on your topic.
• Work on the structure of your coursework.
• Make a summary or an abstract and confirm it with your instructor.
• Conduct profound research to find all the information you need.
• While writing, keep on researching the topic more.
• When you are done, check your coursework for plagiarism.
• Make a reference list.

To make sure that your coursework features a good content that is clear and easy-to-understand for your reader, work on the structure of your work. Check out if you maintain its consistency, use relevant information, complete your topic, and make it look concise.<

Coursework that requires to create a model, sculpture, or artwork:

• Find a design or concept you like.
• See how it can be applied to the area of your study.
• Think about what you want to create and decide on the scale of this object.
• Decide what kind of materials you need to finalize your work.
• Find everything you need for creating your artwork.
• Make sure that you have a mental image of the result and make a rough sketch of it.
• Begin working!

Key points you should consider:

• Originality - You need to be sure that your topic or idea is original. It is an extremely important point you have to keep in mind from the very beginning of your work. Numerous researches are being done by numerous people, so you have to make yours stand out.
• Need - Your coursework should be able to answer certain questions or find solutions. For that, it has to identify the key problems and help the reader understand them clearly.
• Uniqueness - Both your topic and your content have to be unique. Make sure to avoid plagiarism and never copy information from other sources. Conduct surveys or prepare questionnaires to add originality to the content of your coursework.
• Your input - This aspect is very important. When working on your coursework, you need to reflect on your topic a lot and understand how you can apply it. If you do it, the purpose of writing a coursework is served. For this reason, do your best to make as much input in your work as possible.
• Outcomes & future applications - Even if you have worked hard and put a lot of effort into writing your coursework, it can turn out to be a failure in case you do not show useful outcomes. Therefore, you need to provide a well-made analysis of the information you used. Make a well-structured conclusion for your topic and talk about the way it can be researched further.

If you keep all these points in mind and follow the guidelines, you will certainly write a good coursework.

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Create Your Course

How to structure your course (ultimate guide), share this article.

This article will teach you the different components of a well-structured course and provide some tips on how to put them together.

Do you want to share your knowledge and expertise in a way that allows you to reach a large audience while also generating income? If so, you may be thinking about creating an online course . 

This can be an excellent way to build your brand, generate leads, and make money. Before you start, it’s necessary to take the time to learn how to structure a course so that it will be both helpful and easy for your students to follow. 

Want to skip ahead?

Best Practices for Structuring Your Course 

• Focus On the Big Picture  

Structure Flow Examples

• Structuring an Online Course from a Coaching Program [Example]

How to Support Your Students Best 

So, what goes into a successful online course structure? Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

Group Similar Ideas into Modules 

If you have lots of information to cover, consider breaking your course into modules. This will help your students focus on one topic at a time and make it easier for them to review the material later.

Cause and Effect 

When structuring your course, starting with the cause and working your way to the effect can be helpful. For example, suppose you’re teaching a course on social media marketing. In that case, you might start with a module on understanding how social media works, and then move on to modules covering specific strategies and tactics.

○    Course Goals

As you plan your online course structure, keeping your goals and objectives in mind is essential. What do you want your students to learn? How will they be able to apply what they’ve learned? By aligning your content with your goals and objectives, you can ensure that your course is focused and relevant.

Ask yourself these questions to define learning:

• What do you want students to remember once they finish your course?
• What should students be able to do with the knowledge or skills they acquire from taking your course?
• What processes will students go through to achieve the objectives?
• What resources and materials will students need?

Check out this blog on designing an effective learning path to learn more.

Content-Type and Format 

When deciding how to structure an online training course, there are a few different content types and formats you can choose from. Here are some of the most popular options:

○      Live

Live online lessons are taught in real-time and typically include interaction between the instructor and students, such as Q&A sessions or live chat. They are a fantastic way to create a sense of community and engagement among your students. If you choose to host live courses, you’ll need to be available at set times to deliver the content.

○     Audio

Audio is another popular content type for online courses. If you choose to use audio, you can record lectures or interviews and make them available as downloadable files. These courses are a great option if you want to provide your students with content they can consume on the go. 

○      Video

Video is a popular content type for online training , as it’s easy to consume and can be broken up into smaller segments. If you create a video course, you choose the format for delivery, such as streaming or downloadable files.

○      PDF Worksheets/Activities

PDF worksheets and activities provide your students with targeted, interactive content. If you create PDF worksheets and activities, you can design them to be completed offline or online.

○      Community Q&As for Engagement/Learning

Community Q&A forums create a sense of community and engagement among your students. If you choose to create a community Q&A forum, you’ll need to be available to answer student questions in real-time.

Want to learn more about how to plan and set-up your course? Check-out this free guide

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Focus On the Big Picture

Getting caught up in the smaller details is easy when first learning how to structure an online course. It’s important to remember that your course is just one part of your business. So, take a step back and focus on the big picture.

People Want to Learn from a Person with Experience

People are willing to purchase online courses because they want to learn from a real person with authentic experience and success. They want to be able to produce specific outcomes by learning from someone who’s already gone through the process.

Want Digestible Ideas and Information with a Desired Outcome

Most people want to be able to consume ideas and information in a way that’s digestible and easy to understand. They also want to know that the information they’re consuming will help them achieve their desired outcome. Be sure to keep these things in mind when you’re creating your course.

One Transformation for One Audience

You’re trying to help a specific group of people achieve a particular transformation. When you’re clear about who your course is for and what change they’re looking for, you’ll be able to create a genuinely impactful system.

Once you’ve decided on the format of your course, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll structure the content. Here are a few examples of how to structure your online course content:

Step-by-Step

This is the most popular online course design, and it effectively takes learners on a clear path to reaching their goals. The advantage of this format is that it’s easy to follow and linear, so learners can easily see their progress.

Outlining Examples/Tips: Consider using a mind map to brainstorm the different topics and subtopics you want to cover in your course. Once you have a broad overview of the topics, you can start to organize them into a step-by-step format.

Topic: How to Start a Blog

• Step 1: Find Your Niche
• Step 2: Choose a Blogging Platform
• Step 3: Set Up Your Blog
• Step 4: Customize Your Blog
• Step 5: Write Your First Post

Week-by-Week

A week-by-week approach allows you to teach a procedure that will take a specific amount of time to learn or finish. This approach is better for courses with a clear end goal, such as learning a new skill or completing a project.

Outlining Examples/Tips: Start with the course’s overall goal or objectives, then break down each week into smaller objectives to help learners achieve the overall goal.

Topic: 5-Week Course to Master Social Media Marketing

• Week 1: Introduction to Social Media Marketing
• Week 2: Setting Up Your Accounts
• Week 3: Creating Content
• Week 4: Analyzing Your Results
• Week 5: Advanced Social Media Strategies

This online course is designed as a resource that learners can dip in and out of as needed. It’s perfect for those who want to learn about a particular subject in depth or for those who need a little reminder from time to time.

■     Outlining Examples/Tips: Start by listing out all of the topics you want to cover in your course. Once you have a complete list, you can start to separate them into easy-to-navigate sections for students to reference as needed.

Topic: Guide to Professional Photography

• Lesson 1: Camera Equipment
• Lesson 2: Photography Basics
• Lesson 3: Lighting
• Lesson 4: Composition
• Lesson 5: Advanced Topics

Related: Develop your online course curriculum in this free guide  

Structuring an Online Course From a Coaching Program [Example]

If you’re selling a coaching program, a sample online course structure might look something like this:

Module 1: Introduction

• Lesson 1: Setting the Stage
• Lesson 2: Your Coaching Agreement
• Lesson 3: Welcome Call

Module 2: The Foundation

• Lesson 1: Your Coaching Philosophy
• Lesson 2: Core Values
• Lesson 3: Why People Hire Coaches

 Module 3: The Process

• Lesson 1: The Coaching Process
• Lesson 2: Discovery Call
• Lesson 3: Intake Form

Module 4: The Tools

• Lesson 1: Goal Setting
• Lesson 2: Progress Tracking
• Lesson 3: Resources and Referrals

Module 5: The Business of Coaching

• Lesson 1: Packages and Pricing
• Lesson 2: Sales Call
• Lesson 3: Getting Testimonials

Once you’ve decided how to structure your online course, you can start filling in the content. Keep in mind that each lesson should have a specific purpose and outcome. And make sure to use engaging media like images, video, and audio to keep learners engaged.

Once you’ve decided on the format and structure of your course, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll support your students. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be Consistent 

It would be best if you were consistent with your course content and delivery. That way, your students will know what to expect from you, and they’ll be able to trust that you’re providing them with quality information.

Create Prompts for Discussion 

Creating prompts for discussion in your course forums or social media groups will help to keep your students engaged and connected with you and each other. Make sure to provide feedback on your students’ work. This will help them to understand what they’re doing well and what they need to work on.

○    Community

Creating a sense of community is essential for any online course. It’s important to make your students feel like they belong and are part of something larger. You can create social media groups, forums, and other online spaces where your students can connect.

Exams & Quizzes

To assess your students’ understanding of the material, you’ll need to include exams and quizzes in your course. It’s up to you when, where, and how often you want to do evaluations. Just be sure to give your students enough coaching to prepare. 

○    Points Awarded!

A point system can help keep students engaged. You can award points for things like completing lessons, participating in forums, and getting involved in other activities. 

○    Leaderboards

You can use points to create leaderboards and give out prizes. This is one of many ways to add fun and competition to your course.

○    Badges

You can create different badges for things like completing all the lessons in a module or getting a specific score on an exam. Seeing their progress represented in badges can be an excellent motivator for students.

○    Contests

You can also utilize contests throughout your online course. This can help students retain the information better and make the process enjoyable. 

○    Public Recognition

Giving public recognition is another helpful way to support your students. You can feature their work on your social media channels, newsletters, or website. 

With this guide, you should better understand how to structure an online training course that is both engaging and effective. Remember the importance of consistency, community, and assessment, and you’ll be sure to create a very successful online course structure.

George Pitts is a Business Coach, Course Strategist, Funnel Builder, Author, Speaker and Founder of the JVS Funnel & Course Building Agency. With over 7 years in the online course and funnel industry and over 7000 students in over 100 countries George has helped many turn their knowledge into profits and scale to 6 figures a year with courses and digital products.

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How to Write a Winning Course Description: Examples & Best Practices

Table of Contents

The first interaction a potential learner has with your course often comes in the form of a well-crafted course description. A course description serves as a gateway to understanding the essence, content, and potential impact of your educational offering.

Writing an effective course description requires more than a simple enumeration of topics though; it demands the artful fusion of clarity, persuasion, and engagement. Gone are the days of dry and formal language – today’s learners crave a connection with the instructor and want to know what the course entails before they decide to join in.

If you want to instill excitement and, ultimately, entice learners to embark on an educational journey with you as the expert, you need to say goodbye to the ordinary and hello to a course description that speaks directly to your audience.

Your professional looking Academy in a few clicks

In this article, we offer guidance on creating a winning course description that attracts and converts new learners. We also present the best course description examples that will equip you with the know-how you need to write yours.

But first, let’s go over some basics.

What is a Course Description?

A course description is a concise and informative overview of an educational offering that provides potential learners with insights into the content, objectives, and structure of the course. It aims to convey the key aspects of the learning experience, helping individuals make informed decisions about their educational or professional pursuits.

Key Characteristics of a Course Description

A course description offers a snapshot of what the course offers , allowing learners to determine if it aligns with their interests and academic or professional goals.

These are three of its key characteristics:

• It is concise: Course descriptions are brief and always focus on presenting key information in a condensed format.
• It is learner-focused: Aimed at prospective learners, course descriptions are written to attract interest and provide a general understanding of the course.
• It’s found in marketing materials: Course descriptions are commonly found in course catalogs, program brochures, and institutional websites as part of the marketing and recruitment process.

💡A course description should not be confused with a syllabus . Even though both share some similarities in terms of the information they provide for a course, they have different purposes, contents, audiences, and timing.

While a course description offers a general overview to help learners decide whether to enroll or not, a syllabus is a more detailed document that guides learners through the specifics of the course once they are enrolled.

