Abstract: In order to study the effect of a coagulation sedimentation-UF process on the removal of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the secondary effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWPTs), the degree and the factors of ARGs reduction by polyaluminum chloride (PACl) and polyferric sulfate (PFS) coagulants were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum scanner (EEM). When the PAC1 was 0.85 mmol/L as Al and the PFS was 0.50 mmol/L as Fe, the removal of ARGs by the coagulation sedimentation-UF was 2-log to 3-log higher than by direct UF, and the removal efficiency of ARGs by PACl-UF was 2.51-log to 3.52-log. Compared to direct UF, the coagulation sedimentation-UF process had better removal of DOC (dissolved organic carbon), fulvic acid and soluble microbial metabolites, and the DOC removal rate increased from 18% to 36%. The results of the linear fitting of the membrane influent and effluent of the direct UF, PAC1-UF, and PFS-UF indicated that the ARGs had significant positive correlations with organic matter and 16S rDNA. The study showed that the ARGs in the secondary effluent could be effectively removed by the coagulation sedimentation-UF process, and the removal of organic matter and 16S rDNA contributed to the reduction of ARGs.