What Can I Do With A Major In Religious Studies
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The religious studies discipline seeks to provide students with the opportunity to explore the role and significance of religion in human life and culture, grapple with the ultimate questions and issues religion addresses, reflect critically on the nature and meaning of diverse religious beliefs and practices, and investigate thoughtfully those biblical, historical, theological and ethical sources that contribute to the Christian heritage, particularly the Catholic tradition.
Religious studies courses are designed to encourage thoughtful reflection about matters of faith. You do not have to be religious to study religion at St. Norbert College. You may simply want to explore questions of ultimacy and investigate how religious people grapple with them. But deepening your own faith might be reason enough to embark on a course of study that will challenge and broaden your perspective.
As a major program in the liberal arts, religious studies helps cultivate a greater sensitivity to the complexity and diversity of Christian beliefs and practices in an increasingly international, multicultural and global environment. Courses in religious studies help develop a student's capacity for critical thinking and sound argumentation, preparing the student for a wide range of professional career choices.
Career Titles
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- Admissions Counselor
- Advertising Account Executive
- Archaeologist
- Archivist
- Bioethicist
- Business Manager
- Campus Minister
- Campus Religious Coordinator
- Chaplain
- Child Welfare Worker
- Church Administrator
- Church Camp Director
- Clergy
- Collection Agent
- College/University Administrator
- Community Affairs Specialist
- Community Organization Worker
- Community Service Agency Worker
- Conflict Resolution Specialist
- Consultant
- Consumer Advocate
- Copy Writer
- Corporate Trainer
- Corrections Officer
- Counselor
- Cultural Affairs Officer
- Customer Relations Representative
- Daycare Center Worker
- Diocesan Employee
- Diplomat
- Director of Institutional Research
- Director of Religious Activities
- Director of Religious Education
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- Education Coordinator
- Employee Relations Specialist
- Ethicist
- Evangelist
- Family/Marriage Counselor
- FBI/CIA Agent
- Foreign Service Officer
- Fund Raiser
- Government Agency Administrator
- Historic Site Administrator
- Hospice Director
- Hospital Administrator
- Hospital/Military/Prison Chaplain
- House Parent
- Human Resources Specialist
- Insurance Agent/Broker
- International Relations Specialist
- Journalist
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Lawyer
- Lay Minister
- Legal Assistant
- Librarian
- Liturgist
- Lobbyist
- Market Researcher
- Mediator
- Missionary
- Music Minister
- Newspaper/Magazine Journalist
- Non-Profit Administrator
- Nursing Home Director
- Peace Corps/JVC/VISTA Worker
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- Politician
- Professor
- Psychologist
- Public Information Officer
- Public Policy Specialist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Publications Specialist
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Religious Bookstore Manager
- Religious Education Director
- Religious Education Teacher
- Religious Educational Administrator
- Religious Leader
- Religious Researcher
- Religious Writer
- Researcher/Archivist
- Residence Hall Director
- Retail Store Manager
- Sales Representative
- School Guidance Counselor
- Social Worker
- Student Activities Director
- Teacher
- Theological Professor
- Translator
- Travel Consultant
- University/Seminary Administrator
- Urban Regional Planner
- Volunteer Services Coordinator
- Volunteer Services Director
- Writer/Editor
- Youth Counselor
- Youth Minister
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Employers
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- Adoption Agencies and Foster Care
- Advertising Agencies
- Assisted Living Homes
- Board of Education
- Children/Youth Homes
- Children's Aid and Family Services
- Churches, Synagogues And Mosques
- Civil Rights Commission
- Colleges and Universities
- Community Organizations
- Consumer Affairs Office
- Consumer Organizations
- Correctional Institutions
- Criminal Courts
- Cultural Organizations
- Denominational Hospitals, Homes, Schools, Boards And Agencies
- Division of Youth and Family Services
- Drug Enforcement Agency
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- FBI/CIA
- Federal/State Congressional Offices
- Foreign Service
- Foundations
- Health Organizations
- Hospitals
- Legislative Affairs
- Libraries
- Magazines/Newspapers
- Management and Consulting Firms
- Media Organizations
- Mental Health Organizations
- Mental Health Treatment Facilities
- Museums, Historical Societies
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Nursing Homes
- Peace Corps/AmeriCorps/JVC
- Professional Associations
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- Public Relations Firms
- Publishing Firms
- Radio/TV Stations
- Religious Bookstores
- Religious Hospitals And Hospices
- Religious Organizations
- Religious Political Organizations
- Religious Publishers
- Religiously Affiliated Schools
- Research Services
- Retail Stores
- Retirement Homes
- Schools
- Seminaries/Schools Of Theology
- Shelters
- Social Service Agencies
- Youth Organizations And Camps
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Skills
