With a degree in religion, one might embark upon a career in education. For those completing undergraduate degrees in religion, opportunities may be available at religious-affiliated elementary and secondary schools, preparatory schools, private, public or religious-affiliated colleges and universities. Affiliation and experience with organizations such as Schools of Theology would be beneficial.

Specific positions may include teaching, serving as an administrator, campus ministry, counseling, religious life programming, research, and other possible opportunities.

1. Administration
2. Campus Ministry
3. Chaplain
4. Counselor
5. Research
6. Teacher

With an advanced degree in religion or religious studies, one may be afforded opportunities to teach at a college or university.

A position within the pastoral ministry demands leadership ability and self-discipline, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the possession of high moral and ethical standards. Local churches, religious organizations, and denominational boards and agencies offer employment positions for clergy.

1. Associate Pastor
2. Senior Pastor
3. Sunday School Director
4. Youth Pastor

Social services in religious settings have positions in administration, advocacy, counseling, programming, public relations, vocational teaching, etc. Careers can be found within churches and religious organizations, administration, vocational training, correctional institutions, nonprofit organizations, nursing homes, shelters, youth organizations and camps, advocacy, crisis services,and more. Employers include Nonprofit organizations, Religious hospitals and hospices, Correctional institutions, Shelters, Nursing homes, Youth organizations and camps, Adoption agencies/Foster care, and Religious organizations.

1. Goodwill Industries
2. Red Cross
3. Salvation Army
4. Social services info
5. Social workers
6. UMCOR
7. United Way
8. YMCA
9. Young Life
10. YWCA

Position areas include administration, social services, residential living, religious activities programming, mental health or pastoral counseling. Employers within this area may be found in hospitals, mental health treatment facilities, nursing homes, retirement homes, assisted living facilities, children and youth facilities, the military, and more.

1. Community and social service managers

Employment with missions may be found in church and community development, metropolitan ministries, community center, etc. Employers include, but are not limited to the following - Denominational boards or agencies, mission boards, local churches, religious institutions, and evangelical organizations e.g. United Methodist General Board of Global Ministry.

Potential employment in areas of writing, editing, publishing, television/film, radio, advertising, public relations, etc. Employers may include denominal boards/agencies, interdenominational organizations, local churches, synagogues and mosques; denominational publishing houses, secular publishing houses, secular radio, television, and film industry internships.

1. Advertiser
2. Editor
3. Public Relations
4. Publisher
5. Radio Broadcast
6. Television/Film
7. Writer

1. A bachelor's degree provides a broad background for careers in many fields including many religious-affiliated organizations.
2. An undergraduate degree prepares students for professional and graduate study in business, law, medicine, counseling, higher education and other fields.
3. Dual majors are required in some specialized areas.
4. A Master of Divinity degree is required for most clergy positions, plus denominational ordination.
5. A Ph.D. or D. Min. is generally required to qualify for teaching or administrative posts at universities or seminaries. Some colleges do not require doctoral-level degrees.
6. You may open many doors by being involved in campus organizations. These can be particularly helpful if one is involved in a leadership capacity within the organization on a campus, state or national level.
7. Obtain camp experience to improve organization and counseling skills, as well as network within the denominational/organizational structure.

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Organizations

Campus:

1. Baptist Student Ministry
2. Hillel/Jewish Law Student Association
3. Methodist Student Movement
4. Omega Chi

State:

1. Catholic Charities
2. Bluebonnet Baptist Association
3. United Methodist
4. UMW
5. American Organization of Christian Counselors

National:

1. American Academy of Religion
2. Campus Crusade for Christ
3. Post Secondary educators
4. Private School educators
5. Theta Alpha - National Honor Society

A reflective study of the ministry of the church focusing on its ministry of Christian education and involving observation in a church setting, reflection on ministry with church leaders, and weekly seminars under the leadership of the religion faculty.

A reflective study of the ministry of the church focusing on the ministry through worship and involving observation in a church setting, reflection on ministry with church leaders, and weekly seminars under the leadership of the religion faculty.

A reflective study of the ministry of the church focusing on its ministry in membership care and evangelism and involving observation in a church setting, reflection on ministry with church leaders, and weekly seminars under the leadership of the religion faculty.

