What is a Religion Major and is it Right for Me?

Do you like discussing and thinking about different belief systems and how they affect history, policy and society as a whole? If so, becoming a religion major might be for you. But before you dive in, here’s what you need to know about the major.

What is a religion major?

The most important thing to know is that a religion major is not reserved for people who want to become a religious leader or clergyman; rather, the major is typically much more secular and looks at religion as a whole as well as looking at particular types of religion. While many religious figures did study religion in college, that doesn’t mean the degree can’t be helpful for many other endeavors.

What sorts of classes do religion majors take? In addition to learning about particular religions themselves (like Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam), students also take a more holistic approach by learning about the historical and sociological backgrounds of these religions. They may also take philosophy and anthropology classes to get a better understanding of how a certain religion came to be and what its current implications are.

Is It right for me?

Now that you know a little bit about the major, it’s time to ask yourself some key questions to see if it’d be a good fit for you:

• Do I like learning about other cultures and religions, or just my own?
• Am I open to taking courses in other departments that are linked to my major but not necessarily about religion?
• Am I comfortable discussing my thoughts and feelings when talking about more controversial religion-related conversations?
• Am I respectful of others when their opinions or ideas may not agree with mine?
• Do I consider myself someone who is open-minded to seeing how other people and cultures live?

What can I do with a religion degree?

Aside from becoming a religious figure in a particular faith, there are plenty of other career tracks you can take as someone who graduated with a religion degree. Some of these potential career tracks include:

• therapist
• counselor
• educator
• professor
• nonprofit worker
• government official
• lawyer
• international businessperson
• … and more

Additionally, it’s important to note that many religion majors pursue further education (like a Masters or Ph.D.) in addition to their Bachelor’s degree.

What do people who majored in religion earn?

Often religion majors end up working in a role related to a particular religion, or they do something related to aid and nonprofit work. Starting salaries in these types of fields often very but make $30,000-$45,000 to start. However, many people who major in religion go into fields where they make the world a better place, saying that that fact matters more than money.

Next, learn more about this college major such as What Types of Skills Are Best for a Religion Major? and get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as When to Start Applying for a Summer Internship.