Image, above, from studyreligion.org (American Academy of Religion)

Is Religion Important?

“If there was ever any doubt, 9/11 proved that, as with our recent election, you can’t understand the world without understanding religion.”  -Gerald F. Powers

“You can't understand America without understanding religion.” –David Stowe

“You cannot understand the human condition without understanding religion.”  -Stephen Jay Gould 

Why Study Religion at MSU?A Large, Diverse and Excellent Faculty

Leslie Baynes - New TestamentStephen C. Berkwitz - BuddhismMartha L. Finch - American ReligionsMark Given - New TestamentLora Hobbs - Religion and SocietyJ. E. Llewellyn - HinduismVictor H. Matthews - Hebrew BibleJames C. Moyer - Hebrew BibleKathy J. Pulley - Religion & SocietyMicki Pulleyking - Philosophy of ReligionVadim Putzu – Judaism (August 2014)Austra Reinis - History of ChristianityJohn Schmalzbauer - American ReligionsJohn T. Strong - Hebrew Bible

Comparison Shopping for Religion Departments

Ten Professors

Nine Professors

Program butno department

Program but no department

Twelve Professors

Fourteen ProfessorsTwo Senior Instructors

Student ScholarshipsEach spring the Department of Religious Studies at Missouri State University offers several scholarships for the following academic year. Currently, the total amount awarded each year is over $8,000. All scholarship application materials must be submitted by March 1 for the following academic year.

1) Rose Marie and Martin H. Boone, Jr. Religious Studies Scholarship

2) DeVries Family Religious Studies Scholarship

3) F.W.A. Bosch Scholarship

4) Kathy J. Pulley Religious Studies Scholarship (requires a focus on community service)

5) James P. Robinson Ecumenical Center Scholarship

6) William R. (Bill) Smith Baptist Student Union Memorial Scholarship

7) Schyler Elizabeth Strong Biblical Archaeology Award

8) *Moyer Family Scholarship

9) *Gerrit J. tenZythoff Religious Studies Scholarship

10) *Women in Religious Studies Scholarship

Liberal Arts Grads are Marketable

“In 1999, a national survey of first-year medical students found that 58 percent took a social-science class for personal interest. In last year’s entering class, the number was more than 70 percent. Humanities students also fare better on the MCAT, the standardized test for medical-school admissions. Among the 2006 applicants to medical school, humanities majors outscored biology majors in all categories.”

-“Well-Rounded Docs,” Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/id/40747

In the long run, humanities majors make more money than professional majors

Religious Studies $57,900Dietetics $56,600Public Health (PH) $56,500Physical Education Teaching $56,300Graphic Design $56,000Sports Management $55,400Animal Science $55,200Education $55,200Social Science $54,800Recreation & Leisure Studies $51,900Culinary Arts $51,100Exercise Science $51,000Horticulture $50,900Special Education $49,600Athletic Training $46,900Social Work (SW) $46,600Elementary Education $45,300

Average Mid-career Salaries for Selected College Majors

Religious StudiesComputer Engineering (CE)

58%48%

Hotel Management 48%Industrial Design (ID) 47%Computer Information Systems (CIS) 47%Global & International Studies 47%Public Relations (PR) 47%Sports Management 46%Computer Science (CS) 45%Hospitality & Tourism 45%Accounting 45%International Business 44%Software Engineering 43%Finance 42%Marketing & Communications 41%Graphic Design 39%Advertising 33%Fashion Design 32%Fashion Merchandising 32%

Percentage of graduates in selected majors who say their jobs “make the world a better place”

Globalization means that many occupations demand religious literacy

Career Preparation in Religious Studies

The study of religion provides many occasions for personal and intellectual growth, but it also transmits a set of very practical skills to students:

• Gain a fundamental cultural literacy• Training in skills associated with data gathering and direct observation• Development of analytical skills and creative thought• An ability to empathize with other people and understand different

perspectives

Religious Studies provides a useful academic foundation for many different careers.

Professional training in: Positions in:• Business (esp. international business) * Hospitality & Event Planning• Counseling and Social Work * Government & Foreign Service• Education * Management & Human Resources• Journalism * Museums & the Arts• Law * Non-Profits & NGOs• Medicine * Publishing

Alumni in the professoriate

Rachel McBride Lindsey Leslie Dorrough Smith Brian Doak (MA alum)

Recent Alumni Books

Oxford University Press, 2013 Harvard University Press, 2013

Alumni in the Professions

Nena Kircher (MA alum)Clinical Psychologist

Linda Leicht BA Alum & MA StudentEditorial Page Editor,Springfield News-Leader

Alumni in the Professions

Phil DiekeStudent Discipleship Coordinator

Quinn GarciaRecruiting Officer

Consider a Double Major in Religious Studies

Image, above, from sites.allegheny.edu/unusualcombinations/profiles (Allegheny College)

Religious Studies Internship Program

Samantha NicholsKSMU/Ozarks Public RadioSpring 2014

Stacy StreetRace and Faith Collaborative ProjectFall 2013

http://www.missouristate.edu/relst/Internship.htm

Nationally, Religious Studies has experienced a revival

“The number of bachelors degrees conferred upon graduates in philosophy or religious studies has doubled since the 1970s to nearly 12,000 a year, and has been rising steadily since 9/11.”

“If I went back to college today, I think I would probably major in comparative religion, because that’s how integrated it is in everything that we are working on and deciding and thinking about today”

-United States Secretary of State John Kerry, August 7, 2013

For more information on why you should consider a Religious Studies Major, Minor or Masters, visit

www.studyreligion.org

Image, above, from studyreligion.org (American Academy of Religion)