What is religious studies? Religious studies is an academic field that embraces the investigation of the spiritual impulse that inspires belief, behavior, and worship. In the context of a Christian-focused bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree, it incorporates theology, Christian studies and biblical studies and can serve as preparation for a career in ministry.
Spirituality is a fascinating and inspiring subject. Great thinkers throughout history have devoted lives and careers to unlocking the nature of the divine.
Since faith rests upon infallible truth, and since the contrary of a truth can never be demonstrated, it is clear that the arguments brought against faith cannot be demonstrations, but are difficulties that can be answered.
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If you are the sort of person who lays awake at night considering the nature of the Trinity, the miracle of the incarnation, and the history of doctrinal disputes, then a degree in religious studies might just be for you.
Degrees in religious studies and theology help students search for definitions and answers at the limits of human understanding of the divine. It’s in the tradition of philosophers and scholars such as Aquinas to pursue answers in these areas. The intent is less to attempt to explain the unexplainable, but more to further perfect the spirituality and belief of humanity.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.
Religious studies and theology represent a more theoretical field of study than ministry, taking on the weighty task of embracing the underlying mysteries of the divine. It’s not necessarily specific to Christianity, either, although some degrees do focus on Christian theology. But others use the broad range of world religions as a key for unlocking what it is within us that embraces the divine and finds inspiration in worship. Those comparative lessons offer perspective that can strengthen your own faith and better equip you for work in the ministry or theological pursuits.
What Does a Religious Studies Degree Teach?
If you’re interested in unpacking the mysteries of religious and spiritual experience, a religious studies degree is the right place to be. But there are a lot of mysteries and only a limited amount of time in this life. No two programs of religious studies are exactly alike.
And though religious studies can stand alone as its own field of study, you’ll find many different degree titles that fall generally into this basic category for students of Christianity:
Theological Studies
There’s a lot of debate over whether or not theology and religious studies overlap significantly, but there’s no question they are closely related. The reality is that theology, or the study of the divine, is offered with different perspectives and analysis at different schools, in some cases offering more or less identical coursework to religious studies degrees.
Christian Studies
Christian studies is a more focused version of religious studies, narrowing in on Christianity as the subject of investigation. But this does not mean that other religions are ignored—instead, Christian studies programs use the same tools and often the same types of comparative analysis as other religious studies degrees to help understand the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Bible Studies
Some people also consider Biblical studies degrees as a category of religious studies. These programs are more narrowly focused on Scripture than religion, or even Christianity, as a topic. Instead, they search for the meaning and implications of Biblical texts, diving deep into the language and literature of both the Bible as we have come to know it today and the history of how it emerged.
A Broader Field of Study Opens up a Broader Field of Options for Schools You Can Attend
One thing you will find pretty quickly when looking at religious and theological studies degrees is that there are many of them that are offered not just by private religious schools, but also at public universities.
That’s because it’s not just Christians who are fascinated by this subject. Religion has been a massive force in public life and culture throughout history, and religious studies exists as a major academic field devoted to studying beliefs, behaviors, and institutions driven by religion.
These secular degrees offer an objective, scholarly exploration of religion, ranging from polytheistic folk beliefs prevailing in tiny, isolated Amazonian hill tribes to the heavyweight Abrahamic religions whose believers make up almost half the devout population of the world. They focus on the phenomenology of religion, looking at the psychology of belief and the development of ritual as a pattern independent of the supernatural inspiration of faith.
While religious studies and theology programs at Christian schools cover much of the same topical ground, they are oriented squarely with Christianity at the center of their investigations. You will not learn any less about the concepts and commonalities of the major religions, but you will learn it with the Christian faith as your touchstone throughout the process, acknowledging and appreciating God’s central role.
The Vast Scope of Religious Studies Offers Many Opportunities for You to Specialize Your Education
Like other majors that tackle big and complicated subjects, religious studies degrees often offer special concentration options to focus in on one particular aspect of religion.
