Studies & Degrees in Religious Studies
Religious Studies Study Programs
Religious studies is the academic study of religion: the beliefs, texts, rituals, ethics, institutions and histories through which people in different cultures have understood their world. It looks at religions as historical and cultural phenomena and does not ask students to hold any faith. Departments draw on several disciplines; the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University lists anthropological, historical, psychological, philosophical and phenomenological approaches.
Theology is a neighbouring field. It studies one tradition from within and often prepares students for ministry or for teaching religion. Many universities and church-related colleges teach both, and course names vary: religion, religious studies, theology, divinity, or religious sciences.
A typical programme starts with introductions to the major traditions. Duke University, for example, offers introductory courses in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Later courses turn to sacred texts, to themes such as ethics, gender or mysticism, and to religion in modern politics and society. Students who want to read sources in the original are encouraged to learn the relevant languages.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In the United States, religious studies is a major within the Bachelor of Arts. Stanford University offers a BA major, a minor, an honours programme and a combined major in Philosophy and Religious Studies. At Duke University the BA in Religious Studies consists of 10 courses within the general degree. Hofstra University has a BA in Religion and Contemporary Issues and a BA in Jewish Studies. Northwestern University notes that many students take a double major, combining religious studies with history, anthropology, political science, philosophy or a pre-medical curriculum.
- Master's degrees and doctorates. Duke University offers a Master of Arts in Religion with a thesis or research paper option, and a PhD. Doctoral programmes are small: Stanford states that it typically admits three or four doctoral students each year.
- Professional degrees for ministry. The Master of Divinity (MDiv) of Duke Divinity School is normally completed in three years and includes field education.
- Catholic ecclesiastical degrees. Ecclesiastical faculties award three degrees: Baccalaureate, Licentiate and Doctorate. In theology, the first cycle lasts five years and the second cycle, a specialisation, two years.
- Spain. Under Real Decreto 1619/2011, the Catholic ecclesiastical degrees of Baccalaureatus, Licentiatus and Doctor have civil effects that correspond to the university levels of bachelor's degree (grado), master's and doctorate. The decree includes the Baccalaureatus in Scientiis Religiosis, which is studied at the Institutos Superiores de Ciencias Religiosas, and requires at least 240 ECTS credits for equivalence to a bachelor's degree. Ask the centre whether its degree has this recognition.
Where to study religious studies
SpainExchange lists 151 active schools for religious studies. The United States has 106 and the United Kingdom 13, followed by Canada (5), Spain, Zimbabwe and Ghana (3 each), and Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Ireland (2 each). Examples in the United States are Stanford University, Duke University, The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, San Diego State University, Hofstra University and the University of Miami. The list also includes Catholic institutions such as Albertus Magnus College, Saint Joseph's University and Saint Mary's College of California, and Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Before applying, check whether the programme is non-confessional or belongs to a religious tradition, which traditions and languages the staff cover, and, for ministry, which churches accept the qualification.
Careers
Few graduates work with religion directly. San Diego State University describes the major as preparation for any career that requires critical thinking, analysis, and oral and written communication, and names law, teaching, medicine, counselling, social work, conflict resolution, the foreign service, journalism, ministry and non-profit organisations. Northwestern University notes that many of its majors continue with graduate work in religion.
University teaching requires a doctorate. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that teachers at four-year colleges and universities typically need a PhD, and counts about 26,800 postsecondary teachers of philosophy and religion in the United States in 2025. It projects employment of postsecondary teachers as a whole to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between religious studies and theology?
Religious studies examines religions from the outside, as historical and cultural phenomena, and compares traditions. Theology works within one tradition and often prepares for ministry.
Do I have to be religious to study religion?
No. University departments of religious studies teach the academic study of religion and are open to students of any belief or none. Faculties of theology and seminaries may set their own conditions.
How long does a Master of Divinity take?
At Duke Divinity School it is normally completed in three years.
Are Catholic ecclesiastical degrees recognised in Spain?
Real Decreto 1619/2011 recognises civil effects for the degrees of Baccalaureatus, Licentiatus and Doctor that it lists, at the levels of bachelor's degree, master's and doctorate. Ask the centre whether its degree is covered.