Divinity Studies

Types of Degrees Divinity Studies Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many divinity/ministry graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	5,094
Doctor’s Degree	720
Graduate Certificate	61

What Divinity Studies Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, divinity studies majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Divinity Studies Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Skills for Divinity Studies Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to divinity studies:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Abilities for Divinity Studies Majors

As you progress with your divinity studies degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Divinity Studies Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with divinity studies:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Clergy	8.2%	$48,990
Philosophy and Religion Professors	12.3%	$71,890

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Divinity Studies?

This major attracts more men than women. About 69% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of divinity studies majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	295
Black or African American	783
Hispanic or Latino	358
White	2,882
International Students	348
Other Races/Ethnicities	428

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Divinity Studies, too. About 6.8% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Divinity Studies

Some careers associated with divinity studies require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for divinity studies careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	0.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.1%
Bachelor’s Degree	12.0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	4.0%
Master’s Degree	40.5%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.4%
Doctoral Degree	36.8%
Post-Doctoral Training	6.2%

Online Divinity Studies Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	4	3
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	1
Associate’s Degree	16	7
Bachelor’s Degree	21	11
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	245	73
Post-Master’s	7	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	22	3
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	40	10
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	16	2

Majors Related to Divinity Studies

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to divinity studies.

Major	Number of Grads
Theology	6,274
Other Theological & Ministerial Studies	1,697
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies	207
Rabbinical Studies	175

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Jonund under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.