Career Options for Religion
Most students ask this obvious question: What can I do with a degree in religion? They are often surprised to find out that many religion majors do not become members of the clergy, but go on to become prominent members of many other professions. Such professions include, social services, journalism, public relations, music, health and welfare organizations. A bachelor’s degree in religion is great preparation for law, business school, medicine, or graduate study in counseling, humanities, or administration.
For those who wish to pursue more traditional career paths with a bachelor’s degree in religion, such a degree is the ideal preparation for youth ministries, campus ministry, adult ministries, theological and medical missionary outreach, religious education, religious activities programming, chaplaincy, and several other related fields. For those desiring to enter the clergy, an undergraduate major in religion is the best training for the seminary. A bachelor’s degree in religion is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in religion, which lead to career opportunities in secondary and higher education.
Famous Religion Majors
Arts
- Willard Scott (TV personality)
- David Duchovny (actor, X Files)
- Harrison Ford (actor)
- Peter Lynch (director)
Social Justice
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Elie Wiesel (human rights activist)
- John Silber (former president of Boston University)
Politics
- Pierre Trudeau (former Canadian Prime Minister)
- Rahm Emanuel (Chief of Staff and former Clinton White House political advisor)
- Vaclav Havel (former President of Czechoslovakia)
- Jerry Brown (former Governor of California)
Sports
- John Elway (former QB for the Denver Broncos)
- Michael McKaskey (owner of the Chicago Bears)
- Aaron Taylor (offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers)
- Mike Schmidt (former Philadelphia Philly)
- Shane Battier (All American, Duke Basketball, NBA player)
