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Online Religious Studies Degrees and Programs

"In a world shaped not merely by 9/11 but by Iraq, Bosnia, Kashmir, and the West Bank--and not merely by abortion, but by gay marriage, intelligent design, euthanasia, and stem cells--Americans increasingly accept the idea that we need better to understand the diverse range of religious phenomena," the American Academy of Religion (AAR) wrote in a report titled The Religion Major and Liberal Education.

The report goes on to say that religion has always been an inescapable part of politics, economics, foreign policy, social mores and domestic interactions. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright felt so strongly about the role of religion in diplomacy that she wrote in her book, The Mighty and the Almighty, that "no American ambassador should be assigned to a country where religious feelings are strong unless he or she has a deep understanding of the faiths commonly practiced there."

Religious studies: Critical education for many different careers

Religious studies is no longer only a precursor to seminary studies for pastors, priests and rabbis but a liberal arts major that has become increasingly important in today's world for careers in journalism, international business, policy analysis, the law, education, health care, human rights, the diplomatic corps and even in intelligence agencies.

The AAR report states that "an unprecedented confluence of world events, public perceptions, and educational insights has created exciting possibilities for the growth and re-imagining of [religious studies]." To that end, many religious studies programs are shifting from a "seminary" model to a "comparative" model that promotes an understanding of a variety of practices, beliefs and histories of different religions.

As a liberal arts discipline, religious studies teaches students skills that employers want to see--critical and analytical thinking as well as communication and writing skills. Students also learn to appreciate another perspective, formulate and defend a position, understand ideas and values different from their own and gain a more highly developed political awareness.

Students enrolled in online degrees in religious studies could have the opportunity to learn about other religions from fellow students who might practice those religions in different states or even different countries. Online religious studies degrees promote the essence of the field--dialoguing with different people to compare and understand the diversity of religion--both the similarities and the differences.

Educational choices for religious studies

Religious studies degrees and certificates are available at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. Many programs are interdisciplinary, and include studies in anthropology, history, sociology, language, literature and more. Fields of emphasis include Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Hindu, or Buddhist traditions as well as religious cultures of Africa, China, Japan and the Americas, to name only a few.

Depending on the school and the religious studies program, one-, two- or three-year master's degree programs offer terminal degrees or degrees for students preparing to enter doctoral programs. A Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) or a Masters in Divinity (M.Div.) are the most common degrees for those called to religious careers. Doctoral programs, which can take up to six years to complete, prepare graduates to enter academia as professors or researchers or prepare them for scholarship in their fields of specialization.

Religious studies at a glance

Common career paths: nonprofit work, religious counseling, church administration, education, media
Salary: The median salary for philosophy and religious studies majors was $48,000, according to a 2010 study from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW).
Graduate degrees: 53 percent of students earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy or religious studies went on to earn a graduate degree, the CEW reported.

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