What to Know About a Career in Religious Studies

Whether you plan to work in a religious institution, for the government, or in the private sector, a religious studies degree can set you on a rewarding career path.

Among majors that appeal to spiritual people, religious studies offers perhaps the most interesting post-graduation prospects. Religious studies careers include spiritually rewarding vocations like clergy, researcher, and educator.

According to Payscale, the average salary for a graduate with a master’s in religious studies is approximately $61,000. Read on to learn more about what to expect from a career in religious studies.

Religious studies professionals contribute to society by providing counseling services, working as educators, and serving as religious functionaries, like priests or nuns. Their clientele may include congregants, traditional and nontraditional students, or patients.

Religious studies professionals can work in nonprofits, religious institutions, schools, and government agencies. A religious studies degree can also translate to less immediately related fields, especially when earned as part of a double major.

Due to the nature of their work, religious studies professionals are typically empathetic and understanding. They also need strong communication skills in order to reach their constituents, students, or patients. Finally, religious studies graduates generally have strong rhetorical skills and a passion for research and philosophy.

A religious studies degree can help you pursue jobs in the humanities or prepare you for ordainment and endorsement as clergy in your faith group. A postgraduate religious studies degree can even prepare you for work as a professor of religion or theology.

Becoming a religious studies professional requires you to earn a religious studies or theology degree from a 4-year college. Then, you may need additional training at a nonsecular school, like a theology college.

Sometimes a 4-year religious studies degree by itself is enough to start a career as a religious worker or similar professional in your faith group, but exact requirements vary by faith.

It typically takes 2-4 years to earn a religious studies degree at most universities, depending on the level of education and whether you take courses part or full time. Course offerings usually cover world religions, philosophy of religion, and history of religion.

Some students earn a religious studies degree as part of a double major. This works well due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree. Some religious studies careers even encourage or require additional training or education in outside subjects. For instance, while a religious studies degree can prepare you for a career as a religious activities director, some employers might want candidates to hold a management degree as well.

It is also common for religious studies programs to offer internship opportunities or residencies with nonprofits, government agencies, or schools.

A religious studies degree partly completes basic requirements for joining the clergy in a variety of faith groups, but becoming a fully ordained and endorsed clergy member often requires additional education and training in a nonsecular setting, such as a divinity school for priests.

When choosing a religious studies degree, it’s best to limit your search to programs from regionally accredited colleges and universities, although some divinity schools are nationally accredited.

Also, check out whether a program focuses on a particular faith group. Programs that skew to one faith may not adequately familiarize you with a broad religious history or philosophy, or you may find yourself in a program that doesn’t support your own faith. It’s also a good idea to check if electives or concentrations cover the topics that interest you.

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