Theology & Religious Vocations Major

Theology and religious vocations is a major that typically falls into the Theology & Religious Vocations category.

There are 280 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in theology and religious vocations, 1,196 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 1,027 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 310 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Theology & Religious Vocations Degree?

In 2017, roughly theology and religious vocations majors graduated with a bachelor’s degree, making it the most popular major in the country. This major tends to be male dominated. About 66.8% of recent graduates are men.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of theology and religious vocations majors is as follows:

• Asian: 2.4%
• Black or African American: 6.9%
• Hispanic or Latino: 6.2%
• White: 76.3%
• Non-Resident Alien: 2.2%
• Other Races: 5.9%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in theology and religious vocations. About 2.2% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending theology and religious vocations majors to the U.S. are.

What Will You Learn as a Theology & Religious Vocations Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to theology and religious vocations to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Theology & Religious Vocations Majors

A major in theology and religious vocations should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

Skills for Theology & Religious Vocations Majors

When studying theology and religious vocations, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

Abilities for Theology & Religious Vocations Majors

As a theology and religious vocations major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

What Can You Do With a Theology & Religious Vocations Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with theology and religious vocations:

Careers Related to Theology & Religious Vocations

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Directors, Religious Activities and Education	7.1%	$40,810
Religious Workers	7.7%	$29,820
Clergy	8.2%	$48,990
Philosophy and Religion Professors	12.3%	$71,890
Music Directors	5.7%	$49,630

Theology & Religious Vocations Major Salary

Theology and religious vocations majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $47,000 to $60,000. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

The area of the country you choose to work in will also affect your career and salary prospects. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Theology & Religious Vocations Major Jobs

Some careers associated with theology and religious vocations require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to theology and religious vocations have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Theology & Religious Vocations

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0.3%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	1.9%
Post-Secondary Certificate	0%
Some College Courses	0.1%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	1.7%
Bachelor's Degree	35%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	2.2%
Master's Degree	28.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	0.2%
First Professional Degree	0.1%
Doctoral Degree	27%
Post-Doctoral Training	3.1%

Online Theology & Religious Vocations Programs

There are 1,196 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in theology and religious vocations, with 234 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Many learners are drawn to online programs due to the ease of use and flexibility. Students should be warned that those who enroll in online programs can take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to drop out.

Is a Theology & Religious Vocations Major Worth It?

The median salary for a theology and religious vocations grad is $53,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 37% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $287,800 after 20 years!

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
Image Credit: Daderot via License