As a religious studies major, you’ll take an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of religion, drawing upon humanities and social scientific disciplines and situating religious traditions within historically and theoretically critical contexts. You won’t be asked to adhere to nor explain away particular religious stances; instead, you’ll develop the intellectual tools to understand how normative claims about religious beliefs and practices are implicated in constructing and contesting various social identities, and how these claims help shape historical events.
Sample classes
- Black Religious Traditions: Sacred and Secular
- Sound, Silence and the Sacred
- Religion and Environmental Sustainability
- Heavens, Hells and Purgatories
Outcomes
All information below is based on the 2022 First-Destination Post-Graduate Survey. Lists are not exhaustive; rather, they are a sampling of the data. If you would like more information, please email as_careers@cornell.edu
What can you do with a degree in Religious Studies?
Graduate school:
In 2022, many religious studies majors embarked on graduate school journeys. They pursued various advanced degrees, with the majority dedicated to their MA or PhD. Their graduate field interest ranges from East Asian studies to religious studies and theology.
These ambitious individuals have chosen to continue their education at prestigious institutions like the University of California-Los Angeles, Yale University, and the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Employment:
The majority of religious studies graduates entered sectors in education, retail, technology, and government.
Where 2022 Religious Studies Graduates Work
| Employer | Job Titles |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Federal Cloud Consultant |
| Lead for America | Climate Fellow |
| National Institute of Health | Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow |
| St. Johnsbury School District | Afterschool Education Instructor and Tutor |
| Vantage Japan, Inc | Kindergarten English Teacher |
