THEOLOGY

AREA: LOCAL MINISTRIES

  • Youth Ministries
  • Adult Ministries
  • Leisure Ministries
  • Counseling/Recovery
  • Religious Education
  • Day Care, Children and Adult
  • Missionary Outreach
  • Food Bank/Emergency Ministries
  • Family Life Center Management
  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
  • Television, Radio and Films
  • Publishing
  • Music

EMPLOYERS

  • Local churches, synagogues and mosques
  • Religious organizations
  • Denominational boards

STRATEGIES

Get additional training or double major in specialized areas. Obtain certification for specialized areas. Obtain Master's degree in Divinity or counseling. Gain experience by volunteering in local church and campus religious organizations.
Obtain an internship at denominational headquarters. Build relationships with local church and denominational leaders. Get experience in communications areas and develop a portfolio. Double major in music; take additional courses in religious music. Get performance experience through campus groups.

AREA: SOCIAL SERVICES

  • Administration
  • Vocational Training
  • Retail
  • Public Relations
  • Programming
  • Counseling
  • Advocacy
  • Crisis Services (pregnancy, housing, etc.)
  • Financial/Debt Counseling
  • Camp Administration
  • Lobbying

EMPLOYERS

  • Nonprofit organizations including United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, etc.
  • Churches, synagogues and mosques
  • Religious hospitals and hospices
  • Correctional institutions
  • Shelters
  • Nursing homes
  • Youth organizations and camps including YMCA, YWCA, Young Life, etc.
  • Adoption agencies/Foster Care
  • Religious political organizations e.g. Moral Majority

STRATEGIES

Volunteer with local organizations for experience. May need specialized training/certification for some areas. Obtain excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills. Seek summer camp experience and leadership roles, such as director or assistant director. Legal experience and law degree may be required.

AREA: HEALTH AND WELFARE MINISTRIES

  • Administration
  • Social Services
  • Residential Living
  • Religious Activities Programming
  • Chaplainry
  • Counseling: Mental Health or Pastoral

EMPLOYERS

  • Hospitals
  • Mental health treatment facilities
  • Nursing homes
  • Retirement homes
  • Assisted living homes
  • Children/youth homes

STRATEGIES

Double major or minor in Business, Social Work, Human Services or special interest area. Take courses related to special populations. Volunteer time in related organizations. Obtain advanced degrees and certification for counseling and chaplainry. May need ordination for pastoral counseling.

AREA: CLERGY

  • Buddhist
  • Catholic
  • Jewish
  • Protestant

EMPLOYERS

  • Local churches, synagogues, mosques
  • Religious organizations
  • Denominational boards and agencies
  • Monasteries

STRATEGIES

Become involved in related campus activities. Protestant clergy positions require denominational ordination and usually a Master of Divinity. Possess high moral and ethical standards. Develop leadership ability and self discipline. Obtain excellent written and verbal communication skills.

AREA: CHAPLAINRY

  • Military
  • Institutional

EMPLOYERS

  • All branches of military service
  • Hospitals, hospices
  • Homes for children, youth, senior citizens
  • Correctional institutions
  • Police and fire departments

STRATEGIES

Obtain ordination and two years' service in local church. After acceptance into branch of service, attend chaplainry school.

AREA: MISSIONS

  • Church and Community Development
  • Education
  • Medical
  • Metropolitan Ministries
  • Community Centers
  • Evangelism

EMPLOYERS

  • Denominational boards or agencies
  • Missions boards
  • Local churches
  • Religious institutions
  • Evangelical organizations e.g. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

STRATEGIES

Obtain any needed advanced degrees, certification or licensing for area of interest. Seek related volunteer or work experience. Obtain travel and cultural experience with group of interest. Foreign language skills are a plus. Develop fundraising skills and contacts.

AREA: EDUCATION

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Counseling
  • Administration/Staff
  • Chaplainry
  • Religious Life Programming
  • Campus Ministry

EMPLOYERS

  • Religiously affiliated schools
  • Preparatory schools
  • Private, public or religiously affiliated colleges and universities
  • Schools of theology/seminaries
  • Organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ,
  • Muslim Student Association, Hillel Buddhist Monasteries such as Chuang Yen
  • Monastery

STRATEGIES

May require certification/licensure to teach. Ph.D. usually required for teaching, research and administration in colleges and universities. Complete Master of Divinity plus additional training for campus ministry. Master of Divinity and Ph.D., D.Min. or Th.D. usually required for teaching, research and administration in seminaries and schools of theology. May require multiple skills such as providing ministerial services as well as administration, teaching, coaching, etc. Become involved in specific campus ministry organizations. Seek leadership positions and internships or summer employment opportunities.

AREA: BUSINESS

  • Administration/Management
  • Human Resources
  • Building Management
  • Research

EMPLOYERS

  • Local churches, synagogues and mosques
  • Religious bookstores
  • Religious publishers
  • Denominational boards/agencies
  • Seminaries/schools of theology
  • Religiously affiliated schools
  • Denominational hospitals, homes, schools, boards and agencies

STRATEGIES

Double major or minor in Business. Get related experience. Dual degree in engineering helpful. Develop research and writing skills.

AREA: COMMUNICATIONS

  • Writing
  • Editing
  • Publishing
  • Television/Film
  • Radio
  • Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Sales
  • Commercial Art

EMPLOYERS

  • Denominational boards/agencies
  • Interdenominational organizations
  • Local churches, synagogues and mosques
  • Denominational publishing houses of books and magazines
  • Secular publishing houses
  • Secular radio, television and film industry

STRATEGIES

Consider freelance positions. Permanent positions are limited. Take courses in English, social sciences and journalism. Develop excellent writing skills. Submit articles for publication for religious and nonreligious papers and journals. Learn desktop publishing techniques. Obtain specialized technical training such as a double major or minor in Broadcasting. Develop artistic talent. Take courses or double major in Graphic Design/Illustration. Obtain related experience through internships.

AREA: RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

EMPLOYERS

  • Denominational groups including: Roman Catholic (Nuns and Monks), Episcopal, and, Greek Orthodox, Buddhist

STRATEGIES

Apply to religious order for admittance. Requires self-discipline. Desire to combine career with life/living arrangements.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • People interested in religious vs. secular work possess deep faith, want more than filling own personal needs, and want to make a difference.
  • Bachelor's degree provides broad background for careers in many fields including many religious-affiliated organizations.
  • An undergraduate degree prepares students for professional and graduate study in business, law, medicine, counseling, higher education and other fields.
  • Dual majors are required for some specialized areas.
  • Master of Divinity required for most clergy positions, plus denominational ordination.
  • Obtain general knowledge of practices, procedures, guidelines and doctrine of one's faith.
  • Possess understanding of human spiritual and social needs.
  • Ph.D., Th.D. or D.Min. required for college/university/seminary teaching, research and administration.
  • Obtain part-time, summer, internship, volunteer experience in religious institution or bookstore, or other related activity in working with and helping people.
  • Develop counseling and communication skills due to the nature of the field and working with people.
  • May be more opportunities for specific ministries in urban areas and large religious institutions.
  • Obtain experience and contacts through extensive involvement in campus organizations. Leadership on the local, state and regional level is crucial.
  • Obtain camp experience to improve organization and counseling skills as well as network within the denominational/organizational structure.