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- Analyze and apply biblical, theological, and doctrinal principles
- Analyze complex spiritual issues and establish a standard
- Apply spiritual truths to current life issues
- Apply theory
- Appreciate human spiritual and social needs
- Build and defend views in competing positions
- Clarify problems
- Collect, organize and classify data
- Communicate clearly orally and in writing
- Concentrate for long periods of time
- Convince others of truth by personal example
- Critical Thinking
- Critique
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- Distinguish differing views and discover ultimate truth
- Elicit hidden assumptions
- Examine material in its historical, grammatical, and cultural context
- Exercise good judgment
- Express a distinctive view with authority and confidence
- Formulate and defend positions
- Imagine and conceive
- Incorporate theory and practical application
- Interact with all types of people
- Listen and respond to others objectively
- Make critical observations and appropriate decisions
- Oral and written presentation of ideas
- Organize, conduct and explain research
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- Persuade and influence others
- Present clearly and with confidence
- Presents ideas through well-constructed, concise arguments
- Relate to abstract ideas
- Sense how to meet the spiritual and social needs of others
- Show sensitivity to and compassion for others
- Summarize complex materials
- Synthesize perceptions
- Trouble-shoot and problem-solve effectively
- Use analytical and synthetic reasoning
- Work independently and in teams
- Write interpretively, descriptively, and persuasively
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Salary Information
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NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Summer 2012 Average Starting Salary:
- Religious Studies Bachelor's Degree: Not Currently Available
Average Salary of SNC Religious Studies Graduates:
- 2009: $15,001 - $20,000
- 2010: No salary data available
- 2011: $25,001 - $30,000
For additional salary information, please visit
salary.com
Graduate Data
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The job titles and employers listed below are a sample of the results from the annual St. Norbert College Career Services graduate follow-up survey for the Classes of 2003-2011.
Job Titles
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Faith Formation Director
- Family Life Minister
- General Studies Instructor
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- Junior High Youth Ministry
- Outbreak of Faith Team Member
- Reading Clinician
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- Volunteer Candidate for Seminary
- Youth Director
- Youth Minister
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Employers
- Blessed Sacrament Teen Center
- Corpus Christi Catholic Church
- Cultivation Ministries
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
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- Franciscan Friars of Renewal
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest
- Nativity of Our Lord Parish
- Our Saviour Lutheran Church
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- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
- St. Giles Catholic Church
- St. Peter Parish
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Graduate Programs
- Master of Theological Studies
- Piano Pedagogy
- Theology
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Graduate Schools
- University of Notre Dame
- Wichita State University
- Vanderbilt University
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Alumni/Intern Profiles
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Alumni Profiles
John Dols
Lana Fuentes-Krummen
Ann Hillman
Molly Wolk
Intern Profiles
Jordan Lentz
Links of Interest
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Career Information
Careers in Religious Studies (Santa Clara University)
Catholic Vocations
Graduate Programs in Religious Education
Graduate Programs in Religious Studies
Riley Guide to Ministry and Religion
Professional Associations
American Academy of Religion
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
Association of Professional Chaplains
International Association of Christian Chaplains
National Association of Pastoral Musicians
Jobs & Internships
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service Employment
Christian Career Center
Christian Jobs Online
Christian Ministry in the National Parks
Chronicle of Higher Education Careers
Idealist
InterCristo (Connecting Faith with Work)
Ministry Search
Ministry Source
Religious Studies Job Links (San Diego State University)
Youth Specialties
Additional Information
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SNC Religious Studies Department
Major Requirements
Academic Advising
Career Services Job Search Links
Disclaimer: The information included on this page is not all-inclusive. You are encouraged to utilize additional online and print resources when researching majors and careers. Some of the careers listed may require additional education, training, development, licenses and/or certifications. If you feel something should be added, changed, updated or removed, please contact
Career Services. The content included on this page will be updated annually each summer. Please contact
Career Services if you have any questions about the information on this page or to schedule an appointment.
