How to Cite an Online Course in IEEE (standard)
Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in IEEE format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
IEEE Reference List Format
Here is the standard IEEE format for citing an online course in your reference list:
[1] A. A. Instructor, "Title of the course," Platform, Year. [Online]. Available: URL
IEEE Example for an Online Course
A complete IEEE reference for an online course, formatted by the official IEEE CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
[1] I. Duarte, “Academic writing for graduate students,” OpenLearn. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing
Matching in-text citation: [1]
IEEE In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
[1]
Narrative
In [1], the instructor explains...
Key IEEE Formatting Rules
- Put the course title in quotation marks.
- Name the platform after the title.
- Use [Online] and Available: for the URL.
- Abbreviate the instructor's first names to initials.
- Number references in order of first appearance.
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 IEEE (standard) 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 IEEE 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: ieee.csl
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an online course in IEEE?
- To cite an online course in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the IEEE format for an online course citation?
- The IEEE format for an online course is: [1] A. A. Instructor, "Title of the course," Platform, Year. [Online]. Available: URL
- What does the in-text citation look like for an online course in IEEE?
- In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]
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