How to Cite an Online Course in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing an online course in your reference list:
Instructor, A. A. (Year). Title of the course [MOOC]. Platform. https://xxxxx
APA Example for an Online Course
A complete APA reference for an online course, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Duarte, I. (2024). Academic writing for graduate students [MOOC]. OpenLearn; OpenLearn. https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing
Matching in-text citation: (Duarte, 2024)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Instructor, Year)
Narrative
Instructor (Year) teaches that...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Put the instructor (or course creator) in the author position.
- Italicize the course title.
- Add the [MOOC] descriptor in square brackets after the title.
- Name the platform (Coursera, edX, Udemy) as the publisher/site.
- End with the course URL — no period after the URL.
- Use (n.d.) if no copyright or publication year is given.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your online course.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: apa.csl
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an online course in APA?
- To cite an online course in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APA format for an online course citation?
- The APA format for an online course is: Instructor, A. A. (Year). Title of the course [MOOC]. Platform. https://xxxxx
- What does the in-text citation look like for an online course in APA?
- In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Instructor, Year)
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