The course description is often more static and does not change much, while the syllabus is dynamic and may be adjusted by the instructor based on the needs of the class.

Why Do You Need a Great Course Description?

A great course description is essential for several reasons. For starters, it is the number one decisive factor in whether a learner purchases your course. It is also the one piece of information that provides the most important details about your e-commerce product.

Apart from attracting and informing learner s about your course though, a course description can help you achieve the following:

• Offer Clarity and Transparency: Course descriptions serve as a transparent communication tool, offering a clear understanding of what a course entails. This helps with setting expectations on the topics, learning outcomes , and prerequisites, ensuring that learners enroll in a course that aligns with their needs, aspirations, and goals.
• Add Differentiation in Promotion: In a competitive e-learning market , a great course description can help a particular course stand out from others. Highlighting unique features, benefits, or teaching methods can attract learners looking for specific qualities in a course.
• Build Credibility and Trust: A professional and informative course description contributes to the credibility of the course platform or LMS you use and the course itself. Learners are more likely to trust and invest in your course when they can easily access detailed information about its content and purpose.
• Improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Well-written course descriptions can enhance the visibility of your course on search engines. Including relevant keywords and providing detailed information improves the chances of it being discovered by individuals searching for specific topics online.
• Aid Compliance and Policy Communication: Course descriptions can communicate important information regarding enrollment policies, refund policies, and any other terms and conditions. This helps establish a transparent and trustworthy relationship with learners as customers.

A course description is a powerful tool for any instructor selling online courses . It serves as a key component in marketing, customer communication, and building trust, ultimately contributing to the success and reputation of your elearning business.

How to Write a Course Description: Best Tips & Practices

A well-written course description should include all the key elements that provide a comprehensive overview of the course and all the relevant details, encouraging learners to proceed with enrollment.

However, course descriptions are never meant to be the same – in fact, they can be different in format, tone, and writing style .

💁 For example, a course description of a gardening course – ‘How to Grow an Avocado Tree’ will be totally different from one used for a graduate-level course or online degree program offered by a college or university, regardless of the discipline.

Nevertheless, every course description needs an analogous amount of persuasion in their writing and includes similar types of information, as you will see below.

So, when you are about to start writing a course description , these are the key questions you need to answer:

• Who is offering this course? (individual instructor or organization)
• Why should a learner take this course? (listing the takeaways/benefits)
• What are the key contents, principles, or topics that it covers?
• How are you going to offer the educational experience (learning activities & instruction methods) in this course?
• When will this course take place? (if enrollment dates are available, e.g., for cohort-based courses )
• How much does the course cost? (determine the price of your course )

These questions will guide your write-up process , helping you ensure you include all the essential elements. But, let’s check these out in more detail.

Essential Elements of a Course Description

The table below shows the key elements of a course description and can work as a checklist when creating your own course descriptions.

Now, let’s explore the practical application of this information through a few illustrative course description example templates .

Best Course Description Example Templates for Inspiration

Using the checklist above, you can create a course description for just about any course subject, industry, and educational or professional setting.

In some instances, you may choose to leave out any information that is not directly applicable to your course, e.g., course codes or certifications – if you don’t offer any.

In case you need inspiration, though, make sure you go through the following examples:

Course Description Example 1: English Language Course

Course Title: Fluent English Mastery Course Course Code: ENG301

Brief Introduction: Embark on a linguistic journey with our Fluent English Mastery Course. Designed for learners at all proficiency levels, this comprehensive program is your key to unlocking the power of effective communication in English. Join us, and let’s explore the world of language together!

Course Overview: The Fluent English Mastery Course is crafted to enhance your language skills across listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Led by experienced language instructors, this course provides a structured and engaging learning experience for individuals looking to achieve fluency and confidence in English.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the course, you will:

• Develop fluent and articulate spoken English.
• Enhance your listening and comprehension skills.
• Refine your writing abilities for various contexts.
• Expand your vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

Who is this course for? This course is suitable for learners of all levels, from beginners seeking a solid foundation to advanced speakers aiming for mastery. No prior knowledge or language proficiency is required.

Course Content: This course will cover:

• Pronunciation and accent improvement.
• Conversational English for real-life situations.
• Reading comprehension and analysis.
• Writing exercises for different genres.
• Vocabulary expansion and idiomatic usage.

Teaching Methods: Engage in dynamic classroom sessions, interactive group discussions, language games, and multimedia resources. Our instructors foster a supportive learning environment where practical application is key.

Assessment and Evaluation: Assess your progress through regular quizzes, speaking assessments, written assignments, and a final project that allows you to showcase your newfound language proficiency.

Required Materials: Access the course materials online, including e-books, audio resources, and interactive language learning platforms. A reliable internet connection and a headset are recommended for an optimal learning experience.

Unique Features:

• Live conversational practice sessions with native English speakers.
• Language immersion activities to reinforce learning.
• Cultural insights to understand English in a global context.
• Peer collaboration through group projects.

Career or Academic Outcomes: Enhance your communication skills for various professional and academic settings, opening doors to new opportunities and connections.

Practical Applications: Apply your fluent English skills in business meetings, academic presentations, travel, and everyday conversations. Become a confident and effective communicator in an English-speaking world.

Instructor Information: Our team of experienced English language instructors brings a wealth of expertise to guide you through your language-learning journey. [Names of instructors & Title]

Contact Information: For inquiries, contact [Language School Email: [email protected]] or [Language School Phone: (555) 789-5678].

Registration and Enrollment Information: You can enroll now at [languageschoolwebsite.com]. Limited seats available. Registration deadline is [Date]. No language proficiency tests required.

Duration and Schedule: This course spans 12 weeks, with classes held twice a week for 90 minutes each. Choose between morning and evening sessions to suit your schedule.

Language and Format: The course is conducted in English, with a format that combines in-person and online sessions for additional flexibility.

Certification: Upon successful completion, you will receive a Certificate of Proficiency in Fluent English. This course is eligible for Continuing Professional Education – CPE credits, providing valuable recognition for your commitment to ongoing language development in professional contexts.

Course Description Example 2: Health and Safety Course

Course Title: Workplace Health and Safety Training

Brief Introduction: Welcome to the Workplace Health and Safety Training – your gateway to fostering a safe and healthy work environment. This course equips employees with essential knowledge and skills to promote a secure workplace for everyone. Whether you’re new to the organization or seeking to enhance your safety awareness, this training is tailored for you.

Course Overview: This course covers fundamental health and safety principles, hazard identification, emergency response, and best practices for maintaining a safe workplace. Gain the skills to contribute to a culture of safety and well-being in your organization.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand basic health and safety regulations.
• Identify and mitigate workplace hazards.
• Respond effectively to emergencies.
• Promote a culture of safety within the organization.

Who is this course for? This training is essential for all employees, especially those new to the organization or undergoing a job role change. No prior safety knowledge is required.

• Introduction to workplace health and safety.
• Hazard identification and risk assessment.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.
• Safety communication in the workplace.

Teaching Methods: Engage in interactive training modules, scenario-based simulations, group discussions, and hands-on demonstrations. Assessments and quizzes will ensure that you grasp key concepts.

Assessment and Evaluation: Evaluation includes individual assessments, participation in scenario-based evaluations, a final leadership and public speaking project, and continuous improvement through feedback.

Required Materials: Access the online training platform and receive a safety handbook or manual, provided digitally or in print. Any specific tools or equipment for hands-on demonstrations will be provided.

• Live Q&A sessions with safety experts.
• Workplace-specific case studies.
• Emergency evacuation drills (if applicable).
• Access to ongoing safety resources and updates.

Career or Academic Outcomes: Enhance your safety knowledge and skills, contributing to a safer work environment. The training provides valuable insights applicable to various industries and roles.

Practical Applications: Apply safety principles in day-to-day work tasks. Contribute to a safer workplace culture through proactive hazard identification and reporting.

Instructor Information: Led by the Safety and Compliance Department, under the guidance of [Safety Officer’s Name], a seasoned professional with extensive safety experience.

Contact Information: For further information, contact the Safety Department at [Email: [email protected]] or [Phone: (555) 789-1234].

Registration and Enrollment Information: Employees are automatically enrolled. Access details through the company’s Learning Management System (LMS).

Duration and Schedule: The training is a two-day intensive session. Regular refresher modules are available for ongoing learning.

Language and Format: The language of instruction is English. The course format is blended, combining virtual and in-person instructor-led sessions on the company’s premises.

Certification: Upon successful completion, you will receive a Workplace Health and Safety Certificate of Completion.

Course Description Example 3: Leadership & Public Speaking

Course Title: Leadership and Public Speaking Mastery

Brief Introduction: Welcome to the transformative “Leadership and Public Speaking Mastery” course. Led by the esteemed Leadership and Public Speaking Coach, [Coach’s Name], this program is designed to elevate your leadership and communication skills. Whether you’re a professional, manager, or aspiring leader, this course will empower you to become a confident and influential communicator.

Course Overview: This course integrates leadership principles and advanced public speaking techniques to develop a holistic skill set for effective communication, persuasion, and leadership presence. Through personalized coaching and engaging workshops, you’ll gain the confidence to lead with impact.

• Develop confident and persuasive public speaking skills.
• Enhance leadership presence and influence.
• Master effective communication strategies.
• Learn practices to overcome public speaking anxiety.

Who is this course for? Professionals, managers, aspiring leaders, and anyone seeking to enhance their public speaking and leadership capabilities will find immense value in this course.

• Foundations of effective leadership.
• Advanced public speaking techniques.
• Storytelling and persuasive communication.
• Leadership presence and influence.
• Overcoming public speaking anxiety.

Teaching Methods: Engage in interactive workshops, personal coaching sessions, speech critiques, role-playing scenarios, and virtual or in-person speaking opportunities. Benefit from [Coach’s Name]’s wealth of experience and expertise.

Assessment and Evaluation: Assess your progress through evaluations of individual speeches, participation in group activities and discussions, and a final leadership and public speaking project.

Required Materials: Access a course handbook with essential resources and online learning platforms. Video recording equipment is recommended for self-assessment (optional).

• Exclusive access to [Coach’s Name]’s toolkit for leadership and public speaking.
• Networking opportunities with fellow course participants.
• Guest lectures from industry leaders.
• Graduation ceremony to celebrate your achievements.

Career or Academic Outcomes: Acquire skills applicable to various professional settings, enhancing career prospects and personal growth.

Practical Applications: Apply leadership and public speaking skills in meetings, presentations, and networking events. Contribute to a positive and influential organizational culture.

Instructor Information: Your guide, [Coach’s Name], is a Leadership and Public Speaking Coach with over 10 years of experience.

Contact Information: For inquiries, contact [Coach’s Email: [email protected]] or [Coach’s Phone: (555) 678-5678].

Registration and Enrollment Information: Enroll now at [coursewebsite.com]. Limited seats available. Early bird discounts and payment plans are available.

Duration and Schedule: This 8-week course consists of weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each, with a flexible schedule to accommodate various time zones.

Language and Format: The course is delivered in English, with a blended learning format including virtual and in-person sessions, in-class workshops, and online resources.

Certification: Upon successful completion, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Leadership and Public Speaking Mastery.

These examples can be tweaked to work for your course (can be shortened or lengthened) and have their own dedicated landing page . Once prospective learners go to your website and course catalog, they should be able to click on the course they are interested in and go to your sales page to see the full course description and other course details.

Course Description Examples From Existing Online Courses

Now, let’s move on to some real-life course description examples created by online course creators and existing online academies. Doing so should give you more context as to what goes in it and what stays out, and then implement their most effective strategies.

Lecciones De Acuarela – Watercolor & Drawing Learning School

Lecciones De Acuarela is a Spanish-based school that offers courses on Fundamentals of Watercolor and various drawing techniques. It works with monthly subscriptions and caters specifically to Spanish and English-speaking students.

Course Title: Drawing Classroom: El dibujo de contorno (The Contour Drawing)

In one of the courses it offers, the instructor gives the introduction to the course , explaining what contour drawing is, and says that it includes an exercise that shows the procedure for making one.