Those can include:
Biblical Languages - Even the venerable King James version of the Bible is only a translation of the original. Every translation involves making choices, and those choices over the years have provoked debates about the true meaning of the Word. Scholars who want to explore the words of the prophets in their original languages and draw their own conclusions need to study the Good Book by first learning Greek and Hebrew grammar, syntax, and reading through this specialization.
Bible Studies - Whether you are doing it in the original languages or not, the Bible offers rich and meaningful content to study. Theology concentrations in Biblical studies often go even further, specializing in Old or New Testament books. Of course, classes revolve around reading and discussing those texts, sometimes grouped around themes or around the prophets who wrote them.
Theology and Apologetics - Studies in theology and apologetics revolve around understanding the logic of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus and learning to explain that logic in a way that unbelievers can grasp. Subjects like hermeneutics (scriptural interpretation), Christian history, and modern theology are covered to give you a solid foundation in evangelizing your denomination.
Art and Religion - Religion has always been expressed through art. Some of the most memorable and notable paintings and sculptures of the Western world, from the Statue of David to The Last Supper are expressions of faith and celebrations of Christian stories. The same is true of other cultures and other world religions, and a concentration in art and religion will examine these relationships and their importance to both fields.
Of course, specialization is not required. It’s also common to take a religious studies program that offers you the big picture, touching on all of those areas and more. This is a great way to get context and learn how to interpret the Christian tradition overall, but you can also dive into a concentration if there is some specific element of religious studies that fascinates you more than others.
Religious Studies Courses Offer an Exploration of World Religions
Naturally, the specialization you choose, if any, in a religious studies degree will shape many of the classes that you take during your college education.
But most religious studies degrees cover the same general ground in laying the foundations for those specific studies. You’ll typically find classes dealing with subjects such as:
Scripture
Biblical hermeneutics is a key point in Christian studies, since the Bible is the key source of revealed knowledge in Christianity. Yet the story of how the Bible itself has become the document that it is involves many human choices in inclusion and interpretation. Various Abrahamic religions incorporate different parts of it for different reasons, and even some Christian denominations differ on what books are canonical and which are apocryphal.
Classes investigating those choices are a must-have for any serious study of Christianity. Sometimes this includes instruction in Biblical languages such as Greek and Hebrew.
But the Bible is not the only foundational document found in world religions. You’ll also be exposed to other religious writings, from the Book of the Dead to the Four Vedas.
History
Religious studies asks important questions about how religion has evolved and deepened through the course of history. The history of the Christian church in some ways is the history of Western culture. Studies of how the organization of the Church and the interpretation of scripture have evolved over the centuries is an important tool in understanding human faith and the expressions of worship.
History also explores how Christianity has both competed and grown in tandem with other major religions. Understanding how Christianity came to become the largest faith on Earth also involves exploring why and how other religions faded or were incorporated along the way.
Spirituality
The philosophy of religion and the spiritual impulse that drives people to worship a higher power is the core question in any religious studies program. A systematic study of spirituality, its expression, and the beliefs it entails can be found in classes such as Theological Thinking, Christian Philosophy, and Hebrew Wisdom offered in religious studies programs.
Understanding the faith and power of Christianity is also illuminated by understanding how other world religions interpret and express supernatural belief. Both the commonalities and the differences in expressions of faith and belief will be explored.
Comparative Religions
One of the strengths of religious studies as a degree to prepare for the ministry is the use of comparative religious study to illuminate the unique highlights of your own faith. Even in Christian studies degrees, you will often find courses offered that draw comparisons and points of similarity between the major global religions like Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism.
These degrees also investigate the impact of religion on the lives of individuals and the fate of nations.
The power of belief is worthy of such deep study because of the enormous influence it has in the world.
Classes that help you better understand that influence and how it is wielded will make you a better minister and a more effective evangelist.
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Internships Offer Ways To Take Your Religious Studies Out of the Classroom and Into the Real World
Many religious studies degree programs offer not just the standard classroom and library cramming that you are used to in academics, but also opportunities to get out into the real world to study religious phenomena directly.
