Religious Studies
What Can I Do With My Major?
Overview
Studying religion develops students’ critical thinking, writing and persuasion skills. You will learn how to debate your values and, through the study of religious theory, come to under-stand the origin of information and how knowledge is created from different perspectives.
Students majoring in the Religious Studies (BA) degree at Appalachian State University typically prepare for careers as religious leaders or employees of religious-affiliated organizations, but the skills you’ll develop are vital in many fields. You will learn from engaged faculty who foster deep conversations inside and outside the classroom. Class sizes are small, so you’ll receive individualized attention.
Related Careers
Affirmative Action Representative
Associate Pastor
Campus Minister
Campus Religious Coordinator
Chaplain
Church Camp Director
Clergy
Director of Religious Education*
Foreign Services Officer
Lawyer*
Management Trainee
Mental Health Counselor*
Missionary
Nonprofit/NGO Manager
Nursing Home Director
Professor*
Public Policy Manager*
Religious Education Teacher
Religious Educational Administrator
Research Assistant
Youth Outreach/Counselor/Minister
*additional experience or advanced degree may be required
Related Major Skills
Close, extensive reading
Communicating in logical manner
Curiosity
Debating Skills
Deductive Reasoning
Interest in pursuing, exploring,
and explaining intangible ideas Objectivity
Open-mindedness
Oratory Skills
Problem Solving
Self-discipline
Theory Development
Work Independently
Internship Hosts of AppState students
ASU Counseling Center
Banner Elk Christian Fellowship
Boone United Methodist Church
Calvary Baptist Church
Camp Rockmount for Boys Community Church
Harrisburg UMC
NC Baptist Youth Ministry
New England Fellowship of Evangelicals
Pine Valley United Methodist Church
United City Greensboro
Employers of AppState grads
Baptist State Convention of NC
BlueCross BlueShield
Clean Energy at Third Way
GE Aviation
Hospice
Liberty University
Mathematical Association of America
Miami Rescue Mission
Microsoft
Risk Advisory Services
Syngenta
The Legal Network
US Army
Wake Forest School of Divinity
Various churches
Various nonprofit, NGO, local and state government agencies
Various public and private school, colleges and universities
Professional Organizations and Associations
North Carolina Religious Studies Associationuncfsu.edu
Association for Studies of Religion www.asr.org.au
American Academy of Religion www.aarweb.org.
Preparing for Your Career
• Develop excellent interpersonal skills to work with diverse populations
• Look for internships and jobs in to gain knowledge and experience
• Participation in internships and summer jobs in a relevant setting
How can I know if a Religious Studies major is right for me?
• Complete a self-assessment inventory at the Career Exploration Office in the Student Union to see how your interests, values, and personality match this
major and related career fields.
• Schedule an appointment with a career counselor on careers.appstate.edu/Handshake
• Obtain direct experience by doing a job shadow
• Conduct an informational interview with a professional in the field
For more information on careers & job outlook: onetonline.org