The curriculum vitae, commonly referred to as a CV, Vita, or Vitae, is a detailed biographical description of one's  educational and work background. It differs from a resume, a one-page description of one's work experience and educational background not only in length but also in detail. The origin of the term curriculum vitae is Latin and means "the course of one's life or career." As such, a CV includes detailed information regarding one's academic coursework, professional experience, publications, and so on.

The curriculum vitae, long in use among professionals  in higher education, has gained currency among under-graduates applying for admission to graduate and professional schools, as well as among applicants for selected areas of employment such as those in research, teaching,  and management. Moreover, because of the growing tendency to use brief application forms--often only two pages long--some graduate and professional programs actually encourage applicants to enclose a CV with their applications. For these reasons, the curriculum vitae is often referred to as an "academic resume."