Religious Studies: Courses, Universities & Careers

Understanding the concept of religion through the magnifying glass of Sociology, many social theorists described it in a varied range of terms. Emile Durkheim termed it as a “unified systems of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things” while Max Weber emphasised upon it as an impactful “force for social change”. You might find religion as a mysteriously yet fascinating concept to delve deeper in to comprehend how different cultures across the globe see the dynamics of religions as. This is what religious studies aim to explore. It is an intellectually exciting discipline that elaborates upon the study of religion, its impact on human beings as well as its role in society. This blog brings you a detailed guide on the top courses offered in Religious Studies, major universities as well as the career scope this field entails.

Check Out: Scope of Sociology as a Career

What is Religious Studies?

Religious Studies encompasses the study of different religions around the world and involves extensive research into religious institutions, beliefs, behaviours, societal impact, amongst others. Students get to learn about the religious dimensions of religions of diverse cultures. Moreover, the course curriculum for this discipline is designed in a way that the study of religion is comparative, factual and fair-minded to help them provided with a historical and cross-cultural outlook. Religious studies keep a learner abreast of the historical context of the religion as well as its nature, advent and its relevance.

Types of Religious Studies

• Anthropology of religion.
• Cultural anthropology of religion.
• Economics of religion.
• Geography of religion.
• History of religion.
• Literary approaches.
• Neurological approaches.
• Origin of religion.

Major Disciplines in religious studies

Anthropology	Sociology
Psychology	Philosophy
History	Geography
Literature	Economics

Major Courses Offered

As an emerging field of study, there is a wide range of short-term, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Religious Studies that you can explore. The following sections elucidate upon some of the popular courses in this field:

Bachelor’s Level

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Conjoint -Theological and Religious Studies	Bachelor of Arts – Religion (Hons.)	BA (Hons) Theology and Religion
Bachelor of Advanced Humanities (Honours) -Studies in Religion	BA Philosophy – Religious Studies	BA (Hons) Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (with placement)
BA (Hons) Philosophy, Religion and Ethics	BA African Studies with the Study of Religions	BA Arabic with the Study of Religions
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws- Studies in Religion	Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Honours) – Studies in Religion	Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy – Philosophy and Religious Studies

Master’s Level

MA in Islamic Studies	MA/Diploma Philosophy of Religion and Ethics	Master of Philosophy – Religious Studies
Master of Philosophy – Studies In Religion	MPhil in Religions and Philosophies	Master of Arts in Religion – Bible and Beyond
Master of Arts in Religion – History of Religions in America	Master of Arts in Religion – Global Christianity	Master of Divinity – Religion and the Arts
Master of Divinity – Religion and Economic Justice	Master of Arts in Islamic Studies – American Studies	Master of Arts in International Studies (Comparative Religion)

Doctoral Level

PhD in Religious Studies	PhD Theology and Religious Studies	Doctor of Philosophy – School of History Philosophy Religion and Classics
Doctor of Philosophy – Studies In Religion	Doctor of Philosophy in Religion – Critical Studies in Asian, Islamic, and Jewish Traditions	Doctor of Philosophy in Religion – Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel
Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies – Childhood, Gender, and Sexuality Studies	Doctor of Philosophy in Religion	Doctor of Philosophy (Theology and Religious Studies)
Doctor of Philosophy in the Study of Religion	Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Civilizations Studies	PhD Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations

Popular Universities 

Now that you are familiar with the popular courses in religious studies, here is a list of top universities offering the aforementioned programmes in Religious Studies.

• University of Hull
• The University of Edinburgh 
• Queen’s University
• University of North Texas
• University of Pennsylvania 
• Griffith University 
• The University of Otago
• The University of Queensland 
• University of Stirling 
• University of Birmingham 
• The University of Nottingham 
• SOAS University of London
• Vanderbilt University 
• Fordham University 
• Claremont Graduate University
• Yale University 
• University of Aberdeen 
• University of Oxford 
• University of Cambridge 
• Durham University 
• University of Chicago 
• Stanford University 

Careers in Religious Studies 

As a highly theoretical field of study, Religious Studies encompasses diverse career opportunities in copious employment sectors. The inception of a plethora of courses in this field has lead to the emergence of numerous job prospects and some of the major careers have been given a rundown below.

Religious Writer

Writing is amongst the most lucrative sectors to explore with a degree in Religious studies. Courses in this field impart students with critical thinking, analytical and research skills utilising which you can work as a writer with journals, magazines, publishing houses, academic publications, amongst others.

Explore Jobs in Publishing House!

Outreach Worker

Outreach workers are associated with Government and non-Government organisations in order to facilitate aid and assistance to communities across the globe. Having an extensive knowledge of global cultures and religious, you will be able to connect with different communities in a better way, voicing their issues, and working as a liaison between the organisation and the community they are serving.

Check Out: Masters in Social Work

Archivist

Another prominent job profile to explore after completing a course in Religious Studies, an Archivist gathers and manages historical documents and other related materials of cultural and historic importance for organisations, countries and individuals.

Recommended Read: MA History

Along with above-mentioned ones, here are some other career prospects in Religious Studies:

• Teacher/Professor
• Charity Officer
• Youth Worker
• Community Development Worker
• Historian
• Social and Human Service Assistant

FAQ’s

1. What careers can you do with religious studies?

Religious studies give you a diverse set of opportunities and there is a lot of potential in this field if you wish to pursue a career in this area, there are many fields such as Religious Writer, Archivist, Teacher/Professor, and much more. To read in detail, refer to the career section above.

2. How do you become a religious scholar?

A master’s degree is required and a Doctor of Philosophy is preferred in order to be a scholar of religious studies and teach in the academy.

3. What are the five disciplines of religious studies?

5 disciplines of religious studies include Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Geography, and Economics. You can choose other disciplines as per your interest.

Studying Religious Studies, you will get to gain a holistic understanding of world religions and cultures as well as a critical perspective on how they originated and evolved. Unsure about how to choose a course to study this field? Sign up for an e-meeting with our Leverage Edu and we will help you explore the best course and university combinations and select a suitable one to embark upon your academic quest in the right way!