How to Cite an Online Course in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
MLA Works Cited Format
Here is the standard MLA format for citing an online course in your Works Cited page:
Instructor Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Course." Platform, Year, URL.
MLA Example for an Online Course
A complete MLA reference for an online course, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Duarte, Ines. “Academic Writing for Graduate Students.” MOOC. OpenLearn, OpenLearn, 2024, https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing.
Matching in-text citation: (Duarte)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Instructor)
Narrative
According to Instructor, ...
Key MLA Formatting Rules
- Put the course title in quotation marks.
- Italicize the platform name as the container.
- Put the instructor's name in the author slot.
- Include the year and the full URL (no https://).
- Add "Accessed Day Month Year" if the course has no clear date.
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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA 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: mla.csl
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an online course in MLA?
- To cite an online course in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the MLA format for an online course citation?
- The MLA format for an online course is: Instructor Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Course." Platform, Year, URL.
- What does the in-text citation look like for an online course in MLA?
- In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Instructor)
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