Religious Studies
Religious Studies offer students the opportunity to study the diversity of the world's religions, their values, history and traditions. It provides a strong liberal arts background and develops valuable skills in communication, reflection, analysis, and problem solving.
A degree in religious studies is excellent preparation for a broad range of careers including counseling, law, the arts, teaching, politics, social work, writing, personnel management, professional religious leadership, and business and public administration.
Representative Job Titles and Areas of Specialization
| Administrative Assistant | Missionary | | Bank Officer | Personnel Management | | Campus Religious Coordinator | Priest * | | Chaplain * | Probation Officer | | Claims Adjuster | Professor/Instructor/Teacher | | Clinical Psychologist * | Public Administrator | | Community Organizer | Public Relations | | Counselor | Rabbi * | | Editor | Recreation Worker | | Group Counselor | Social Security Representatives | | Lawyer * | Social Worker * | | Management Trainee | Urban Planner * | | Medicine | Vocational Counselor | | Mental Health Assistant | Volunteer Services Director | | Minister * | |
* See Training section
Nature of the Work
Religious occupations usually fall into four major areas: local congregations, regional and national programs, institutional settings, missionary callings and social service. While many of the positions are those in religious leadership, professional opportunities also exist in research, writing and administration related to education or other areas, work on denominational publications, and work on archives.
Positions in human services exist in such diverse settings as group homes and halfway houses; correctional and community mental health centers; family, child, and youth service agencies; and programs concerned with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, and aging. Depending on the employment setting and the kinds of clients served, job titles and duties vary a great deal. Examples of job titles are: Social service worker, case management aide, social work assistant, residential counselor, alcoholism or drug abuse counselor, mental health technician, child abuse worker, community outreach worker, and gerontology aide.
Human services workers in community, mental heath, or residential care settings provide direct services such as leading groups, organizing activities, or offering individual counseling. They may handle some administrative support tasks, too.
In business and industry, management trainee opportunities typically exist in the fields of banking, insurance, retail and manufacturing. Training is available in a broad range of areas including personnel, customer service, administration, and banking operations and lending.
Places of Employment
| Banks | Insurance companies | | City, county and state government | International organization | | Correctional facilities | Museums | | Federal government: | Peace Corps | | - Department of Defense | Probation departments | | - Health and Human Services | Publishing companies | | - Office of Personnel Management | Research institutions | | - Social Security Administration | Retailers | | - Veterans Administration | Senior citizens centers | | - Immigration and Naturalization Services | Social service agencies | | Foundations | Universities and colleges | | Hospitals | YMCA/YWCA |
Training
Many of the jobs listed above may be obtained with a bachelor's degree depending on the type of coursework completed and experience gained while in school. Those interested in business related careers should supplement their studies with courses in administration. Those interested in pursuing a career in human services should consider taking additional courses in the social sciences.
Preparation for the priesthood generally requires years of study beyond high school. Preparatory study may begin in the first year of high school, at the college level, or in theological seminaries after college graduation.
Educational requirements for Protestant ministers vary greatly. Some denominations have no formal educational requirements, and others ordain persons having various types of training in Bible colleges, Bible institutes, or liberal arts colleges.
Theological schools admit only students who have received a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college. Many denominations require a 3-year course of professional study in an accredited school or seminary after college graduation for the degree of master of divinity.
To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary. Entrance requirements and the curriculum depend upon the branch of Judaism with which the seminary is associated.
Those considering a career in teaching and research on the university level will need to pursue a doctorate.
For further information and/or career counseling contact the Career Center, Veitch Student Center, Northwest Wing, University of California, Riverside, 951.827.3631.
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