The course description is brief but offers the information students need, including the duration of the course (a 20-minute long video), the instructor’s name, and the subscription options.

Apart from that, the course description offers a special commentary featuring the perspective of the watercolorist and instructor, who explains why he chose to work with watercolor in the first place. This works as a unique selling point, fostering trust between the instructor and potential students.

Imagineer.me – School for Critical And Creative Thinking

Imagineer.me is a school that provides visual learning modules that develop the creative potential of learners. It fuses visual, symbolic, and metaphoric thinking with Aboriginal pedagogy.

Targeting mainly Australian users , it focuses on visualization processes based on neuroscience and visual mapping of paths for students, while offering many more interesting subjects for both teachers and students to explore.

Course Title : ‘The Neuroscience of Imagination’

Their course description on the selected course is structured effectively, listing the course title prominently , the course price, and the course group it belongs to (The V Series), and clearly states for whom this course is: ‘It is appropriate for all teachers including math, language, art, science, etc. It is also relevant for pre-school, primary, high school, and university.’

On top of that, it includes a note that informs teachers they can get their NESA credits by enrolling in this course, giving them another reason to join in.

For this course, the school also lists the guidelines and contents on the page and offers additional information for every module. It clearly shows what types of learning activities are included in the outline, like video tutorials, PDFs, audio files, quizzes, and exams.

It also contains numbers to describe its contents e.g. 14x Video tutorials, 2x guided visualizations, 2x Downloadable MP3 mindfulness audio tracks, and 1x digital workbook communicating the value it offers to its potential students.

FriEdOnline – EdTech Professional Learning Academy

FriEdOnline is an online academy created by FriEdTech – an education technology professional learning and development organization that offers fun, useful, and engaging EdTech professional development.

The company offers a range of training services to educators, and its mission is to empower them through flexible, self-paced learning experiences to build the expertise needed to excel in their field.

Course Title: ‘Rock the Classroom: Classroom Management & Behavior Strategies for Today’s Classroom’

On their course catalog, you can easily see what each course is about. The one we chose for this example, has a visually appealing image and a bold course title and lists the course price, name of instructor, awarded credits, and access duration (12 months).

All these elements are accompanied by a unique and catchy course description that shows it understands the target audience’s pain point and speaks directly to them – teachers who need help managing the classroom.

On the course page, the academy makes use of video and on-page visuals to show the course duration (6 hours) and highlights the benefits of enrolling in the course. With this course, learners will get their certificate and badge and will be able to go through the course content at their own pace.

The course description also lists the course outline, talks about the experts/instructors, and provides reviews, enrollment options, and FAQs . For a more concise and marketable course description format, it also offers a downloadable course flier!

Do’s and Don’ts When Writing a Course Description

Reviewing course description examples like the ones above is helpful in terms of identifying what works best . As the course creator, however, it’s up to you to decide which approach to follow.

Either way, make sure you are ticking off the following dos and exclude the dont’s:

• Tailor the language and tone: Ensure that text resonates with your target audience – think of the background, interests, and aspirations of potential learners.
• Use engaging language with active verbs: Make use of words like ‘Explore, Examine, Gain, Learn, Develop’, descriptive phrases, and storytelling techniques to make the description memorable.
• Include testimonials from previous students: Highlight success stories related to the course to add more credibility and value to your offering.
• Be clear and concise: Clearly communicate the key aspects of the course using straightforward and concise language. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complex terminology.
• Focus on the benefits: highlight the benefits and practical applications of the course. Explain how it addresses specific challenges, enhances skills, or contributes to personal and professional growth.
• Provide additional contact information: Include contact information, instructors’ social media profiles, or links for further inquiries. Make it easy for prospective students to reach out with questions or seek additional information about the course.
• Include relevant keywords: Conduct keyword research and incorporate keywords related to your course topic, industry, and target audience throughout your course description to boost search engine visibility.
• Proofread and edit: Ensure that the course description is free of grammatical errors and typos. A well-edited description reflects professionalism and attention to detail.

Don’ts

• Don’t overuse technical jargon: While it’s important to convey the depth and rigor of the course, avoid overwhelming readers with excessive technical jargon. Strike a balance between sophistication and accessibility.
• Don’t misrepresent the course: Be honest and accurate in your portrayal of the course. Misleading information can lead to unmet expectations and dissatisfaction among students.
• Avoid generic statements: Refrain from using generic or clichéd statements that could apply to any course. Instead, focus on the specific and distinctive features that set your course apart.
• Don’t overpromise: While it’s essential to showcase the benefits of the course, avoid making unrealistic promises. Ensure that the description aligns with the actual content and outcomes of the course.
• Avoid excessive detail: While you want to provide sufficient information, avoid overwhelming readers with excessive details. Save in-depth information for the syllabus and focus on the essentials in the course description.
• Don’t neglect formatting: Pay attention to the formatting of the course description. Use headings, bullet points, and spacing to enhance readability. A well-organized description is more likely to capture and maintain the reader’s interest.

Ready to Start Creating a Description for Your Online Course?

Writing course descriptions is the pivotal step that transforms your educational vision into a compelling and informative narrative for your learners.

A good course description will lay the foundation for attracting the right audience and setting clear expectations. So, as you begin writing yours, consider the unique value your course offers, the specific needs it addresses for your learners, and the outcomes they can anticipate.

Take the opportunity to showcase the distinctive features that make your course stand out and rise above the competition today!

And If you’re searching for an exceptional online course platform to create and promote your online courses, look no further than LearnWorlds . Take advantage of our 30-day free trial to explore the myriad possibilities and unlock your full potential!

Further reading you might find interesting:

• 183 Profitable Online Course Ideas With Examples
• Knowledge Economy: How to Sell Knowledge Online
• Sell Digital Downloads: The Complete Guide
• Personal Branding Guide: How to Build Your Brand Strategy
• How to Create a Course Outline [With Templates]
• How to Start a Profitable Online Course Business From Scratch
• How Much Money Can You Make Selling Online Courses?

Kyriaki Raouna

Kyriaki is a Content Creator for the LearnWorlds team writing about marketing and e-learning, helping course creators on their journey to create, market, and sell their online courses. Equipped with a degree in Career Guidance, she has a strong background in education management and career success. In her free time, she gets crafty and musical.

9705 D&T coursework examples

Topic outline.

A range of coursework submissions (for both components) for this Syllabus have been included here along with a breakdown of the marks awarded, and a moderator commentary explaining how the marks were decided. You should always refer to the syllabus for specific details about the requirements for and assessment of coursework. Additionally, the Cambridge Handbook sets out the process and requirements for submitting coursework for moderation by Cambridge International.

• Select activity Component 2 Component 2
• Select activity Component 4 Component 4

How to Write a Course Description: Examples & Templates

February 13, 2023

For something that’s usually only a bit longer than the average tweet, a course description is a surprisingly powerful marketing tool. In fact, your course descriptions are one of the last marketing messages students see before they click “enroll.” Short but important, these can be tricky to write. That’s why we’ve put together some course description examples that will hook students and make your job easier.

Along with sharing our list of best practices, we’ll dissect a series of examples so you can see exactly what works and why. Use these course description templates to make creating your course catalog a breeze! 

Course Description Example 1: Get Students “Hooked”

Open every course description with a sentence that “hooks” the reader and then conveys the essential information in an accessible and engaging way. A hook can be anything that captures the prospective student’s attention or encourages them to keep reading. 

These can take a variety of forms, including:

• A callout to a specific audience.  Example: For a class on poker strategy, your “hook” could read, “ Calling all card sharks for this 4-week class that will transform your poker game as you learn how to read your opponents, spot tells, understand game theory, check-raise, bluff, and more.” 

Hooking the attention of your ideal student is important, but it’s just part of what a strong first line can do. You can pack a lot of information into this one sentence! 

Course Description Example 2: Keywords, Keywords, Keywords

Keywords help search engines find your course descriptions, which helps students find them too. When you write a course description, try to use the words a student is likely to use to search for courses on that topic. Use a tool like Semrush or Moz to do some keyword research. Find keywords that you can target and build your course description around those terms. 

But don’t go overboard. Remember that course descriptions are supposed to help the student, not just fit an algorithm. Use the keywords that make sense in context and relate closely to your program. 

Here’s an example of a course description that uses keywords effectively: 

Course Title: Breaking and Baking Bread

Course Description: Not your average bread baking class, this 6-week course shares the joy of making bread from scratch by breaking down the essentials of a great starter and giving expert tips about yeast and flour. You will bake breads such as sourdough, rye, brioche, challah, ciabatta, and popovers while learning about oven heating, mixing, kneading, fermenting, egg washing, and more. Your guests will clamor for the bread basket at your kitchen table and luxuriate in the smell of warm bread in your home after you become part of the ancient tradition of bread baking . 

This course description uses variations on the keyword “bread baking” to optimize for SEO. Try to use your selected keyword in the course title. Include three to five relevant keywords in the description as long as it sounds natural to do so.

Course Description Example 3: Outcomes Over Operations

While instructors tend to focus on things like course mechanics, lessons, and assignments, prospective students are more interested in what they’ll gain from taking the course. Will they earn a certification? Will they be a member of a group? Will they have a new skill to put on their resume? 

Use the course description to tell students about the outcome, such as:

• A formal certification 
• An advanced understanding of the topic
• Access to an exclusive group 
• A tangible skill or experience
• A portfolio 

The outcome should be closely related to the class topic and something that the student is likely to value. For example, a course on finance might promise students a personalized plan for reducing debt while a course on fashion might help students define their own style. Outlining these outcomes helps the student recognize the value the course will bring to their life. It can also set your courses apart from others on the same topic.

Here’s an example of a course description that focuses on the outcome:

Course Title: Finding Your Voice Through Songwriting 

Course Description: Make music that expresses your true self in this 12-session class that studies wordplay, poetry, and phonics to help you write lyrics that resonate. You’ll write and workshop two full songs and perform one at the final class meeting so you can experience the full process of songwriting , from ideating and conceptualizing to drafting, editing, revising, and finalizing. You’ll break down classic songs, mix melodies, and learn how legendary songwriters mastered their craft to gain a new appreciation for the art of making music. 

This description outlines several outcomes:

• Writing two full songs
• Experiencing the full process of songwriting

Each of these might be useful to the student on their own, but together they make for a unique and valuable course.

Course Description Template

We’ve covered a lot of examples, but let’s cut right to the heart of the matter.

A template that works for nearly every course description looks like this:

Course Title: Topic + Intended Audience (or) Topic + Outcome

Examples:  

• Topic + Intended Audience: Mindful Parenting for Busy Parents
• Topic + Outcome: Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Course Description:

Sentence 1 hooks the reader by including the important information in an accessible, interesting way. 

Sentences 2-4 tell students what they gain from taking the course and include keywords. 

Sentence 5 tells students how to register. 

You can add a few more sentences if you need extra space to truly explain your outcomes and course structure. Just don’t get too lost in the details. If you do need to provide a lot of supplementary information like materials lists or policies, consider adding those as an attachment students can download and review. 

Here’s an example of how a course description comes together. 

Course Title: Make Your Home Garden Grow

Course Description: (1) Whether you have a green thumb or a brown one, this 8-session class will teach you how to grow and maintain an indoor garden of peperomia, snake plant, philodendron, English ivy, hoya, pothos, and calathea. (2-4) No matter the size of your space, you’ll create a thriving forest of greenery and gain access to a virtual gardening library which includes a comprehensive care spreadsheet for 200+ common houseplants, a guide to watering, an encyclopedia of perennials, and a manual for pruning. With a live online class format, you’ll get to work in your own garden space while learning about soil composition, sun exposure, seed germination, pest control, tool care, and more. (5) Register now!

A course description like this moves students to want to register. So make it simple for them to do. CourseStorm makes course registration simple and seamless. Add registration links directly to your course descriptions so students can go from interested to registered quickly and easily. Contact us today to get started or start your free trial now.

Nic is skilled in scaling start-up edtech and education organizations to growth-stage success through innovative marketing. A former journalist and copywriter, Nic holds a postgraduate certificate in digital and print publishing from Columbia University School of Journalism's publishing course.