With global religions on your menu, this can take the form of both regional and international explorations. An internship at a local megachurch can offer insights into how Christianity is practiced in major urban centers in America today. An overseas trip to an archaeological dig for a summer could expose you to new findings on how the ancients worshiped, offering perspective on the development of the church over centuries of practice.
In either case, you’ll find field experiences in religious studies offer hands-on practical training that will develop your skills and understanding with far more depth than just book learning can offer.
A Religious Studies Degree Can Prepare You for a Christian Career or a Life of Research in the Pursuit of Knowledge
Of course, the level of detail and the number of different subjects you will take in your religious studies university courses will vary depending on the level of the degree you are pursuing. You can find religious studies college degrees at every level in the United States.
Although they explore the same broad subjects, each of these types of degrees is aimed at a different outcome, from basic preparation for entry-level Christian jobs, to a life’s work in the ministry, to academic studies and immersion in the world of education.
Associate Degrees in Religious Studies Lay Foundations for Further Study
Associate degrees are two-year programs that lay down the basic groundwork for entry-level jobs or further studies in religion. They typically require completion of about 60 credits worth of coursework, or half of what goes into a bachelor’s degree program. That makes them both a faster and less expensive option, while leaving the door open to a full four-year program later on.
Many associate degrees are designed specifically as transfer degrees, which may be accepted by four-year colleges as satisfying some or all of the course requirements for their first two years of a bachelor’s program.
Almost half of the typical associate’s program in religious studies will cover general subjects that aren’t strictly religious. You will usually have to complete courses in areas such as:
- Communication and English
- Social Studies
- Mathematics and Science
But as much as half of your studies will go into religious courses. Although not as comprehensive as other degrees in the field, an associate’s offers a quick way to get started in your education without breaking the bank.
A Bachelor’s Degree with a Major in Religious Studies Can Prepare You for a Career in Ministry
Religious studies programs really open up at the bachelor’s degree level. With a full four years, or around 120 semester credits, to explore the sublime, you can build a significant degree of expertise in your chosen field.
Bachelor’s degrees in religious studies are more likely to include foundational coursework in areas such as:
- Biblical Languages
- History and Archaeology
- General Scriptural Studies
- Survey Courses in Global Religions
Bachelor’s degrees from fully-accredited universities also include a strong set of required coursework in traditional liberal arts and sciences. Although not technically focused in religious studies, these courses actually do boost your theological pursuits.
By studying history, science, literature, and culture, your general knowledge, communication, and critical thinking skills are all polished up in ways that will sharpen your ability to glean key pieces of information from your religious studies – pieces that might otherwise go unappreciated.
A bachelor’s in the field is the best preparation for going on to earn a master’s in religious studies or divinity, which are required by most major Christian denominations for ordination. It can also serve as your entry point into various Christian jobs either for churches or other faith-based organizations.
A Master’s Degree in Religious Studies Provides a Path to Becoming an Ordained Minister
A master’s degree in theology and religious studies usually comes with a specific concentration that you will focus on during your studies. These programs generally last from two to three years, although they are often available in part-time formats to accommodate older students with professional and family obligations. But with only between 30 and 50 credits worth of classes, there’s a limit to the scope of what you can cover in a graduate program.
As with any graduate degree, you come out of these programs with an expert-level of knowledge and expertise in the field. That kind of skillset can be attractive in a range of different industries, but religious studies graduates are well-suited to jobs in education, cultural affairs, or charity work.
With the right kinds of classes in pastoral ministry or church administration, you can also take this route to becoming an ordained minister in many denominations. A master’s program is also the ideal way to pave your way to even more advanced studies at the doctoral level. You’ll polish not only your knowledge of important theological concepts and documents, but also the research and analytical skills you’ll need for academic success.
Doctoral Degrees in Religious Studies Bring Academic Rigor to Questions of Faith
There are a variety of types of doctoral degrees in religious studies, but all of them represent the pinnacle of theological investigation. These degrees commonly take around five years to complete, but may only require 20 to 40 credits of coursework.
