What can I do with this degree? |
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
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- Local churches, synagogues and mosques
- Religious organizations
- Denominational boards
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- 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.
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SOCIAL SERVICES
- Administration
- Vocational Training
- Retail
- Public Relations
- Programming
- Counseling
- Advocacy
- Crisis Services (pregnancy, housing, etc.)
- Financial/Debt Counseling
- Camp Administration
- Lobbying
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- 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
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- 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.
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HEALTH AND WELFARE MINISTRIES
- Administration
- Social Services
- Residential Living
- Religious Activities Programming
- Chaplaincy
- Counseling: Mental Health or Pastoral
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- Hospitals
- Mental health treatment facilities
- Nursing homes
- Retirement homes
- Assisted living homes
- Children/youth homes
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- 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 chaplaincy. May need ordination for pastoral counseling.
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CLERGY
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Jewish
- Protestant
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- Local churches, synagogues, mosques
- Religious organizations
- Denominational boards and agencies
- Monasteries
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- 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.
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CHAPLAINCY
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- All branches of military service
- Hospitals, hospices
- Homes for children, youth, senior citizens
- Correctional institutions
- Police and fire departments
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- Obtain ordination and two years' service in local church. After acceptance into branch of service, attend chaplaincy school.
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MISSIONS
- Church and Community Development
- Education
- Medical
- Metropolitan Ministries
- Community Centers
- Evangelism
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- Denominational boards or agencies
- Missions boards
- Local churches
- Religious institutions
- Evangelical organizations e.g. Billy Graham
- Evangelistic Association
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- 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.
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EDUCATION
- Teaching
- Research
- Counseling
- Administration/Staff
- Chaplaincy
- Religious Life Programming
- Campus Ministry
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- 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
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- 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.
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BUSINESS
- Administration/ Management
- Human Resources
- Building Management
- Research
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- 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
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- Double major or minor in Business.
- Get related experience.
- Dual degree in engineering helpful.
- Develop research and writing skills.
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COMMUNICATION
- Writing
- Editing
- Publishing
- Television/Film
- Radio
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Sales
- Commercial Art
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- Denominational boards/agencies
- Interdenominational organizations
- Local churches, synagogues and mosques
- Denominational publishing houses of books and magazines
- Secular publishing houses
- Secular radio, tevelevision and film industry
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- 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.
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RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
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- Denominational groups including Roman Catholic (Nuns and Monks), Episcopal, and Greek Orthodox
- Buddhist
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- Apply to religious order for admittance.
- Requires self-discipline.
- Desire to combine career with life/living arrangments.
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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.
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Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2003) |
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