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110 online course ideas (with real-life examples for inspiration).

With the rise of elearning options, it's only natural to be curious about getting into the game. Teaching online is a great way to earn some extra cash for sharing your unique skills and passions.

But, like any business, you can’t just up and start an online course without an idea. With that in mind, we’ve put together a colossal list of 110 online course ideas to give you inspiration. They’re split into industries and accompanied by a real-life success story to give you further context.

The Golden Age Of Online Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic and the digital shift that followed revolutionised both the way that companies do business and the way customers expect to do business. This, along with technological advancements, led to virtual solutions like ecommerce solutions , webinars replacing in-person events, and a rise in online learning.

The flexibility and learning possibilities that have emerged from necessity are likely to shift the expectations of students and educators, diminishing further the line between classroom-based instruction and virtual learning.”

— Online Education in the Post-COVID era, in Nature Electronics (2021).

Luckily, there are benefits to online learning (also called ‘elearning’) that make it an effective alternative—and often a viable replacement—for in-person education.

Benefits of Online Learning

Flexibility: Need to juggle study with full-time work? Prefer to work late at night than early in the morning? By learning online, students can work through lesson plans at their own pace and control their own schedule.

Time Management: elearning is a great way to practice and improve time management and scheduling skills. These are important abilities that employers of any shape and size value in the workplace.

Improve career prospects: Got a job and want to learn new skills? Or looking to learn a few new things to really make your portfolio pop? Online courses offer a path to higher-paying jobs and career advancements.

Lower costs: Studying an online course is much cheaper than traditional courses or tertiary education. Everything is included in the single fee, so you don’t have to worry about things like admin fees and ultra expensive textbooks.

More choice: Whether you want to learn digital marketing, graphic design or how to write an award-winning movie, there’s an online course for every topic.

Grow your network: If you’ve signed up to a course for a specific niche, you’ll be with a cohort of like-minded people with similar interests/goals. It’s a great way to grow your professional network (or make new friends).

Not just for work: Courses don’t just have to be about leveling up work-related skills. It can also be a great way to pick up new hobbies and meet people online.

Try to think about these benefits when thinking about your own online course. Brainstorm how you can leverage these to give your students the best possible offering.

“Studying online has obvious practical advantages for those who are time poor, who are juggling work, personal lives and study. Online learning gives students greater flexibility to choose when, where and how they study.”

— David Seignior, Learning Designer at the University of Melbourne . “

These benefits have led to a greater demand in high-quality, elearning solutions, making it a great time to build an online course of your own.

How To Create An Online Course

Becoming an online course creator isn’t as simple as putting together a presentation , recording a video and uploading it to your website. But with some forethought, organisation, and a bit of work, you can be on your way in no time.

Here’s a quick rundown of the steps you’ll need to take to start your online course.

1. Identify your niche

The first step is to identify a subject that you specialise in—this could be anything from personal training to running a bakery . Whatever niche you settle on, the key is to be both passionate and knowledgeable about it.

To questions to consider:

• What do you want to teach?
• What do you know that others may want to learn?

It goes without saying, but you can't fake this. Your audience will be able to tell if you’re just mailing it in, or regurgitating other people’s information for your own benefit.

Moreover, teaching a class you aren't interested in won't be a lot of fun for you, either. Both parties will benefit from instructors investing some time in discovering what particular class they are best suited to teach.

2. Gauge interest

It’s important to make sure there’s an interested audience before you get too deep into course planning. If people aren't interested in your course, it's better to know early so you can pivot.

A great way to gauge interest is to make a landing page . This will allow you to give an overview of your course, explain what people will learn, and ultimately collect sign-ups from interested parties.

With Paperform , you can create stunning, feature-rich landing pages for any course, all in our easy to navigate editor. Plus, once you've got your course up and running, you can use that same digital Swiss Army Knife of tools to create forms, surveys, quizzes and more to keep your students engaged.

While you may not have started creating your materials yet, try to include any information that will encourage your target audience to sign up. Include a clear call-to-action for folks to sign up, register their interest or even offer ‘early bird’ deals for people willing to purchase.

Based on the response you get you’ll be able to find out whether your online course idea has legs or not. With some luck you’ll have a few sign-ups and new additions to your email list that you can leverage for marketing outreach.

Form a better life now.

3. research your subject.

Once you’ve settled on your course topic, it’s important to research not only what you will teach, but also what courses are already available on the topic. Think about what type of things people want to know about the subject, and what gaps you can fill.

Now is also a good time to do some keyword research. This gives you an idea of subcategories that you can explore within your niche, as well as what kind of questions people commonly have about the topic.

For example, let’s say you’re running an online blogging course. You may find that alongside the overarching subject of “how to blog”, people search for writing tips, how to build a website and a crash-course in SEO.

Look out for different angles and use them to provide maximum value with your course. Just try not to stretch your skill-base too much—there’s a difference between a broad scope and trying to do too much.

market research survey

4. outline the course structure.

When you’ve collected all the information on the topic (and written down unique insights of your own) it’s time to develop what, in the biz, they call a curriculum. This is a concrete plan of the lessons you’ll provide and topics you’ll cover.

To make a curriculum, break down the broad topic into smaller sub-topics you want to cover, then create individual lessons for each one. Every lesson should have a clear outline and objective. For example, if you are teaching a cooking course, your curriculum may include lessons on how to properly chop vegetables one week, and how to make a pan sauce the next.

It’s a good idea to supplement each lesson with a collection of relevant resources, whether that is books, articles, YouTube videos, or your own additional content people can explore for further learning.

Assignments, activities and worksheets are useful tools to use to ensure students are engaging with what you’re teaching. Many successful courses use these after completion of a set of sub-topics, or at the end of the overall course.

5. Create your course content

Once you've done your research and planning, it's time to actually make your course. Many teachers split course content between written and video content, but you can also use things like podcasts or live webinars.

The beauty of online courses is that you don’t need any crazy equipment. You can write your content in Google Docs, use free screen recording software like Loom to record videos.

Paperform is a great, multi-puprose tool for educators. The interface is intuitive yet powerful, and can be used to make everything from one-page websites for presentations, quizzes, registration forms , to payment portals, to virtual escape rooms . Plus, with over 650+ unique and fully customisable templates to choose from, you can be sure you'll find something that works with your unique course.

6. Get your course online (and start making some cash)

Time to figure out what kind of online course you want to run. Will you go with a hybrid model? Hold weekly meetings on Zoom? Host your content on an online course platform like Teachable or Udemy, or build your own website?

There are plenty of tools to support your course online. Website builders like WordPress or Wix offer the features you’ll need, and many digital product solutions like Podia and Thinkific have started popping up recently as well.

You could also use Paperform for online course creation. Within the versatile platform you can manage your students, accept payments (including subscriptions ), send class summaries and results, as well as run assessments or interactive quizzes —all from the one place.

Want to hold one-on-one consultations? Just connect your calendar and invite students to book a slot. Need to share downloadable PDFs, grade students and connect with tools like Notion or Google Sheets? You can do all that and more with Paperform’s app ecosystem.

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110 profitable online course ideas to inspire you.

No online course ideas turn into gold overnight. Even the top-earning online course creators had to work their tails off for years before achieving their desired results. But, there are a lot of people that have found resounding success.

Why not you, too? We’ve curated a list of more than a hundred online course ideas to inspire you to find (or create) the course you want to teach.

We’ve split these into different niches and included real-life examples where possible for a bit of additional motivation.

Health & wellness courses

Health and wellness online courses have always been in high demand. However, as more people get interested in gym alternatives, there has been a surge in interest when it comes to health and wellness initiatives that can be done from the comfort of your own home.

While many personal trainers and wellness instructors offer face-to-face online classes, there has been a lag when it comes to online teaching. This leaves a gap for online course creators interested in topics like cooking, working out, or wellness coaching.

Before you start planning your health and wellness course, consider that many fitness-related courses require certification. For example, you may need to be a certified gym instructor or a yoga studio instructor to give certain advice.

Potential health and wellness course topic ideas:

• Kettlebell (or any weights) for beginners
• Performing CPR at home and in the workplace
• All-natural detox guide
• Introduction to HIIT training
• Wellness retreat for remote workers
• Preparing for your first marathon
• How to manage your mental health during COVID-19
• Taking care of a child with special needs
• Crystal healing for skeptics
• Life transformation with better sleeping patterns

A health and wellness course success story:

Elizabeth Rider’s journey to full-time online health coaching wasn’t linear. Her college degree in mathematics prepared her for a career in one of the big four accounting firms.

After a particularly bad bout with a chronic illness, she decided to shift full-time to blogging and teaching online courses. Since then, she has been an advocate for healthy living through her online lifestyle and diet courses, while making six digits annually.

Personal development courses

People are always looking for ways to develop themselves. They might wish to get through a traumatic life episode, acquire useful skills, or increase their confidence. In lieu of face-to-face sessions with trainers and counselors, online personal development courses give people the boost they’re after.

The level of expertise you need to become a personal development guru varies according to the topic—some courses require intensive training and certification from an accredited testing body, while others require little training.

Potential personal development course topic ideas:

• The seven habits of highly effective people
• Presentation skills for remote workers
• Coaching for managers
• How to increase productivity
• The basics of personal finance
• 10 easy ways to deal with stress
• Professional life coach certification
• How to balance personal and work time while working remotely
• Remote social skills

A personal development course success story:

Carrie-Anne Moss founded Annapurna Living to help people connect with themselves through meditation and mindfulness. By adding her own modern twist on age-old methods, Carrie Anne gathered a large audience of loyal subscribers.

As of 2021, her Fierce Grace webinars are closed for enrollment due to increased demand, but she still offers free courses on the Annapurna Living website.

Language courses

Learning a language has always been a popular form of extra-curricular learning. Whether folks want to learn to speak french for their trip to France, or brush up on the Spanish they did in high school, the demand for language courses is huge.

There are two pretty big competitors here: Duolingo and Rosetta Stone. Think about what your new course can bring that those two monoliths can’t—things like personalised lessons, and one on one chats are good places to start.

Potential language course topic ideas:

• Essential business writing skills
• Spoken english for ESL workers
• The differences between US and UK english
• Korean for K-Pop fans
• Hindi for beginners
• Speak basic French in ten days
• The basics of Mandarin for business
• Spanish for young people
• German for travelers
• Learn sign language

A language course success story:

Kieran Ball is a language teacher based in the UK who offers online courses in French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese. His courses range from 3-minute tutorials that aim to help beginners put together complete sentences in a short time to quick grammar guides for students who are seeking to learn languages faster. His courses are so effective that he has over 300,000 students on Udemy, with glowing reviews.

Photography courses

Photography has always been a popular hobby, but the increasing availability of digital cameras has spawned a whole new generation of photography enthusiasts. Many amateurs dream of becoming professional photographers , and are eager to sign up for online courses to improve their skills.

You’ll need to invest heavily in equipment if you want to provide an optimal learning experience to your students. You’ll also need to put together a strong online portfolio so potential students can see your prowess and techniques for themselves in real-life situations.

Potential photography course topic ideas:

• Food photography for Instagram
• How to take perfect landscape shots
• Sports photography basics
• Adobe Photoshop and Graphic Design
• Photography pricing for product shoots
• How to use your new DSLR
• Lighting 101: playing with light and shadows
• How to take beautiful portrait photos
• A guide to wedding photography
• Posing for photos, a guide for newbies

A photography course success story:

Corey Reese is a celebrity photographer who started a YouTube channel in 2011, gaining over 400,000 views. His online courses now have over 55,000 students.

Reese’s drawing power comes from his teaching style, which breaks the art of photo composition into bite-size pieces. He has also trained countless professional photographers who are now making a living out of photography.

Cooking courses

Everyone loves delicious food . Not everyone knows how to prepare and cook their own delicious food. This makes culinary schools and tutorials one of the most profitable online course ideas—as long as you can actually cook.

Share your skills with a course and show folks how to cook awesome food from scratch. Keep in mind that this is a niche that requires solid experience. Whether you're a home chef or a trained culinary expert, having unique skills and training that the average Joe does not will set you apart.