A reflective study of the ministry of the church focusing on its ministry through administration, social concerns, and missions and involving observation in a church setting, reflection on ministry with church leaders, and weekly seminars under the leadership of the religion faculty.

An approach to the meaning of Christian education.

Survey of Old Testament tradition, emphasizing its historical development and cultural setting, with writing assignments designed to enhance students’ appreciation of religious values.

Survey of New Testament tradition, emphasizing its historical development and cultural setting, with writing assignments designed to enhance students’ appreciation of religious values.

An examination of the traditions of moral thought, including an analysis of how traditional problems and processes are reflected in contemporary moral debates, with writing assignments designed to enhance students’ appreciation of ethical and moral values.

A survey of selected world religions, emphasizing the diversity of religious experience in human life, with writing assignments designed to enhance students’ appreciation of religious values.

A comparative study of core beliefs, ideals and practices of varying religious traditions. The thematic focus of the course will be upon topics such as the nature of the divine, salvation, the nature of evil, morality and the experience of death.

A survey of hymns, various hymn types and styles, and issues in hymnody designed for persons preparing for various forms of Christian ministry. Includes an introduction to the fundamentals of hymnody.

An introduction and historical overview of the development of a selection of the religious traditions of Asia, with particular emphasis upon the South Asian traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and the East Asian traditions of Confucianism and Taoism.

An introduction and historical overview of the development of the primary religious traditions established within the Mediterranean region, with particular emphasis upon Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Introduction to the principles and procedures of relationship building and reflection upon the dynamics of multiple staff relationships. The students are required to have an intern supervisor in a local church or church agency or institution.

A study of the practical aspects of counseling that are vital for the church staff member. Students in this course are required to have an intern supervisor in a local church or church agency or institution.

A study of the meanings, principles, and structures of Christian worship and practice in communication skills.

An exploration of the primary beliefs, ideals and rituals that define the Hindu religious culture and tradition. The course will explore the philosophical insights of the community and engage primary texts that serve the community.

A consideration of the personal insights of the Buddha and the employment of these insights by the Buddhist community. The course will consider the distinctive beliefs, ideals and rituals that define this community.

An examination of the historical development, doctrine, ritual and key texts of the Muslim community. The course will consider Islam from its classical origins to its modern incarnation as a global religion.

An exploration of the Jewish tradition, through and examination of the community’s philosophical ideals, history, ritual practice and textual expression.

A study of individual and group relationships utilizing a blending of psychology and theology.

A study of psychological, sociological, and religious development of children.

A study of psychological, sociological, and religious development of youth.

A study of psychological, sociological, and religious development of adults.

This course will introduce students to principles of leadership in the church setting. Included in this course is a look at leadership styles, at types of church polity, and at each person's own personality type and how this affects one's own leadership style.

A specific project in ministry in the church will be developed and implemented. The project will be determined by the particular aspect of ministry for which students are preparing themselves and carried out under an intern supervisor.

This course is taken in the student's final semester in the Church Ministry Program and includes completion of the senior project and the writing of a theological credo.

A study of the development of Christian thought.

This course introduces students to the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church, including basic Christian affirmations and distinctive United Methodist emphases; and it introduces students to church polity as set forth in The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.

An interpretive consideration of primary myths drawn from a variety of religious traditions, with specific emphasis upon common themes and motifs that bind the works and point to underlying philosophical and theological commonalities and distinctions.

A topical analysis of a particular issue or ideal. The course will consider the manner in which this issue or ideal impacts a variety of diverse religious communities.

A comparative examination of the life and thought of two or more key representatives of differing religious traditions.

A study of church history from the Apostolic Age to the present with special emphasis on the Wesleyan movement of the eighteenth century and its development in America. (Students will not receive credit for this course if they receive credit for REL 4361 or 4362.)

A study of church history from the Apostolic Age to the Reformation.

A study of the Christian church from the Reformation to the present, with emphasis on its development in America.

A study/tour of the history and heritage of Methodism. This course uses Texas Wesleyan University historical sites in England as a laboratory for study.