But don’t be deceived. That’s because most of the work in a doctoral program isn’t dictated by classes and homework, but by your own plans and research needs to complete the granddaddy of academic writing: a doctoral dissertation.
As much as half your overall time in these programs may be spent researching, drafting, redrafting, and defending your dissertation on an original subject that is designed to expand knowledge and thinking in the field. Self-motivation and discipline are the keys.
As you can tell, pursuing a doctorate in religious studies is a pretty big commitment. It also offers the key to a life of in-depth study of faith and the deepest mysteries of spiritual beliefs.
So What Exactly Are All These Mysteries, Anyway?
As you’re researching religious studies degrees, you’ll probably find a lot of references to all these mysteries that are being investigated. But what exactly are those mysteries that keep so many scholars occupied for so many years?
You might think after more than 2,000 years that there wouldn’t be a lot left to study in Christianity or other major religions. But in a field deeply entwined with the supernatural, there are several ongoing theological enigmas that religious studies continues to investigate.
Creation - Creating something out of nothing represents a philosophical conundrum that keeps even the wisest religious scholars awake at night. The mystery of space-time and the miracle of creation won’t be solved anytime soon, but it is an ongoing field of exploration in religious studies.
The Trinity - Christians believe in one God, but in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yet how precisely does this not equate to polytheism, and how do polytheistic religions offer different perspectives on the nature of God?
Transubstantiation - The Eucharist has provoked great schisms in Christianity, which themselves can absorb an entire career of academic study… and that’s before you get to the question of the metaphysical basis for the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Human responsibility - God's will guides all things, yet most religions emphasize personal responsibility and human behavior. How can free will exist when God is sovereign? What are the limits and logic of individual belief and behavior in a world shaped by the Almighty?
These are just a few of the mysteries that may be explored in religious studies programs.
Choosing the Right University for Your Religious Studies Degree Takes a Lot of Thought and a Little Faith
Colleges that offer religious studies may be either explicitly religious or secular. You’d better be aware of the differences, because the type of education you get in either type of program can be night and day.
In general, a secular university will offer a more objective, more analytical, and broader course of study. On the other hand, explicitly religious schools might give you a more spiritual, more Christian-centric program. Either can be appropriate depending on your needs, but be sure you know the difference!
One of your big factors, clearly, will be whether or not the school offers the concentration or coursework that is most important to your plans. Since no two programs are the same, you’ll want to check this carefully to ensure you can get the training that your calling requires.
Also important for anyone pursuing ordination will be the requirements of your denomination and the school’s Statement of Faith. You will need to be sure that the college you are attending will offer a course of study that your own denomination will recognize when you apply for ordination.
Christian colleges may be non-denominational or belong to a particular faith, and this status will color the way in which they teach doctrine and ministerial courses.
Finally, you should try to figure out how well you will fit with the students and professors. Does the school have a lot of clubs oriented around religious studies? Do your instructors have a solid background, published work and some accolades in the areas they teach? Are they supportive and accessible? Does the school have a suitable library and research materials for your subjects of study? Is there an overseas study opportunity you don’t want to miss?
Don’t be afraid to ask admissions and department staff about the factors that are most important to you!
Accreditation Offers the Assurance You Need That a Religious Studies Major Hits the Academic Marks
Apart from those basic considerations for your future plans, you should also be concerned about basic quality. With such a wide range of different colleges offering religious studies degrees at different levels, there’s only one way to be sure about getting one that meets the high standards of the academic community: pick a fully accredited school.
Accreditation is a process of evaluation. Accreditation agencies review documents and send out investigators to validate a college’s claims on points such as:
- Instructor hiring standards
- Academic grading and appeals policies
- Administrative competence
- Marketing claims validation
Accreditation agencies are themselves evaluated by agencies such as the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Almost all public schools will hold a basic accreditation from an approved accreditor since it is a standard requirement for being eligible to accept federal financial aid from qualified students.