Not everyone can be Gordon Ramsay. In the age of TV shows like Masterchef and Bake Off, people are willing to learn from amateurs as long as you show you’ve got the skills. If you’re a professionally trained chef or have experience in small business, you can also give advice on how to start your own restaurant.

Potential cooking course topic ideas:

• Healthy meals that won't break the bank
• Vegan recipes
• Essential cooking skills for first-timers
• Baking for beginners
• Keto cooking made fun
• How to make soup: from squash soup to minestrone
• Basic Italian dishes for every home chef
• Online cake decorating for kids
• Essential cocktails for entertaining at home
• Going gluten-free: a guide

A cooking course success story:

Viorel Copolovici took the long route towards becoming a professional chef. He was a marketing executive for ten years before deciding to make cooking his vocation. After running a food blog and two restaurants, he finished culinary studies at Le Cordon Bleu, London. His videos are easy to understand and follow, even for newbies who have never held a knife.

Home decor and gardening courses

Home improvement has always been a popular topic. There’s a reason that Instagram is full of snazzy shots of people’s homes and furniture layouts—people love fiddling with their decor or optimising their space.

Out of all the niches listed in this post, we’d have to say home decor and gardening courses are the easiest to enter. Unless you’re teaching something like an advanced carpentry class, there’s no need to get any special certifications or equipment to get started.

Potential home decor and gardening course topic ideas:

• Plants at home: adding a touch of green to your living space
• Minimalist decor
• How to organise your home in small spaces
• Taking care of succulents
• Interior design for home offices
• Bedroom design for optimal sleep
• Low-maintenance gardening for busy people
• A step-by-step guide to growing your own herbs at home
• Introduction to aquatic plants
• All-natural weed control and pruning

A home decor and gardening course success story:

You might know Marie Kondo from her popular Netflix series, but before she started starring in the series, she was already known for her books and videos on tidying up. Her KonMari Method Fundamentals of Tidying course consists of 10 lessons, each focusing on a specific aspect of tidying and organizing.

Just like in the series, Marie Kondo's courses teach you a way of cleaning up that simply sparks joy.

Travel courses

Thanks largely to social media influencers, travel blogging is a particular popular topic. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to travel for a living? While you don’t need formal education to start an online course based around travel, you do need vast experience traveling*.*

Students will know right away if your Paris travel tips come from your own experience, or were  copied from a Lonely Planet guidebook. Like with any course, faking it won't benefit you or your students in the long run.

Potential travel course topic ideas:

• Travel writing 101
• How to get paid for traveling the world
• Hosting a successful Airbnb
• Travel hacks: getting around on a shoestring budget
• Cheap and safe solo travel for female tourists
• How to start a travel agency
• Camping for beginners
• How to become a digital nomad
• Family-friendly travel tips
• Working on a cruise ship

A travel course success story: Theresa Christine wears many hats—photographer, romance writer, and podcast host. But through her online travel courses on Skillshare, she was also able to build a following as a travel writing course creator.

Her popular course, Being a Travel Blogger (Even When You’re Not Traveling!) , has more than 5,000 students and is one of the best online courses on the subject.

Arts & craft courses

As we touched on earlier, online course topics don’t always have to be about serious things like marketing strategy and entrepreneurship. Sometimes people just want to learn cool new skills or improve their drawing.

To run a successful arts and craft course, you should have a certain creative talent and know your material back to front. It’s important to be able to explain complex processes and ideas in a way that’s easy for first-timers to understand. Channel your inner Bob Ross.

There’s also a real opportunity at the moment to teach artists about bringing their creations to a larger audience. There’s a shortage of courses around content curation, exhibits and art pricing, which are all important elements for budding creatives to understand.

Potential arts and crafts course topic ideas

• Sell your artwork online
• Make money out of NFTs
• The basics of drawing
• Essentials of graphic design
• Master Origami in two weeks
• Sewing skills
• Colour theory for non-artists
• Designing your brand
• How to make jewelry and sell it online

An arts and craft course success story:

Danielle Clough is a good example of online learning’s ability to educate people across the world. Aside from collaborating with performing artists under the stage name Fiance Knowles, she is also a visual artist who creates art through embroidery.

Her online course, Painting with Thread, has more than 10,000 students on SkillShare.

Digital marketing and sales courses

Digital marketing isn’t going anywhere. Whether folks want to switch careers or level-up their existing skills, marketing is always a popular course topic. Digital marketing covers such a wide umbrella of topics—from social media and SEO to blogging on WordPress—that the sky's the limit in terms of what you can cover.

Because digital marketing is such a wide-ranging industry with different applications, there is a massive demand for high-quality courses. Just be aware that there are lots of shady marketers out there looking to make some easy cash with an online course. Separate yourself by providing specific, valuable lessons from your education or unique experience.

Potential digital marketing and sales course topic ideas:

• Fundamentals of content marketing
• Affiliate marketing made easy
• SEO for Amazon
• How to increase your social media engagement
• Branding fundamentals for startups
• Boost leads with high-performing event landing pages
• The ultimate guide to email capture
• Sales management masterclass
• How to manage a remote sales team
• Introduction to business development
• Cold calling and email outreach

A digital marketing and sales course success story

Course content creator Justine Grey of Brilliant Affiliate helps thousands of aspiring affiliate marketers learn how to monetize their content and turn it into a true online business. She does it not by promising too much, rather by emphasizing that affiliate marketing is a long-term passive income channel with gradual results.

Mathematics and science courses

Science and mathematics are ways of understanding the world: observing, measuring, and predicting natural phenomena and applying them to human problems. These have always been popular avenues for learning, since Aristotle taught philosophy and science in Ancient Greece.

With many people becoming more conscious about the environment and humankind’s effect on it, the demand for online courses based around the sciences has grown even higher.

However, this makes it a very competitive market with a high barrier to entry—you’ll be competing with course creators from some of the world’s top universities.

Potential mathematics and sciences course topic ideas:

• A basic introduction to physics
• Sustainable water use in the home
• How to deal with vaccine hesitancy
• Ten ways to reduce your carbon footprint
• Maths hacks you wished you learned at school
• Psychology 101: how your brain works
• The science behind your favourite drinks
• Using food to combat disease
• Introduction to astronomy
• Science communication for parents

A mathematics and science course success story:

Leandro Caruso brings more than 10 years of experience building solar power installations in the U.S. and Australia to his online courses. As an environmental engineer, he is considered one of the top solar energy advocates in the world and has a successful course to match.

Programming and data science courses

Programming and data science are two niches going through a major growth phase. Businesses are either starting to go digital or strengthen their online presence, so they need programmers, developers, and data scientists to help them accomplish those goals.

To teach any sort of programming or web development courses, you have to have advanced knowledge of the tools you’ll teach. For example, a data science class will attract more students if the course creator has advanced statistical programming and analysis degrees. For more common tools such as C++ or Excel, you will need experience and knowledge of programming trends.

Potential programming and data science course topic ideas:

• Fundamentals of statistics
• Python for researchers
• Algorithms and data structures
• C++: the basics
• IT project management
• Full stack web development tools
• The applications of Blockchain
• Automate your processes and cut busywork
• Cybersecurity essentials

A programming and data science success story:

Rafeh Qazi, one of the biggest online course creators and the founder of Clever Programmer , has a community of over 100,000 students. Qazi posts free course content on platforms such as Udemy and paid courses on his website.

Over To You

Whether you’re looking for some extra money or want to transform one of these online course ideas into a full-time job, being a course creator is a viable online business strategy.

As the old proverb goes, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." So why not get started with Paperform today? From building a website to advertise your course, to engaging quizzes, to powerful payment pages and contact forms,

Paperform is a multi-use tool that has the integrations and analytics power to support your course creation needs, and look effortlessly gorgeous doing it. Give it a go yourself with the 14-day free trial —no CC required.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Include Relevant...

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on September 11, 2023

If you are a recent graduate struggling with a lack of work experience, knowing how to include relevant coursework on a resume can be one of the best ways to create a more compelling resume narrative.

One thing that many recent college graduates have in common with one another is a general lack of work experience. That lack of experience can sometimes make it difficult for them to construct a resume that sells their potential to be the best candidate for a job. Fortunately, there are ways to still create a strong and compelling resume, even without experience. For example, did you take classes that might be relevant to the position? If so, including relevant coursework on your resume may be the perfect solution to your resume challenges.

In this post, we will explain how you can identify relevant coursework and where it should be listed in your resume. We will also include several examples of relevant coursework on a resume so that you can see the best options for using these details to strengthen your job search efforts.

What is relevant coursework?

Of course, when we talk about relevant coursework, we are talking about those classes and educational activities that have direct relevance to the position you are seeking. The first thing you need to recognize is that many of the classes you took during your college career will not need to be included in your resume. After all, most degrees require that students complete any number of basic foundational courses that will have little if any relation to their chosen job — at least from a resume standpoint. 

So, what types of classes, achievements, and activities should you focus on as you identify suitable courses to add to your resume? While this sounds like a simple question, it actually requires some serious thought and evaluation. Fortunately, there are some basic rules that you can follow as you make that determination. Below are just some of the potentially relevant things that you might want to include in your resume: 

Coursework that demonstrates that you have a foundation of knowledge in a required aspect of the job you are seeking. For example, if communication skills are needed for the position, you should include courses that focused on business communications, writing, etc.

Projects that are related to particular job skills. For a marketing position, you should include any marketing-related projects you completed during your studies. Or you could include research projects you engaged in if you are seeking a job where research skills are essential.

Academic achievements can also be included, including notably high GPA scores or awards you received. Also, be sure to include any related extracurricular activities. That could include everything from clubs to sporting activities if they helped you develop skills that would be useful for the job.

Again, do not include coursework that has no bearing on the job at hand. This will require you to carefully consider each course to determine its relevance. One way to do that is to read the job posting and select keywords and phrases of import that seem to be describing the skills or educational qualifications needed for the job. Then go through your coursework and try to match courses to those skills. As you do so, remember that some basic courses like those involving communication—both written and verbal—may be included, since communication is one of those soft skills that every company values .

You can learn more about the difference between hard and soft skills by reading our excellent article, Key Differences Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills . A better understanding of those critical soft skills can help to ensure that you don't underestimate the value of any of your classes. There's a great chance that you have more marketable soft skills than you realize! 

When should you include relevant courses on your resume?

Before you add your job-related classes to your resume, you should decide whether it is necessary. For example, you can almost certainly benefit from including your relevant coursework on your resume if: 

You recently graduated from school or are beginning the process of looking for a job because you are close to graduation. Students and recent graduates typically have little or no real job experience to highlight skills. Fortunately, their studies and project assignments will likely have helped them to develop important skills that they can highlight in their resumes.

Your educational achievements are necessary to qualify for the position you are seeking. In those instances, your prospective employer will be interested in knowing that you have fulfilled those requirements and have the basic knowledge needed for the position.

There may also be times when you need to include coursework even after you have been in the workforce for some time. For example, if you are switching careers and your current work experience does not include the skills needed for your new job, that may not matter as much if you can show that your studies prepared you for the role. 

Including coursework related to your minor

As you select relevant coursework for your resume, don't forget to consider courses of study related to your minor too. Hopefully, you will have selected a minor that is at least tangentially related to your desired career path. If so, then chances are that some of the courses you completed may have some relevance that can translate to a useful resume listing. For more information about minors and when they can be added to your resume, read How to Include a Minor on Your Resume .

When should I take coursework off my resume?

Obviously, there will be times when you should forgo any mention of your courses in your resume. Some examples of situations where you might not need to list your specific coursework include:

When your coursework is not really relevant to the position you seek. Including irrelevant coursework could actually distract from your important skills and experiences.

Situations in which coursework was completed so long ago that the information is no longer useful. For instance, many technology-related courses can lose their value over time. Other examples include old marketing courses and other educational achievements that involve skills that have evolved rapidly in recent years.

If your resume is already filled with enough work experience and skills that there is no need or room for specific course details. Remember, you want to add your courses to enhance your value as an employee. If adding a particular course does nothing more than add length to the resume, skip it. 

