How to Cite an Online Course in APSA (current)
Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in APSA format (current). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APSA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APSA format for citing an online course in your reference list:
APSA Example for an Online Course
A complete APSA reference for an online course, formatted by the official APSA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Duarte, Ines. 2024. “Academic Writing for Graduate Students.” OpenLearn. https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing (January 10, 2026).
Matching in-text citation: (Duarte 2024)
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 APSA (current) 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 APSA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.
CSL style record: apsa.csl
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an online course in APSA?
- To cite an online course in APSA (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APSA format for an online course citation?
- The APSA format for an online course is: Duarte, Ines. 2024. “Academic Writing for Graduate Students.” OpenLearn. https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing (January 10, 2026).
- What does the in-text citation look like for an online course in APSA?
- In APSA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Duarte 2024)
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