There are also schools that have another layer of accreditation with what is called programmatic accreditation. There’s only one agency that’s recognized by the US DOE and CHEA for offering this type of program-level accreditation, and that’s the appropriately named Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). You can be sure that any ABHE-accredited program will hold the standard institutional accreditations
Online Religious Studies Degree Programs Deliver Quality Curriculum Anywhere in the World
The wide variety of different religious studies degrees available across the United States leaves you with kind of a dilemma if you are intent on this path: your best match might be on the other side of the country.
If you decide to pursue your religious studies degree online, however, new horizons open up in you. Without having to shift yourself, your family, or your job halfway across the country, you can get the education you are intent on, and often learn it more effectively than you might with a traditional program.
Online degrees aren’t the right fit for everyone. Some people simply learn better in a classroom, with a regular schedule, and with the pressure and oversight of in-person peers and professors.
If you have the self-discipline and study habits to make it work, an online degree offers flexibility and freedom that open up opportunity.
Maybe you have a job or family obligations that keep you from committing to classes in the traditional format. That’s no problem with online studies. Time-shifted classes let you stream course presentations or turn in your homework on your own schedule. You don’t have to worry about rushing to get to class on time—class happens on your time.
You also don’t have to worry about relocating and taking on the expenses that may come with that. Moving to be close to the college you prefer can be disruptive. You may leave friends and career opportunities behind. But an online degree can let you attend a school several states away, while keeping the rest of your life pretty much as-is.
What Can You Do With a Religious Studies Major?
Some of your options for what to do with a religious studies degree depend on the level of degree that you have attained. But in general, religious studies graduates tend to pursue their calling in a handful of different fields:
A Religious Studies Degrees Let You Access Careers in Public or Private Schools
Many graduates of religious studies programs continue on in… religious studies! Becoming an educator for Christian schools or a researcher in any kind of academic setting is an excellent use of the research skills and foundational knowledge that comes from these degrees.
A bachelor’s degree is all that is required in most states in order to become a teacher. Licensing requires the addition of certain specific courses provided in Initial Teacher Preparation (ITP) programs, but private Christian schools do not always require state-level licensing or certification. Expertise, however, is mandatory in any kind of educator job—expertise you can gain in religious studies programs at every level.
Religious Studies Can Be the Foundation for Your Career in Ministry
Of course, one major way to put your accumulated knowledge of religion and the practice of worship to good use is to become a pastoral leader. This is a common path that is made easiest by specializing in studies of the ministry. But with the broad background of religious concepts, and a strong understanding of the roots of Christian faith and liturgy, you can be a good candidate for a life of service in the ministry.
In many cases, this will require becoming ordained, which is available in some denominations to those holding only a bachelor’s degree, but requires a master’s for others. The doctrine and liturgical studies you go through in your religious studies program may also have to conform to denominational qualifications. Consult your church elders before pursuing this path to make sure you check all the right boxes.
Social Services Jobs Offer Path for Religious Study Majors To Make a Difference
It’s not necessary to be religious or even to have a life of faith in order to be concerned about and effective in social services. But the basic precepts of Christianity go a long way to providing motivation in the areas of social justice and the common welfare.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
A degree in religious studies can equip you for staff and management positions in either secular or faith-based social services agencies. With a strong understanding of the nature of spirit and faith, you can advocate for clients and seek to provide for their needs in both humanitarian and religious areas.
Consulting and Advocacy Roles Can Benefit From a Religious Studies Degree
Religion is a big factor in modern culture and society. Secular organizations have a real interest in understanding how religion can influence everything from work habits to marketing campaigns in different cultures.
Religious studies graduates are uniquely suited to offering advice and analysis on these subjects. With broad exposure to different global religions, and in-depth instruction on the ways they interact with and inflect culture, you have a set of expertise that both governments and major corporations need.
Regardless of your chosen career path, a religious studies degree comes with strong support in logical and reasoning skills that will power your analytical and communication capabilities. As one of the keys to modern culture and society, knowledge of religion can be a powerful tool in any number of roles. And understanding the broad scope of religion will make you a better Christian no matter what your day job looks like.
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