Where should relevant coursework be listed in your resume?

In most resumes, the coursework should be placed in the education section, with a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.” When creating this part of the education section, you should insert the subheading under the name of your degree, with a list of the courses you studied. For example:

Bachelor's in [Name of Degree]

[College Name, City, Graduation Date]

Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3], [Course 4], [Course 5]

Alternatively, you can also opt to show your courses in a bullet-point list if your resume is short and you need to fill more space. You can even elaborate on each course with a few words to describe the skills you learned in class. For example:

Relevant Coursework:

If you have no actual work experience, you may even want to consider using your education section as a substitute for that experience section. If you choose that option, you may want to place the education section closer to the top of your resume and flesh out each course in the same way you would detail a job listing in your work experience section. That means using detailed descriptions that include quantifiable results highlighting your achievements.

Key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework

Before we show you some examples of how to list relevant coursework on your resume, there are a few tips that can help to ensure that your final product is as compelling as possible. By incorporating these ideas into your resume creation process, you can more effectively make that all-important great first impression on any hiring manager.

Only list relevant coursework if you lack sufficient work experience to meet the job requirements.

Always make sure that the courses you list highlight skills and knowledge needed for the position. If a course has nothing to do with your chosen line of work, it has no place in your resume.

Relevant courses may be related to hard and soft skills.

If you choose to use descriptions for each course, use that as an opportunity to insert relevant keywords from the job description. This can be a great way to ensure that your resume can get past any applicant tracking system .

Always proofread your entire resume to eliminate spelling mistakes, punctuation and grammar errors, and style or formatting discrepancies.

Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you want. Since you will likely be applying for different jobs during your job search, you may need to modify your educational coursework details to align with the needs of each position.

Do not forget to include important skill information in your coursework descriptions. Again, try to use those job description keywords.

If you are maintaining an updated resume throughout your educational career, be sure to continually edit your resume as your coursework evolves over time. This can make it easier to keep it updated and can save you some time when your job search begins.

3 Examples of relevant coursework on a resume

In this final section, we will explore some different examples to show you how you can successfully incorporate relevant coursework into your resume. We have included a couple of examples of the most basic listing options, as well as an expanded sample that enables you to provide more details and skills. You can refer to these samples and use them as guides as you create your own relevant coursework section.

Example #1: The Basics

Bachelor's in Information Technology

My College, Anytown 2022

Relevant Coursework: Cyber Security 101, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Networking and Telecom, Artificial Intelligence

This simple listing would be a good option for anyone who has at least some relevant work experience but who still needs an additional boost to meet the job requirements. In this case, the job seeker's coursework listing is presented in a minimalist format, documenting the specific courses and areas of focus—but without any other information about those studies.

Example #2: Bulletpoint List of Courses

Cyber Security 101

Business Intelligence

Application Development

Networking and Telecom

Artificial Intelligence

This option is similar to the first example but presents the classes and areas of focus as separate bullet points. This provides additional emphasis for each area of study, while also taking up a bit more space in the resume. This can be a great option if your resume is a little short and you need to expand the content.

Example #3: Detailed Format

My College, Anytown

Completed in 2022

Certified Cyber Security Expert, skilled in protecting data, information, and infrastructure.

Coursework included training on risk analysis, threat mitigation, compliance assurance, and cloud security.

Completed multiple projects and research assignments designed to test knowledge and adaptability to various types of cyber threats.

 Business Intelligence

Business analytics certificate, training focused on data interpretation and communication to resolve business problems with a data mindset.

Course included 3 projects testing analytical skills using hypothetical business challenges based on real-world business scenarios.

 Application Development

Courses focused on the development of software coding skills used for web application creation, troubleshooting, and debugging.

Final course project involved the creation of an independent web app to streamline online sales processes for a test company.

Training focused on routing, packet switching, and cybersecurity needs.

Spent eight weeks as a volunteer networking intern for a local ISP, receiving hands-on training from experienced networking professionals.

AI and machine learning studies, emphasizing tech integration into business processes, impact on sales and marketing, and ethical concerns.

Conducted study for the course final, evaluating potential AI benefits for enhanced marketing in the digital age and impact on online sales.

This more detailed example is a superior option for those who have no work experience and need their educational credentials to highlight their skills. In this sample, each area of interest is accompanied by bullet point details describing the types of courses studied and the lessons or skills developed during those classes. In addition, bullet points are added to highlight specific achievements, describe studies and real-world application of skills, and demonstrate competency in the subject matter.

This type of format can enable your coursework section to serve as a replacement for work experience if you have never been employed. When used for that purpose, you can expand on each course listing to include additional skills and keywords from the job post. Simply add new bullet points where needed to flesh out each area of emphasis.

Again, if you choose to replace your work experience section with this relevant coursework section, make sure that you move this section closer to the top of your resume so that it receives more prominence. Basically, if your strongest selling point is your education, then make sure that your important courses are one of the first things that a prospective employer sees. Also, you may want to highlight your educational qualifications in your resume summary so that the reader expects to see those coursework details.

Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume

Finally, it is important to reiterate just how vital it is that your resume makes the best possible impression. When you approach the labor market with little or no work experience, you are usually already at a competitive disadvantage. There will almost always be someone else who has a similar level of skill and educational background, as well as real-world experience. To compete against a qualified rival, you need a resume that can effectively sell you as the best candidate for the job.

For recent graduates and job seekers moving to entirely new careers, a lack of relevant work experience can be a major impediment to landing job interviews and employment offers. One way to overcome this obstacle is to learn how to use relevant educational coursework on your resume to highlight your qualifications and skills. Hopefully, this post and its resume examples can provide you with the inspiration and help you need to translate your educational experience into a compelling resume narrative. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your resume effectively positions you to have the best chance at landing any interview and job. To make sure that your resume is up to par, get a  free resume review  today. And if you really want to be sure that your resume is ready for prime time, take a few moments to discover just how easy it is to get professional resume assistance from our team of experts!

Recommended Reading:

What Should I Say About My Education On My Resume?

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

14 Reasons This is a Perfect Recent College Grad Resume Example

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

See how your resume stacks up.

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6 Negotiation Skills All Professionals Can Benefit From

• 11 May 2023

As a business professional, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll need to participate in negotiations, regardless of your job title or industry. Chances are you already participate in them more often than you realize.

Negotiating a job offer, asking for a raise , making the case for a budget increase, buying and selling property , and closing a sale are just a few examples of the deals you might be involved in.

You likely flex your negotiation skills in your personal life, too, making it crucial to become a skilled negotiator in all areas of life.

Access your free e-book today.

If you want to strike effective deals and improve the outcomes of future negotiations, you need an arsenal of skills. Investing time and energy into developing them and learning the negotiation process can prepare you to maximize value at the bargaining table.

“Enhancing your negotiation skills has an enormous payoff,” says Harvard Business School Professor Michael Wheeler in the online course Negotiation Mastery . “It allows you to reach agreements that might otherwise slip through your fingers. It allows you to expand the pie—create value—so you get more benefits from the agreements that you do reach. It also, in some cases, allows you to resolve small differences before they escalate into big conflicts.”

Here are six essential negotiation skills and ways to develop your knowledge and confidence.

Check out our video on negotiation skills below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more explainer content!

Negotiation Skills

1. communication.

To achieve your ideal outcome at the bargaining table, it’s essential to clearly communicate what you’re hoping to walk away with and where your boundaries lie.

Effective negotiators develop communication skills that allow them to engage in civil discussion and work toward an agreeable solution.

Deal-making requires give and take; it’s critical to articulate your thoughts and actively listen to others’ ideas and needs. Not doing so can cause you to overlook key components of negotiations and leave them dissatisfied.

2. Emotional Intelligence

For better or worse, emotions play a role in negotiation, and you can use them to your advantage.

For example, positive emotions can increase feelings of trust at the bargaining table. Similarly, you can channel anxiety or nervousness into excitement.

You need a high degree of emotional intelligence to read other parties’ emotions. This can enable you to pick up on what they’re implying rather than explicitly stating and advantageously manage and use your emotions.

Related: The Impact of Emotions in Negotiation

3. Planning

Planning ahead with a clear idea of what you hope to achieve and where your boundaries lie is essential to any negotiation. Without adequate preparation, you can overlook important terms of your deal or alternative solutions.

First, consider the zone of possible agreement (ZOPA) . Sometimes called the bargaining zone, ZOPA is the range in which you and other parties can find common ground. A positive bargaining zone exists when the terms you’re willing to agree to overlap. A negative one exists when they don’t.

Next, it’s beneficial to understand your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA). If your discussion lands in a negative bargaining zone, your BATNA is the course of action you’ll take if the negotiation is unsuccessful. Knowing your BATNA can ensure you have a backup plan if you can’t reach an agreement. It can also help you avoid leaving the table empty-handed.

4. Value Creation

Value creation is one of the key skills you should add to your negotiation toolkit.

To illustrate its importance, consider this analogy: When participating in a negotiation, you and the other parties typically try to obtain the biggest “slice of the pie” possible. Vying to maximize your slice inherently means someone will get a smaller piece.

To avoid this, shift your goals from growing your slice to expanding the whole pie. The benefits of doing so are twofold: First, you can realize greater value; second, you can establish a sense of rapport and trust that benefits future discussions.

5. Strategy

In addition to thorough preparation and the ability to create value, you need a clear understanding of effective negotiation tactics . By knowing what works and what doesn’t, you can tailor your strategy for every negotiation.

To develop a strong negotiation strategy , take the following steps:

• Define your role
• Understand your value
• Consider your counterpart’s vantage point
• Check in with yourself

Following this process can enable you to formulate a clear plan for the bargaining table. By understanding the roles of those involved, the value they offer, and their advantages, you can work toward a common goal. Checking in with yourself throughout the negotiation can also ensure you stay on the path to success.

6. Reflection

Finally, to round out your negotiation skills and develop your proficiency, reflect on past negotiations and identify areas for improvement.

After each negotiation—successful or not—think about what went well and what could have gone better. Doing so can allow you to evaluate the tactics that worked in your favor and those that fell short.

Next, identify areas you want to work on and create a plan of action. For example, if you had trouble aligning your goals with your counterpart’s, review concepts like ZOPA and BATNA. If your negotiations often leave you dissatisfied, learn new ways to create value.

How to Negotiate Professionally

No matter your strengths and weaknesses, practice is a surefire way to develop your skills. The more you negotiate, the more prepared you’ll be in the future.

Structured learning opportunities can be highly beneficial. Negotiation books and articles are effective starting points for learning deal-making basics. Those that explore real-life examples of successful negotiations can provide perspective on how others navigated difficult discussions and approached conflict resolution.

Another option is to take an online course, such as Negotiation Mastery . In addition to learning from real experts—including public officials, executives, and military officers—you can participate in interactive negotiation simulations that allow you to apply your knowledge and develop your skills. You can also gain insight into negotiation’s emotional aspects and learn how to conduct an after-action review to inform future dealings.

Do you want to hone your bargaining skills? Explore our online course Negotiation Mastery and download our free leadership e-book to discover how you can become a more effective deal-maker.

This post was updated and republished on May 11, 2023. It was originally published on Sept. 2, 2021.

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Discovering McGill's French Language Centre

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For many students coming to McGill from across Canada and other countries around the globe, one of the many advantages of pursuing a degree at McGill is that students are immersed in Montreal’s unique bilingual culture.

McGill’s French Language Centre is one of the university’s best assets in promoting learning opportunities for students in any academic program throughout the university with its course offerings of credited and non-credited courses that encompass writing and oral communication.

Students from McGill’s various professional schools, such as the School of Social Work, and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, turn to the FLC for crucial French language training that will benefit them not only during their time at McGill but beyond when they leave to pursue professional careers in Quebec.

Beginner Level Courses for All McGill Students 

For students across academic disciplines, from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Engineering, the FLC offers placement tests to ascertain a student’s level of comprehension and skill in the French language and offers 5 different levels of courses, which follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, a global standard for grading language proficiency. The levels on offer range from level A1, absolute beginner, to level C1, which is a full command of the language.