A study of the religious history of Scotland. This course uses historical sites in Scotland as a laboratory for study.

A study of the religious history of Ireland. This course uses historical sites in Ireland as a laboratory for study.

An examination of the traditions of moral thought, including an analysis of how traditional problems and processes are reflected in contemporary moral debates, with writing assignments designed to enhance students' appreciation of ethical and moral values.

An introduction to the basic principles of logic.

A representative survey of the major divisions and characteristic problems of philosophy.

A survey of the thought of the principal philosophers from the early Greeks to the seventeenth century.

A survey of the theory of knowledge, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy of outstanding thinkers from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century.

Prerequisite: 3 hours of philosophy or consent of instructor
Readings and analyses of selected writings of important philosophers of the twentieth century.

Prerequisite: 3 hours of philosophy or consent of instructor
A survey and analysis of classical and contemporary ethical theory, based upon selected readings.

Prerequisite: 3 hours of philosophy or consent of instructor
An analysis of representative selections from the works of outstanding philosophers of religion.

Prerequisite: REL 1311
An introduction to the nature of prophetic literature and its significance for biblical interpretation; to be followed by a survey of selected prophets from each major period in Hebrew prophecy, the elaboration of prophetic traditions during the Second Temple period, and the prophetic values inherent in the Pauline and post-Pauline epistles.

Prerequisite: REL 1311
An introduction to the nature of wisdom literature and its significance for biblical interpretation; to be followed by a survey of selected poetic and narrative wisdom texts in the Hebrew Bible, the origins of philosophical wisdom in the Second Temple period as exemplified in the Apocrypha, the use of wisdom in the Epistle of James, and the contribution of wisdom themes to the development of early Christology.

Prerequisite: REL 1311
An introduction to the nature of priestly literature and its significance for biblical interpretation; to be followed by a survey of the biblical traditions directly related to priestly institutions, the role of the priest in Second Temple society, and the priestly concerns represented in the Epistle to the Hebrews and other selected New Testament epistles.

Prerequisite: REL 1311
An introduction to the writings and religious concepts of the prophets of ancient Israel. In addition to the writings themselves, attention will be given to the roots of prophecy in ancient Near Eastern religions, the social role of the Israelite prophet, and comparisons with seers and shamans of modern religious traditions.

Prerequisite: REL 1312
An interpretative study of the teachings of Jesus as found in the synoptic tradition.

Prerequisite: REL 1312
A study of leading ideas found in the writings of Paul and how these ideas contributed to the development of the early church.

Prerequisite: REL 1312
A historical, theological, and exegetical study of the Gospel of John, the Johannine letters, and the Revelation of John.

Prerequisite: 30 credit hours
An interdisciplinary synthesis of history, politics, literature, ethics, religion, science, art, and music from selected central European cultural centers, with an emphasis on analysis of values and concerns from the past and encountered by students in their personal experiences. Includes two weeks of travel to many sites studied in the classroom setting.
Fulfills the General Education Integrative Course requirement.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: 45 credit hours. This course is offered in the fall and summer semesters. It may not be substituted for HUM 3340.
An interdisciplinary synthesis of selected events, ideas, and expressions of the oral, visual, and literary arts, from the emergence of civilization through the mid-seventeenth century, emphasizing analysis of values and concerns inherited from the past and encountered by students in their personal experiences.

Prerequisite: 45 credit hours. This course is offered in the spring and summer semesters. It may not be substituted for HUM 3340.
An interdisciplinary synthesis of selected events, ideas, and expressions of the oral, visual, and literary arts, from the shaping of the "modern" world in the seventeenth century through the present day, emphasizing analysis of values and concerns that shape contemporary society and are encountered by students in their personal experiences.

Learn about our faculty-led short term programs abroad.

Multiple scholarships provide exceptional opportunities for students interested in Religious Studies. Applications and guidelines for eligibility are provided through the Office of Financial Aid and include need-based and academic support. University and private funding support specific scholarship programs for religion majors, minors and even part-time students. One such program, the John Wesley Scholarship, provides matching funds for the student of up to $2500, whose church agrees to support the student financially as well. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss further scholarship opportunities in this area.