Career Center

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Religion Majors

What are you going to do with your major?

Remember, a liberal arts degree opens a vast array of career choicesand opportunities. Your degree has prepared you to approach problemsanalytically, think critically about ideas, research, organize yourthoughts, and write about your findings. Your only limitation isthinking that you are only qualified for the traditional jobs in aselected major.

“A friendly study of the world’s religions is a sacred duty.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
 
 
The following books are available in the Career Center ResourceLibrary (Seegers Union, lower level). The locations of these booksare next to the title with the section number:
  • Opportunities in Religious Service Careers- John Oliver Nelson  PSSN
  • 100 Jobs in Social Change- Harley Jebens  PSSN
  • How to Get Any Job with Any Major- Donald Asher  EXPLORE
  • 200 Best Jobs for College Graduates- Michael Farr and LaVerne L. Ludden, Ed.D.  EXPLORE
  • Top Careers for Liberal Arts Majors  EXPLORE
  • Fund Raisers- Margaret A. Duronio and Eugene R. Tempel  PSSN
  • The Helping Professions- William R. Burger and Merrill Youkeles  PSSN
  • Careers in the Nonprofit Sector- Stephanie Lowell  PSSN
  • A Directory of Full-time Faith-based Opportunities- Catholic Network of Volunteer Services  PSSN
  • 150 Popular College Majors- The College Board  EXPLORE
  • International Voluntary Work- Victoria Pybus  INTL
  • Working for a Change: Making a Career in International Public Service- Derick W. Brinkerhoff and Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff  INTL
  • Alternatives to the Peace Corps- Joan Powell  INTL
 
 
Other Career Center resources:
  • This Handout available on theCareer Center website or in the Career Center Resource Library.
  • What Can I Do With this Major? Additional Information and Links are available at: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/careercenter/
  • Muhlenberg Career Network, a databaseaccessible from the career library computer that provides contactinformation for Muhlenberg alumni who have volunteered to helpstudents with their career goals.
Examples of JobsHeld by Religion Majors:
  Religion Studiesmajors are well-prepared for a wide variety of careers; frequentlythey have chosen to study in other departments as well, thusenriching their preparation.
Thus, graduates pursue careers in such fields as:
  • Medicine
  • Journalism
  • Film
  • Theater
  • Secondary Education
  • Teaching English Abroad
  • School Counseling
  • Art and Dance Education and Therapy
  • International Business/Advertising
  • Clergy
  • Environmental Organizations and Agencies
  • Graduate Programs


Graduate Programs:
  • Career Center:
        Peterson’s Graduate Programs in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (GRAD 16)
        Peterson’s Graduate Programs in the Humanities     (GRAD 48)
 
 

Faculty Resources
  Faculty in the Religion Studies department are familiar with a variety of disciplines, because of the nature of their field.  Students interested in the arts, communications, academia and interfaith arenas will find the faculty particularly helpful.  Some can adviseon religious vocations, though the College chaplains will typicallyhave more resources on this option. All department faculty membersare willing and able to explore graduate school opportunities andoptions.
 
 
Professional Associations:
  The American Academy of Religion
    A professional association of research scholars and teachers dedicated to furthering knowledge of religion and religious institutions of allforms.
 
  Association for the Sociology of Religion
    An internationalscholarly association seeking to advance theory and research in thesociology of religion.
 
  The Religious Education Association
    A diverse association promoting quality research, education and publications relating to religious studies.
 
 
Journals and Publications:
  The Journal of Religion
    A scholarly journal dedicated to critical and systematic inquiry into the meaning and import religion, not limited to any one ideological orientation.
 
  The Journal of Religion and Society
    An academic journal published by Creighton University dedicated to publishing scholarly research and the cross-disciplinary study of religion.
 
 
Other Resources:
  The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA)
    This association strives to democratize access to the best scholarly data on religion, including research
 
  Idealist.org
    This site is for people seeking employment opportunities in the non-profit sector andallows you to search for jobs, organizations, or internships.
 
  Why Study Religion?
    Site sponsored and developed by the American Academy of Religion.  Addresses misconceptions and pressing issues in the field of religion
 
  Institute on Religion and Public Policy
    Aninternational, inter-faith, non-profit organization dedicated toensuring freedom of religion across the globe
 
  North American Association for the Study of Religion (NAASR)
    An association dedicated to interdisciplinary study of religion and to sustain international communication between religious scholars.
 
  The Internet Sacred Text Archive
    A publicly available online archive of online books about religion, folklore, mythology and the esoteric on the Internet.

The Career Center, Muhlenberg College
2400 W. Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104-5586
Ph: (484) 664-3170    Fax: (484) 664-3533

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Last Revised March 25, 2008
Questions and comments? Send e-mail to careers@muhlenberg.edu