Alida Soucé has been a Faculty Lecturer at the French Language Centre for close to ten years now, and, along with the Centre's other instructors, is responsible for creating, coordinating, and teaching beginner level French courses at the FLC. Alida currently coordinates and teaches the near beginner course, FRSL 103 and the elementary French course, FRSL 206/207.

“These courses are built and based on research in applied didactics,” says Alida. “Most of our instructors are constantly reflecting on improving course offerings so that students have access to the most innovative academic courses in the field of French as a Second Language.”

Living and learning in a bilingual city such as Montreal gives students the opportunity to use their newly acquired French skills in a multitude of settings on and off campus.

“We equip students with solid, academic French courses that are centered in a Montreal context” says Alida. “Thanks to our exceptional setting in Quebec, the courses we teach can help students whose goal is to become bilingual.”

“We also organize many extracurricular activities in which students can further strengthen the skills we teach in the classroom,” says Alida.

The FLC organizes a series of cultural outings such as a historical and cultural tour of popular Montreal neighborhoods like the Mile End and Old Montreal, and events such as a French Improv Night, conversation workshops and a series focusing on French in the workplace, all of which give students the opportunity to develop their oral skills in informal settings with other students enrolled in FLC courses.

Alida prides herself on being able to offer her students a personalized approach to learning and her courses are often filled with a strong sense of community.

In some anonymous student feedback received by Alida, many students attest to the excellent learning environments they experienced in her classroom.

“It’s always been one of my goals to speak French, and it’s in part why I moved to Montreal,” says one student who took a FLC course this winter. “My anxiety always got in the way, and it wasn’t until [Alida’s] class that I was able to work through that productively, something I'll be taking with me when I move to London this fall and continue working towards fluency.”

Another student noted how thankful they were for the extra time Alida devoted to providing detailed feedback on tests and writing/oral practice. “[Alida’s] encouragement and support [inspired] me to keep participating and improving my French skills in my daily life.”

Teaching French for Specific Purposes 

Ariel Mercado came to McGill with over 20 years of experience teaching French and English as a second language in Spain. It was in Spain that Ariel developed his interest in teaching language for a specific purpose, such as teaching English and French for the tourism industry and in the healthcare sector.

Ariel later moved to Quebec to pursue his studies, and it was during his PhD in Linguistics that Ariel’s interest in healthcare and languages solidified.

Working closely with the administration of the FLC, Ariel created French courses for health sciences and social work , which are offered during both Fall and Winter semesters, as well as a May intensive course. The courses are designed to give written and oral communication skills to students from a variety of disciplines in the health and social work sectors, as well as French skills for students studying dietetics and nutrition.

These courses are offered through a partnership with Dialogue McGill, which is funded by Health Canada under the Action Plan for Official Languages, which aimed to “build and maintain the capacity of bilingual health and social services professionals in Quebec.”

“My focus in these courses is especially oral communication with patients, with caregivers and with other professionals, and to prepare students for that,” says Ariel. “Writing skills are also important- students have to know how to write a chart for another professional or in layman’s terms for the patient.”

The Centre works closely with the Professional Schools Committee, which includes representatives from the various McGill schools in healthcare. The courses are formulated with the feedback of doctors, social workers and dieticians so that the courses are tailored to specific skills and requirements students will encounter in their future professions.

“We have around two meetings per semester in which I participate,” says Ariel. “I have had ideas for courses from these meetings. For example, they tell me we need our students to know how to write a chart in French, I ask for material that they can share (without personal identification details) so that the examples we give students are accurate and can be adapted to their learning levels and needs.”

Focusing on real tasks that they will have in their professional lives is an important objective in Ariel’s courses. In order to pass the courses and to be able to work in their respective fields in Québec, students must pass the French exam for their discipline which is designed and administered by the Office Québécois de la langue française ( OQLF).

“I know the OQLF exam very well and I try to integrate in-class activities for the exam,” says Ariel. Ariel runs around 2 or 3 dedicated workshops to prepare his students for the OQLF exam.

“I tell students that this or that in-class activity is similar to a section of the OQLF exam so they know what to prepare for,” says Ariel.

To learn more about course offerings at the FLC and its event programming, you can consult their website and follow them on Facebook .

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The Best GMAT Prep Courses To Ace Your Exams

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If you’re getting ready to take the Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re fully prepared before jumping in. Prep courses are available both online and in-person, and courses can be customized to help meet your personal learning needs. Our recommendations for the best GMAT prep courses, like our top pick from Magoosh , are full of comprehensive resources and realistic practice tests, and altogether enhance your chances of getting the best score possible.

Studying for the GMAT? You need one of the best GMAT prep courses to help improve your score.

But Magoosh isn’t the only offering available for your study needs. If you want to study in-person and ask questions in real time, The Princeton Review offers a classroom option, so you can work alongside other testers. And of course, there are also budget-friendly options like the official GMAT Focus Prep Course and Prepscholar . No matter what you choose, here are the best GMAT prep courses to help you ace those tests.

• Best GMAT Prep Course Overall: Magoosh
• Best Customizable GMAT Prep Course: GMAT Focus Official Prep Course
• Best Budget GMAT Prep Course: Prepscholar
• Best Online GMAT Prep Course: Manhattan Prep
• Best In-Person GMAT Prep Course: The Princeton Review GMAT Prep Course
• (PAID PLACEMENT) You May Also Like: Target Test Prep GMAT Focus Course

Best GMAT Prep Course Overall

A prep course that works for most people.

Best for: Prepping across all GMAT sections at a reasonable cost.

• Free trial available
• Affordable yearlong subscription
• Training can be paused if needed
• Essays aren’t graded
• Limited full practice tests available

Magoosh offers the best overall package for those looking to get prepared for the GMAT. Not only does it have a relatively affordable annual subscription at $249, but it also offers an extensive library of study material, practice questions and more. The company is so confident in its study courses that it promises up to a 70-point score improvement guarantee—or it refunds you.

This package includes all four of the GMAT sections, which not all of them do for a single price. It has at least two practice tests (and you can take more for an additional fee), more than 1,300 practice questions and over 340 video lessons to help you understand the materials the best you can. There’s a built-in score predictor, which helps you gauge where you are and track your progress to make sure you stay on target for the score you want. If you don’t need access to all four sections, Magoosh also has some courses that are a bit more specialized, so be sure to check them all out and see which one best meets your needs.

Best Customizable GMAT Prep Course

A limited option that gets you started, gmat focus official prep course.

Best for: Customizing your needs, whether you’re looking to study a certain subject or just take a few practice tests.

• Pay for courses as you need them
• Easily accessible from anywhere using the mobile app
• Only the first two exams are free
• Can get expensive with the pay-as-you-go approach

It’s hard to beat a free option, and in this case, the official GMAT Focus Prep Course makes our list because the first two exams are free to access. While this won’t be sufficient enough to prepare you for the whole exam, it’s a great way to test the platform and see how its courses and teaching style work for you. Once you’ve taken those tests, you can customize your study prep to your needs. If you only need one study test, you can take that, or you can take two or buy the entire package. This customizability is great for a tester who may excel in one subject but wants to improve their stats in another area.

For those who have a longer timeline before the test, this is a great way to buy what you need and spread out the cost. You can also buy a verbal review prep, extra practice questions and more on their own. Besides the low, customizable cost, another standout feature is the mobile app. You can use it to access your study materials from anywhere, so you can prep while you’re on your subway commute home, as an example.

Best Budget GMAT Prep Course

Get prepared without spending a fortune.

PrepScholar

Prepscholar

Best for: Getting an all-in-one package without breaking the bank.

• Comes with a 5-day free trial
• Online experience isn’t as polished as others
• Course access time frame is not as long on cheaper plans

Preparing for the GMAT exam can be expensive, as some of these courses cost over $1,000. If you’re on a budget or just need to be a bit smarter with your money, Prepscholar is a great option. With packages starting at under $100, you can get 750 real practice questions, multiple GMAT strategy lessons and more—as long as you’re able to deal with a couple of quirks along the way (for one thing, the user interface isn’t quite as sophisticated to use as other options on this list).

There are different packages that you can pick from, and pricing goes up to $779 for the completely customized online GMAT prep course with eight hours of personalized tutoring included. A more affordable $260 package also includes four months of access to the prep materials and includes 100 hours of content, over 1,000 practice questions and a test exam. Prepscholar stands behind its product and offers a 60 point improvement guarantee.

Best Online GMAT Prep Course

A great option for those with busy lives, manhattan prep.

Best for: Digital nomads who want live test prep and online learning from anywhere.

• Six practice exams
• Online options for self-paced or live instruction
• Expensive compared to other options
• No score improvement guarantee

Live online learning isn’t for everyone, but if you’re able to stay motivated and dedicate the time, it can be great. The flexibility that it provides allows you to learn at your own pace, which is ideal for people who have schedules that pull them in lots of directions. Manhattan Prep is the best online-based GMAT prep for a few key reasons.

In addition to being able to learn at your own pace, you can attend live online classes to strategize, ask questions and more. You can mix and match the sessions throughout your learning time, so there’s no need to pick one option or the other, too. It offers six practice exams to help you monitor your progress along the course, though it’s important to note that the company doesn’t guarantee any score improvement.

You May Also Like

A comprehensive offering for the gmat focus.

Target Test Prep

Target Test Prep GMAT Focus Course

If you’re looking for a course designed specifically for the GMAT Focus, this self-study option features over 1,400 instructor-led videos, 4,000 practice questions and 700 flashcards. The study plans are created by experts who have either taught the material for over 10,000 hours or scored in the 99th percentile on the exam themselves. For more customized instruction, you can opt for a LiveTeach course, which includes 40 hours of virtual classes, personalized homework to help you address your weaknesses and a Slack channel for instant feedback from instructors and classmates. Plus, the brand offers a score improvement guarantee of up to 130 points (depending on your prior GMAT Focus score) for both the self-study and LiveTeach options. Get 15% off all Target Test Prep GMAT Focus courses with code FORBES15 .

Best In-Person GMAT Prep Course

For those who want hands-on learning.

Princeton Review

The Princeton Review GMAT Prep Course

Best for: Studying in a classroom with other test-takers.

• Optional 700+ score guarantee available
• 10 practice tests and 60+ online drills
• Can get quite expensive, depending on your selection

Prefer to learn in person instead of online? The Princeton Review offers multiple in-person learning options, from classroom-style sessions to private tutoring. While significantly more expensive than others on this list, The Princeton Review offers some key features that make it worth paying the extra.

For those who start with a score of 620 or more, Princeton Review will guarantee that you will score a 700 or higher on the exam after going through its course. With more than 10 practice tests and 60 online drills, there’s a ton of great content available that you can also access online from anywhere when you aren’t at class. This exam prep course includes 47 hours of material, and also includes 27 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours focused on GMAT questions and 10 hours of verbal and math explanation sessions.

The Best Patio Furniture Deals For A Summer Refresh

Amazon prime day 2024: everything to know about this year’s sale, why trust forbes vetted.

Forbes Vetted is made up of experts in a variety of topic areas, including productivity and testing software. The team has collectively spent decades researching and covering the latest and greatest consumer products on the market, from tech to outdoor gear to mattresses. For topics where we don’t have direct experience utilizing a product, we spend countless hours doing research on the subject, talking to experts and combing through reviews.

• The author of this story, Jared DiPane , has been covering tech for over a decade. In addition to Forbes, his bylines include Digital Trends, CNET and more. He’s contributed insight and recommendations to Forbes Vetted on categories as diverse as Nintendo Switch accessories , Smart thermostats and the best outdoor TVs .
• Rebecca Isaacs is the section editor and an expert in smart home tech as well as gaming and other gadgets. Her bylines can also be found PCMag, Decider, ZDNET and other outlets. She recently reviewed the best noise-canceling headphones for Forbes Vetted.

How We Chose The Best GMAT Prep Courses

To find the best GMAT prep courses we spent hours researching the top-rated courses, reading reviews, comparing features and seeing which ones those who’ve taken the courses preferred the most.

