Kateri89 Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I'm still pondering what to do with my life if I leave nursing and trying to find subject areas that I'm interested in is a difficult task. So suffice it to say, I of course love theology but before I go spending money on courses somewhere, what can a person do with a theology degree?
oremus1 Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 i would suggest that you consider doing it distance learning in the evenings if it is a hobby. careers in theology - teaching?or non-specialised work like office admin, secretaries etc. or you would join an order and let them pay for your studies then you can put it into practice in your whole life...
PhuturePriest Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Things you can do with a theology degree: Become a priest/nun Youth ministry Catholic speaker Ponder life as you live in your cardboard box on the street. Seriously, I wouldn't recommend a theology degree unless you have a major in something else like accounting. Getting a job with a theology degree is hard enough, but getting a job in theology that pays well is even harder.
oremus1 Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Things you can do with a theology degree: Become a priest/nun Youth ministry Catholic speaker Ponder life as you live in your cardboard box on the street. Seriously, I wouldn't recommend a theology degree unless you have a major in something else like accounting. Getting a job with a theology degree is hard enough, but getting a job in theology that pays well is even harder. Mendicant??
Nihil Obstat Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 You can go to grad school. Not much else.
PhuturePriest Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 You can go to grad school. Not much else. After grad school you can cry about your massive debt and lack of job to pay it.
Spem in alium Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I studied Theology and loved it...but yes, job prospects aren't huge. I took Theology as a minor, but if you would want to make it your major, I do recommend considering pairing it with something like Education.Then you can be eligible to teach Religious Education or Theology in schools/universities.
Nihil Obstat Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 After grad school you can cry about your massive debt and lack of job to pay it. Unless you are one of those rare souls who can land a tenure track position. Very very difficult to do, especially with theology.
PhuturePriest Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I studied Theology and loved it...but yes, job prospects aren't huge. I took Theology as a minor, but if you would want to make it your major, I do recommend considering pairing it with something like Education.Then you can be eligible to teach Religious Education or Theology in schools/universities. Even education is an iffy major to pair it with, to be honest.
Basilisa Marie Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 You teach, either in churches or in schools. But to do that you need experience, because they care more about experience. So you really need to have some kind of internship along with your BA. Or you peddle it as a liberal arts degree and get an office job.
Basilisa Marie Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) Even education is an iffy major to pair it with, to be honest. Actually it's not. If you want to teach in Catholic schools an Ed degree will make you much more valuable. But again, you'd still be competing with everyone else for the same handful of jobs, but maybe with a little edge. Edited February 17, 2014 by Basilisa Marie
Slappo Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Or you peddle it as a liberal arts degree and get an office job. Yup! I have a bachelor's of theology and my first job after I didn't like youth ministry was as an accounting clerk.
Kateri89 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 Hmmm none of these responses sound very promising...guess I'll keep looking at other options.
PhuturePriest Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Actually it's not. If you want to teach in Catholic schools an Ed degree will make you much more valuable. But again, you'd still be competing with everyone else for the same handful of jobs, but maybe with a little edge. It will make your career aspects more favorable, yes, but education in general is just not a recommended field of study, according to most experts. A lot of teachers are being laid off or aren't getting paid well, and being in a private Catholic school means you'll probably get paid worse than teachers at State schools.
Basilisa Marie Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) Yup! I have a bachelor's of theology and my first job after I didn't like youth ministry was as an accounting clerk. :) I'm hopefully about to land a job as a bank teller on Tuesday (for money!), and then I'll lead adult faith formation on Wednesday (for free!). Such is the life of a theology major. It will make your career aspects more favorable, yes, but education in general is just not a recommended field of study, according to most experts. A lot of teachers are being laid off or aren't getting paid well, and being in a private Catholic school means you'll probably get paid worse than teachers at State schools. Well yeah, but no one goes into education to make money. And I've had more than a few potential employers tell me that they'd prefer someone with some kind of education background over just plain theology. It certainly makes it easier to find a job in theology, which was my original point. Edited February 17, 2014 by Basilisa Marie
beatitude Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 My first degree was in literature (with a dissertation on Holocaust literature written with supervision from the theology department, and a couple of papers on crossover topics such as Middle English devotional literature - I suppose the mixing-and-matching I did is equivalent to what you call minoring in theology in the USA). My first job out of college was as a carer for people with profound learning disabilities. I didn't need the degree for the job, but I think it did affect my job in a positive way - it was more valuable for the thinking skills and patience that it taught me than the content. (Although the content mattered too; working with vulnerable people and a love of literature seem to go together in my mind.) I went on to take an MA in Jewish Studies, just because I loved the subject. No other reason. I had a more practical MA lined up (a fully funded MA that would qualify me as a speech and language therapist) and practicality suggested that I should go with that one. It built on my experience working with intellectually disabled people and led to a specific job. But I loved the Jewish Studies MA and I felt so excited when I looked at the syllabus. I leaped in just sensing with my gut that it was the right option for the time and with no idea of what I was going to do next. I was pretty sure I didn't want to do a PhD. Then, one day, as I was putting a tray of pizza into the oven, THE MOST EXCITING IDEA for a PhD thesis hit me and I ran to my computer and found that my university had a perfect department for it that I hadn't even heard of and what's more they were offering full funding. Long story short, I won the funding. I'm still not sure that academia as a career is right for me in the long-term, but right now I'm as happy as several clams. :) Do be pragmatic - you have to be, in this job market - but it doesn't hurt to let your heart have some say too.
CatherineM Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I found gainful employment with my BA right here on Phatmass working for Dust. I'm expecting a big raise next year when I finally finish my Masters.
Not The Philosopher Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Seeing as how I did my undergrad in English and Philosophy, and am currently in the Master of Theological Studies program at the local seminary, I suppose I am the Master of dubious educational choices.
Anastasia13 Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Yup! I have a bachelor's of theology and my first job after I didn't like youth ministry was as an accounting clerk. If this is how it works, I majored in the wrong field.
Anastasia13 Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 You teach, either in churches or in schools. But to do that you need experience, because they care more about experience. So you really need to have some kind of internship along with your BA. Or you peddle it as a liberal arts degree and get an office job. Maybe some kind of writing job? Journalism benefits from a liberal arts background as I recall. Missionary work. Peace corp.
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