1127 Park Street -- Grinnell, IA 50112-1690
Phone 641-269-4940; FAX 641-269-4946
Contact Us
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1127 Park Street -- Grinnell, IA 50112-1690 Phone 641-269-4940; FAX 641-269-4946 Contact Us |
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American
Studies
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Religious Studies
Choosing your major was one of the most significant decisions of your college career. Your passion for religious studies is one you share with your peers, professors, and alumni/ae. Students choose to major in religious studies for different reasons. Read some of the reasons alumni/ae chose a religious studies major: Alumni/ae Comments "Majoring in religious studies was a good choice for me at the time. Since my mid-teens, I knew that I wanted to be a minister." "In those days, I was really interested in Buddhism intellectually. I lived in Japan on a study abroad program while a Grinnell student. I wanted to learn more about how people relate to each other." "I had taken a few classes and liked it. It was a good choice for me personally." "I majored in religious studies for several reasons. I was very interested in exploring both eastern and western religious thought and history. Religion plays an important role in our society and I wanted to understand its influence. I was also thinking about applying to Rabbinical school and religious studies seemed like an appropriate, if not useful major. More than anything, it was a major that encouraged dialogue and discussion that I found extremely interesting. Furthermore, it was a small department where the faculty and students got a chance to work closely together." Faculty
Comments "Citizens of the world need working knowledge of other religious traditions that inform people's lives. Human interactions whether they take place in a local medical practice or an international embassy, on the local school board or between international trading partners are clarified and enriched when we understand how and why religious values orient the participants. So one needs opportunities to study and reflect on religious traditions that shape the societies to which one belongs, as well as opportunities to understand the beliefs and practices of others. The major in religious studies is designed to give students such opportunities." You will use the skills you develop as a religious studies major every day in whatever environment you decide to work. Alumni/ae and faculty offer their thoughts about the kinds of skills a major in religious studies will provide: Alumni/ae Comments "The major gave me a broad look at religion and spirituality that forms the basis of our culture." "I learned about how people think, and feel, and believe." "My religious studies major was part of an ongoing process of self-development; it was one piece of my journey." "I
developed writing and critical thinking skills." "There
were many skills the major helped develop, all of which are very
consistent with the basic liberal arts approach to education
- solid reading, writing, exploration, dialogue, discussion,
analytical thinking and research. I also think the major allowed
me to pull from my learning in other departments as well - anthropology,
history and even political science." Faculty Comments "Because religious traditions have touched every aspect of human culture, the field of religious studies draws from a wide variety of academic disciplines, such as anthropology, history, sociology, literary criticism, gender and women's studies, philosophy, and Africana and Latin American studies. And whether students are reading some of humanity's most influential texts, re-working perennial questions of human existence, or reflecting on contemporary intersections between religion and society, they will be challenged to develop skills in critical thinking and communication. Such skills, along with the breadth of knowledge and perspective gained in the study of world religions, prepare religious studies majors for a full range of opportunities in life." Religious studies majors have selected a wide variety of careers from planner to editor, from teacher to nurse practitioner. As you can see from the following list of alumni/ae job titles of religious studies majors, you are not your major! Alumni/ae
Job Titles Director
of Volunteer Services, Orchard Place - Child Guidance Center How will
you decide what kind of career to pursue? Will it follow your
major? In what way? Both alumni/ae and faculty emphasize the
importance of researching different kinds of careers. There are many ways to research career fields of interest to you. The most common way is to complete an internship. Alumni/ae who have held internships or participated in career previews have lots of advice to offer. Here are some samples of previous religious studies majors who have completed internships in a variety of areas: "I did a week-long internship at the Smithsonian over a holiday. This gave me some perspective on where I'd like to work." "I spent a semester my junior year in Washington, D.C. I did an internship at the Religious Action Center (the social action arm of the Reform Jewish movement). This internship was tremendously valuable in my future organizing/career path." Alumni/ae Comments "Explore
different religions beyond your own and gain a different perspective." "Enjoy your major. Find what feels right and find what you like. Take a little bit of this and of that from every department." "Unless you want to be in religion as a career, plan to go on for more schooling. My personal life is more important to me than my professional life, so religious studies has been helpful to me." "Internships are a good way to see what kind of setting you want to work in." "Religious studies majors do a range of things - some of us are lawyers and doctors while others are community organizers and clergy. Like so many majors at Grinnell, religious studies is all about learning, growing, and developing as people. The career path follows." Faculty Comments "Our major should serve as the core of an excellent liberal arts education. Generally, this means we should foster the expansion of students' horizons and critical thinking, and we should place strong emphasis on helping students improve their communication skills - both written and oral. In all of our courses, we strive to give each student the opportunity and encouragement necessary to reflect, reimagine, and reevaluate his or her view of human religious life The religious studies major prepares students to participate in the world beyond Grinnell in exciting and productive ways. It offers the challenge and opportunity to become critically sensitive and socially responsible citizens of the 21st century." If you are thinking about graduate school, there are graduate programs in the field of religious studies as well as other professional degree programs. These links provide more information about the different paths you can follow: graduate school, jobs, or other paths. The following are first-hand accounts of the experiences of alumni/ae after Grinnell who have graduated with a religious studies major: Alumni/ae Comments "In college I was chosen to be a peer counselor and I thought that was neat. After graduation I went to Seattle and wanted to work in a collective. I found a women's health collective that felt right to me; this formed my whole thinking about health." "I have strayed far from religious studies in my career. I now edit the Appalachian Reader, a journal of community organizing in the Appalachian region, and do some freelance writing and editing. I still think religious studies was a valuable preparation for the kinds of ethical and moral decisions we're faced with in any endeavor." "I went on to graduate school in public administration. Although my religious studies major did not have much to do with my career, I would still do it the same way." "My first job was in a nature center. I kind of fell into working with the Department of Natural Resources. I knew I wanted to work in an office setting." "I entered Rabbinical school after graduating from Grinnell. However, midway through my first year, I decided not to continue with that career path. I wanted to keep my religion more personal and have my work be more public and community centered. After leaving Rabbinical school, my first job was in community organizing and this is the field I am in today. I have been involved with student organizing, environmental organizing and choice (reproductive choice) organizing for more than 12 years. Actually, I've been an organizer all of my life and just started being a paid organizer 12 years ago! Organizing draws upon many of the skills I gained at Grinnell. My religious studies major positioned me well to work with different communities and constituencies." Faculty Comments "Religious studies majors at Grinnell have pursued diverse career paths. Over the past decade, graduates have developed successful careers in social services, writing and publishing, education, marketing, medicine, and research. A number of alumni have also pursued graduate degrees in religious studies at such schools as Harvard and Princeton, and are now active in the academy. Others have become ministers or rabbis." Of course, Grinnell's Religious Studies Department provides advising as you consider questions about your major, internships, gaining experience, and making career decisions. The departmental web page also offers detailed information about the religious studies major, outlines requirements for its completion, and lists courses. |
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