Opportunities in Religion:
Research, Internships, Graduate Schools, Vocation
Research Opportunities in Religion
Many religion majors are attracted by the possibility of doing in-depth research in religion as a means of enriching their knowledge, developing their research skills, and preparing a sample of writing for graduate school applications. A number of students have gone on to have their work published in various journals! A range of research possibilities in religion are listed below:
Distinction Paper or Project in Religion (for seniors; applications in fall, projects completed in spring)
Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship (specific deadline date varies; typically due in March)
Summer Research:
Junior Research Fellows at Hong Kierkegaard Library (open to rising juniors and seniors; paid summer housing included. Deadline varies; typically due in late March)
CURI: Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry. (deadline date varies; typically due in mid-February) Check out this recent offering: Black Church Archives Project with Prof. Tim Rainey (View the full project here!)
Steen Fellowship: Independent Summer Research: (deadline date varies; typically due in mid-February)
Recommended Courses:
Religion Seminar (typically in the fall semester)
Independent Study/Independent Research Courses (application forms here)
REL285: What is Religion?
Internships in Religion
The Piper Center NOTE: most internship application deadlines are in February, so please plan ahead!
has an excellent overview of the internship search process, and searching the St. Olaf internship database for “Religion” majors can give you a great survey of the range of possibilities! Be sure to also check out the Piper Center’s guide to internships and experiences in Social Impact, Non-profit, and Ministry fields. Even better, meet with Zoe Davis (davis44@stolaf.edu), a Piper Center coach who supports students who are interested in pursuing opportunities related to ministry, as well as students who are interested in participating in service programs, including those which are faith-based.
First and second year students interested in community service should especially take note of the Phillips Scholars Program, which offers a $9,500 scholarship! (deadline date varies; typically due in early February)
Graduate School in Religion
St. Olaf consistently ranks nationally in the top 2-3 undergraduate liberal arts colleges whose graduates go on to earn PhDs, as the major provides excellent preparation for future success at the top programs in the US. The Piper Center has a great resource for exploring graduate school possibilities. For a good overview of Christian theology programs, try TheologyDegree.org. For spiritual care programs in a variety of settings, The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab has a thorough list of chaplaincy programs spanning the spectrum of orientations to religion. Below is a list of specific institutions where recent St. Olaf graduates have gone to graduate school in religion for a variety of degrees preparing for ministry, chaplaincy, academic careers, and more. NOTE: most graduate application deadlines for fall enrollment are in December (especially for the most competitive programs), so please plan ahead!
University of Chicago Divinity School
Princeton Theological Seminary
Yale Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Union Theological Seminary in New York City
Duke Divinity School
Candler School of Theology (at Emory University)
Luther Seminary
Lutheran School of Theology-Chicago
Representatives from many of these schools often visit campus, and these are great opportunities to talk in person with them to discern the best match between your interests and their programs.
Vocational Possibilities after Graduation
Students who major in religion have the skills and durable wisdom that employers of all sorts seek, and thus they enter a wide variety of employment after graduation. Many graduates have been attracted to service year opportunities such as Lutheran Volunteer Corps, L’Arche, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Young Adults in Global Ministry, Holden Village, and more. These opportunities give a broad range of experiences and often include residential communities where graduates can grow and explore future callings.
For those interested in employment outside of the corporate world, the Piper Center’s guide to experiences in Social Impact, Non-profit, and Ministry fields is a great place to start. You can also find a great list of diverse faith-based service organizations and opportunities on this Piper Center webpage.
Even better, meet with Zoe Davis (davis44@stolaf.edu), a Piper Center coach who supports students who are interested in pursuing opportunities related to ministry, as well as students who are interested in participating in service programs, including those which are faith-based.