Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Vitae, also known as curricula vitae or c.v., are documents that detail your academic and professional accomplishments. Vitae are more comprehensive documents than resumes. They are most often used for academic or research positions, whereas resumes are the preferred documents in business and industry. [Note “vitae” (vee-tie) is the plural form; “vita” (vee-tuh) is singular]
Vitae are commonly used in applying for the following:

-Admission to graduate school or as part of an application packet for a graduate assistantship or scholarship
-Grant proposals
-Teaching, research, and upper-level administrative positions in higher education
-Academic departmental and tenure reviews
-College or university service appointments
-Professional association leadership positions
-Speaking engagements
-Publishing and editorial review boards
-Research and consulting positions in a variety of settings
-School administration positions at the superintendent, principal, or department head level

While resumes are rarely more than one or two pages long, vitae can be many pages in length. Although there is no limitation on the length of vitae, it is important that they, like resumes, be written concisely. Common lengths for curriculum vitae are one to three pages for bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates; one to five pages for doctoral candidates; and five or more pages for an experienced academician or researcher.

Besides conveying information about who you are, your education, and your professional experience, a curriculum vita also includes information about professional publications, presentations, committee work, grants received, and other grants based on each person’s experience. The following list is provided as a guide for determining which categories of information to include in your c.v.:

-Education
-Master’s thesis or project
-Dissertation title or topic
-Course highlights or areas of concentration in graduate study
-Teaching experience and interests
-Research experience and interests
-Consulting experience
-Internships or graduate practica
-Fieldwork
-Publications
-Professional papers and presentations
-Grants received
-Professional association and committee leadership positions and activities
-Certificates and licensure
-Special training
-Academic awards, scholarships, and fellowships
-Foreign study and travel abroad
-Language competencies
-Technical and computer skills

Although curricula vitae are often similar to resumes, the preferred style, format, and content varies from discipline to discipline. Before writing a c.v., you should become familiar with the requirements of your academic field by asking faculty members in your department and contacting professional associations for additional guidelines and examples.