Divinity Studies

Types of Degrees Divinity Studies Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many divinity/ministry graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	5,094
Doctor’s Degree	720
Bachelor’s Degree	563
Associate Degree	103
Graduate Certificate	61
Basic Certificate	23
Undergraduate Certificate	11

What Divinity Studies Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to divinity studies and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Divinity Studies Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in divinity studies should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Skills for Divinity Studies Majors

divinity studies majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Abilities for Divinity Studies Majors

As you progress with your divinity studies degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Divinity Studies Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with divinity studies:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Clergy	8.2%	$48,990
Philosophy and Religion Professors	12.3%	$71,890

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Divinity Studies?

This major tends to be male dominated. About 62% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of divinity studies majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	8
Black or African American	52
Hispanic or Latino	66
White	396
International Students	4
Other Races/Ethnicities	37

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Divinity Studies. About 0.7% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Divinity Studies

Some degrees associated with divinity studies may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. 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 schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to divinity studies have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	0.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.1%
Bachelor’s Degree	12.0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	4.0%
Master’s Degree	40.5%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.4%
Doctoral Degree	36.8%
Post-Doctoral Training	6.2%

Online Divinity Studies Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	4	3
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	1
Associate’s Degree	16	7
Bachelor’s Degree	21	11
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	245	73
Post-Master’s	7	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	22	3
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	40	10
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	16	2

Majors Related to Divinity Studies

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to divinity studies.

Major	Number of Grads
Theology	6,274
Other Theological & Ministerial Studies	1,697
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies	207
Rabbinical Studies	175

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Jonund under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.