• Learning styles can vary, and so we looked for options that included both online and in-person options.
• We reviewed a variety of different factors, including pricing, ease of use and whether it was an online or in-person training.
• We also checked to see whether our picks provided extra services for those who were looking for more features for studying, including mobile apps.

What To Look For In The Best GMAT Prep Course

Pricing structure.

Each course handles its pricing a bit differently. Some of them require a monthly subscription fee for unlimited access, while others you pay for sections of it as you go along. Consider your goals and how quickly you plan to move through the materials . From there, you can figure out which of those options work best for you.

Online Vs. In-Person

Some courses are available as online-only while other courses you can attend in person. Online courses allow you the flexibility to move at your own pace and have access to the information from anywhere at any time, but not everyone learns and retains information the best in an online setting. In-person courses may be a bit more limiting, but they also allow for real-time questions and interaction with others who are on the same journey as you.

The courses will all move at different paces, so you need to ensure you pick one that matches your timeline of when you expect to take the actual test. If you have a tight deadline, an online option may be best, as you can move through the information quicker than you could doing an in-person class which has limited hours of teaching.

What Is The Best GMAT Prep Course?

Based on our research, the best GMAT prep course available is offered by Magoosh . It provides a superior overall experience for most people and includes a guarantee that your score will increase by 70 points from the last time you took the test. In comparison to most of the competition, it’s relatively affordable and gives you access to all the learning materials for a full year. There are two practice exams, over 300 video lessons, 1,000 practice questions and more.

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Survey: How People Experience Chronic Illness at Work

• Gretchen Gavett

HBR wanted to learn more about how people experience long Covid and other complex chronic medical conditions at work. In a survey that garnered more than 200 responses, we learned that while most non-ill respondents felt their employers were understanding of health issues, most chronically ill respondents disagreed. Chronically ill respondents also told us about the types of accommodations they’ve been able to access, barriers to those accommodations, and their knowledge that they can still achieve — even if the way they work looks different. We also heard from non-ill respondents who shared their strategies for creating more-inclusive organizational cultures.

And what their employers are — and aren’t — doing to support them.

Tens of millions of people worldwide have long Covid, a multisystem illness that can arise after a bout of Covid-19. It’s one of several complex chronic medical conditions with symptoms like fatigue, post-exertional malaise, cognitive impairment, pain, and neurological and sleep issues. (Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS; postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS; and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS, are others, to name a few.) What is it like to work while experiencing one of these conditions? And how much do people’s colleagues and managers know about how to accommodate employees who have them?

It’s time for organizations to be inclusive of employees with chronic illnesses. Here’s how.

• Katie Bach works with companies to improve job quality and employee experience. She has written extensively about the labor market impact of long Covid, including as a former nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and serves as board chair of PolyBio Research Foundation , which focuses on complex chronic conditions. Follow her on LinkedIn . kathrynsbach
• Gretchen Gavett is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review.

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Is It Better to Rent or Buy? A Financial Calculator.

By Mike Bostock ,  Shan Carter ,  Archie Tse and Francesca Paris May 10, 2024

The choice between buying a home and renting one is among the biggest financial decisions that many adults make. But the costs of buying are more varied and complicated than for renting, making it hard to tell which is a better deal. To help you answer this question, our calculator, which was updated in May 2024 to reflect current tax law, takes the most important costs associated with buying or renting and compares the two options. Note that the “winning choice” is the one that makes more financial sense over the long run, not necessarily what you can afford today. And there are plenty of reasons you might want to rent or buy that are not financial — all we can help you with is the numbers.

To view this feature, please use a newer browser like Chrome , Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later.

The calculator keeps a running tally of the most common expenses of owning and renting. It also takes into account something known as opportunity cost — for example, the return you could have earned by investing your money. (Instead of spending it on a down payment, for example.) The calculator assumes that the profit you would have made in your investments would be taxed as long-term capital gains and adjusts the bottom line accordingly. The calculator tabulates opportunity costs for all parts of buying and renting. All figures are in current dollars.

Tax law regarding deductions can have a significant effect on the relative benefits of buying. The calculator assumes that the house-related tax provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will expire after 2025, as written into law. Congress might, however, extend the cuts in their original form, or extend and modify them. You can use the toggle to see how your results may vary if the tax cuts are renewed in full, to get a sense of how big the tax impact might be on your decision.

Initial costs are the costs you incur when you go to the closing for the home you are purchasing. This includes the down payment and other fees.

Recurring costs are expenses you will have to pay monthly or yearly in owning your home. These include mortgage payments; condo fees (or other community living fees); maintenance and renovation costs; property taxes; and homeowner’s insurance. A few items are tax deductible, up to a point: property taxes; the interest part of the mortgage payment; and, in some cases, a portion of the common charges. The resulting tax savings are accounted for in the buying total. If your house-related deductions are similar to or smaller than the standard deduction, you’ll get little or no relative tax savings from buying. If your house-related deductions are large enough to make itemizing worthwhile, we only count as savings the amount above the standard deduction.

Opportunity costs are calculated for the initial purchase costs and for the recurring costs. That will give you an idea of how much you could have made if you had invested your money instead of buying your home.

Net proceeds is the amount of money you receive from the sale of your home minus the closing costs, which includes the broker’s commission and other fees, the remaining principal balance that you pay to your mortgage bank and any tax you have to pay on profit that exceeds your capital gains exclusion. If your total is negative, it means you have done very well: You made enough of a profit that it covered not only the cost of your home, but also all of your recurring expenses.

Initial costs include the rent security deposit and, if applicable, the broker’s fee.

Recurring costs include the monthly rent and the cost of renter’s insurance.

Opportunity costs are calculated each year for both your initial costs and your recurring costs.

Net proceeds include the return of the rental security deposit, which typically occurs at the end of a lease.

From The Upshot: What the Data Says

Analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life..

10 Years, 100 Stories: Ten years ago, The New York Times introduced the Upshot. Here’s a collection of its most distinctive work  from the last decade.

Rent or Buy? : The choice between buying a home and renting one is among the biggest financial decisions that many adults make. Our calculator can help .

Employment Discrimination: Researchers sent 80,000 fake résumés to some of the largest companies in the United States. They found that some discriminated against Black applicants much more than others .

N.Y.C. Neighborhoods: We asked New Yorkers to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them . The result, while imperfect, is an extremely detailed map of the city .

Dialect Quiz:  What does the way you speak say about where you’re from? Answer these questions to find out .

Wait, that's my new car insurance quote? Here's how to save on auto insurance

Americans seem to be spending a little more on everything these days. And on auto insurance, they are spending a lot more.

The average car insurance premium jumped by more than 20% over the past year, according to Consumer Reports. The national average cost of full-coverage insurance hit $2,543 in 2024, a one-year increase of 26%, according to Bankrate.

Those are big bumps, considering that the overall annual inflation rate for April was 3.4% .

Fortunately, there are several easy ways – and some harder ones – to reduce your premium.

Here are nine tips from the experts.

Lower your auto insurance costs: Find the best car insurance of 2023

Shop around for the best car insurance value

Finding a new insurance company takes time, but the switch can dramatically lower your annual premium.

Notwithstanding the endless barrage of TV car insurance ads, some insurers do tend to cut better deals. An analysis by Bankrate, the personal finance site, found a swing of more than $1,000 between the cheapest and most expensive annual full-coverage premium among the largest companies. Here are the averages:

USAA: $1,695

Geico: $1,741

Progressive: $1,988

State Farm: $2,364

Allstate: $2,971

Insurers use varying formulas to calculate premiums, typically factoring in your age, location, driving record and credit score, among other items.

“That’s why the single most important tip I give people is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers to see who offers you the best deal,” said David Straughan , automotive expert at the financial research site MarketWatch Guides. “The same provider that gave your neighbor the best rates may not be the one with the lowest prices for you.”

MarketWatch , Bankrate and others offer online tools for comparing quotes. 

Increase your deductible

This is a quick, easy and valuable fix, though it sounds scary: Increase your deductible, the amount of cash you pay before your insurance kicks in.

Many policies come with a $500 deductible. Doubling it to $1,000 can reduce an annual premium by 20% to 25% , according to Consumer Reports, the consumer nonprofit.

Raising a deductible makes sense, experts say, because most motorists rarely file an auto insurance claim.

“If you have a low deductible, it’s because you’re nervous you’re going to get in a crash, and it’s your fault, and you’re going to be stuck with a bill you have to pay,” said Benjamin Preston , Consumer Reports auto reporter.

By raising your deductible, he said, “really you’re just betting on yourself as a safe driver.”

Drop collision and comprehensive insurance coverage

Dump your collision coverage? This sounds like another risky move. And it is, if you have a really valuable car.

Collision insurance covers damage to your car if you’re in a crash. Comprehensive covers non-collision damage.

Drivers should think about dropping both, experts say, for an older car of declining value.

One insurance industry rule of thumb says you should consider ending collision and comprehensive coverage if your annual premium is more than 10% of the value of the vehicle.

The reason: You could be paying more for the coverage than you’ll ever get from the insurance company if your car is damaged, “because the car’s not worth enough,” Preston said.

Take a defensive driving course

Some insurers will give you a discount if you take an approved safe-driving course.

In New York, for example, motorists can reap a 10% discount on auto insurance if they take a state-approved course, which costs about $25 and takes about five hours to complete, according to Consumer Reports. You can repeat the course every three years.

Look for car insurance discounts

Auto insurers typically offer a range of potential discounts. You may be able to lower your premium by:

-   Insuring multiple vehicles

-   Bundling multiple policies from the same insurer

-   Being a good student

-   Serving in the military

-   Driving fewer miles in a year

-   Owning a car with enhanced safety features

-   Being a safe driver

-   Being loyal to your insurance company

-   Paying your entire premium upfront

“Always ask your agent about the discounts available to you before signing up for a policy,” Straughan said.

Work on your credit score

Insurers often consider credit when setting insurance premiums. Drivers with weaker credit tend to pay higher premiums, although some states forbid insurers from using credit as a factor.

“The national average cost of full coverage car insurance for a driver with poor credit is $4,063 per year, whereas drivers with average credit only pay an average of $2,520 per year, and drivers with good credit pay an average of $2,314,” Shannon Martin , a Bankrate analyst and licensed insurance agent.

Good credit doesn’t happen overnight, but a rising score can yield lower premiums over time.

Be a better driver

Maintaining a clean driving record “is really the best way to keep the cost of your car insurance down,” Martin said.

That means avoiding mishaps that can send your premiums into the stratosphere. The costly ones include speeding tickets, accidents that are your fault, and drunken driving convictions.

“Drivers with a single DUI conviction pay an average of $4,408 per year for full coverage car insurance,” Martin said. “This is $2,094 more than the national average for drivers with a clean driving record.”

Buy a cheaper car

You probably noticed the hit to your pocketbook the last time you brought home a new car: The more valuable the car, the more you pay to insure it.

Insurance premiums tend to be lower on vehicles that are worth less because they cost less to replace.

On a high-value car, “the parts are going to cost more, the labor is going to cost more,” Preston said. “So, they factor that into the premium.”

If you’re shopping for a car, you should budget for both the purchase price and the insurance.

“Most dealerships have complete vehicle identification numbers online, and your agent can use them to provide you with accurate quotes,” Martin said. “Once you know which cars you can afford insurance-wise, you won’t be surprised at the insurance cost at the time of purchase.”

More: Car prices are cooling, but should you buy new or used? Here are pros and cons.

Review before you renew

Take a close look at your insurance policy every year, experts say. Make sure you aren’t paying for coverage you don’t need, or missing out on potential savings.

Life changes, such as marriage, moves and job shifts, can affect how much insurance you need, and how much you pay.

Changing careers can affect your premium, in ways you’d never guess.

“Insurance companies might view teachers as less of a risk, since they drive less in summer, and nurses usually pay more for insurance since they work long shifts and are more likely to have an accident,” Martin said.

“Annual mileage and daily commuting also impact your rates, so if you have started working from home or now only drive into the office three days a week instead of five, let your agent know.”