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As a religious studies major at UPIKE, you’ll explore profound questions that shape the human experience. In your study, you can explore three tracks: Ways of Reading the Bible, Ways of Being Religious, and Ways of Engaging Society. Respectively, these areas of focus guide you to a deeper understanding of Biblical texts, appreciation of religious diversity, and practical and meaningful engagement with the world. This major provides you with opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning, service, collaboration, and leadership. Courses like Bible and Trauma, Science and Religion, and Finding Your Way will engage you in interdisciplinary learning and equip you with the tools necessary for navigating a complex world. Whether you aspire to enter fields like education, healthcare, or public service, a degree in Religious Studies can strongly support your goals.
Our society is focused on the question, “What do you want to be or do?” In the Religious Studies program, we supplement that career focus by also asking you, “What kind of person do you want to be?” and “What problems in the world would you like to solve?” In the classroom, faculty may lecture from time to time, but you’ll usually be engaged in active learning by: Traveling to diverse religious sites and conferences Dialoguing with people of many faiths Participating in service projects and mission trips Discussing contemporary issues Researching and collaborating on research topics of your interest Growing in your own spirituality and faith tradition
REL 430 Spirituality in World Religions Explore the spiritual practices of the world religions such as meditation, yoga and the Enneagram. REL 383 Religion and Science Discuss the ways in which religion and science interface through dialogue, discussion, and exploration of a variety of perspectives. REL 387 Religion and Popular Culture Explore the ways in which religion and popular culture affect, maintain, change and create one another. The course critically engages contemporary world issues such as hashtag activism, war and religious conflict, changing religious demographics, climate change, immigration, consumerism and human rights. These issues are explored via music, television, literature, social media and art.
After earning a degree in Religious Studies from UPIKE, you’ll be able to analyze literature from a variety of perspectives, formulate and present oral and written arguments, and respect opposing points of view.
Chaplain Christian Educator Nonprofit Leadership Law Counselor Pastor Youth Ministry Theologian Journalism Volunteer Coordinator Community Organizer Public Relations Museum/Archival work PeaceCorp Foreign Service/NGO work
Big Sandy Community Technical College Instructor Pastor, Elkhorn City Church Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law Pickens Presbyterian Church Pikeville Medical Center University of Pikeville Vanderbilt University Divinity School
Learn more about Religion graduates
“When I began my studies at UPIKE, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in. As an “undecided” student, I was told I needed to complete two religion courses. I fell in love with the subject matter and declared my major as Religious Studies right away. I loved how many of the classes contained elements of other subjects I was passionate about like history, philosophy, anthropology and theology. As someone who grew up in the Christian tradition, something I’ll forever be grateful for that I received from the Religious Studies program at UPIKE is the knowledge of other religions and the importance of interfaith dialogue. I’ll never forget the value of interfaith panels, guest lectures from Sikhs in the community and opportunities to visit the local Mosque. In my own life, this has taught me the invaluable skill of ‘holy envy’ – being able to look at the different religious traditions of my neighbors and friends with generosity, curiosity and appreciation while seeking to see the good in them. I now feel a real connection to that group of Presbyterian ministers who founded the university in 1889 and share their thought that education is a vehicle of reforming the church and that the more we know about the world, the more we can know about God.” SCOT ROBINSON /CLASS OF 2016 /MASTERS IN DIVINITY STUDENT /VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL
“When I began my studies at UPIKE, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in. As an “undecided” student, I was told I needed to complete two religion courses. I fell in love with the subject matter and declared my major as Religious Studies right away. I loved how many of the classes contained elements of other subjects I was passionate about like history, philosophy, anthropology and theology. As someone who grew up in the Christian tradition, something I’ll forever be grateful for that I received from the Religious Studies program at UPIKE is the knowledge of other religions and the importance of interfaith dialogue. I’ll never forget the value of interfaith panels, guest lectures from Sikhs in the community and opportunities to visit the local Mosque. In my own life, this has taught me the invaluable skill of ‘holy envy’ – being able to look at the different religious traditions of my neighbors and friends with generosity, curiosity and appreciation while seeking to see the good in them. I now feel a real connection to that group of Presbyterian ministers who founded the university in 1889 and share their thought that education is a vehicle of reforming the church and that the more we know about the world, the more we can know about God.”
SCOT ROBINSON /CLASS OF 2016 /MASTERS IN DIVINITY STUDENT /VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL
Division Chair – Humanities, Associate Professor of Religion(606) 218-5008
Q: What percent of students who declare this major successfully complete/are still enrolled in the program?
A: 50%
Q: What percent of students complete the program within 4 years?
A: Data will not be reported for privacy reasons when the number of students completing the program is fewer than five during this period.
Q: What percent of graduates are working/in graduate school 1 year after graduation?
Q: What percent of graduates are employed in Kentucky 5 years after graduation?
Q: What salary can a graduate expect to earn in Kentucky 5 years after graduation?
Q: What is the median loan debt for students completing this program?
Q: What percent of a graduate’s monthly salary will be used to repay his/her loan?
A: —%