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What can you do with a Christian studies degree?
Christian studies Degree Careers
Getting a degree in Christian Studies is helpful, even outside of a church. The skills one learns like leadership, ethics, and communication are desired in many types of careers. Charleston Southern University’s BA in Christian Studies is the primary platform for equipping people to serve the Kingdom of God and to spread the Gospel. It helps students to worship Jesus anywhere they go.
“The Christian studies degree has many potential applications,” said Dr. Peter Beck, professor of Christian studies. A Christian studies degree helps deepen one’s understanding of the Bible and theology, as well as Christian history and the principles of the Christian faith.
CSU offers four emphases in the Christian studies degree.
Theology
This emphasis helps students understand man, salvation, and the Scriptures of God. It provides a biblical, historical, and theological foundation for students.
Philosophy
This is a good degree for students if they have the desire to think right about God, man, and salvation. This emphasis provides more understanding on the pursuit of truth with its biblical worldview, as well as the hope for humans thriving in the light of Christ.
Biblical Language
This is a good degree for students who want to understand and read the Bible in its original languages, Hebrew and Greek.
Missions
This is a good degree for students who want to do mission work outside of their home and helps students to think biblically and missionally about all of life.
Here are some of the best career choices for graduates from the Christian studies program:
Ministry Assistant Teacher
A ministry assistant teacher supports religious education and church leaders by managing classrooms, making lesson materials, as well as guiding students through faith-based education or Sunday school. They provide students with a safe environment.
Pastor or Ministry Director
Pastors and ministry directors preach and teach the gospel, as well as guide their congregations.
Missionary
Missionaries travel outside of their home city to share their faith with people in need. They talk about their beliefs and teach others about them. They also sometimes do community service and acts of compassion.
Christian Camp Director
A Christian camp director leads operations of an outdoor ministry or retreat center. They hire and train staff, maintain facilities and the budget, and design faith-based activities like Bible studies, worship, and discipleship.
Church Administrator
A church administrator manages the daily functions of a church. They oversee finances, manage communication, and support pastoral staff so they can focus entirely on ministry.
“It’s invaluable, useful for those who will never work in ministry as it helps them understand their faith better as well as learn how to apply Christian ideals in the workplace and marketplace of ideas.”
Outside of church, there are also many other types of careers.
Nonprofit
There are many jobs someone with a Christian studies degree can do in nonprofit work, like volunteer directors, program assistants at faith-based places, or spreading their faith at secular nonprofits.
Communication
Communication careers like public relations and journalism can also be useful for someone in Christian studies, as they can write about their faith and write articles or blogs for faith-based companies or publishers.
Social work
There are also many types of jobs in social work that one can do, like being a case manager for a family in need or a grant writer for faith-based organizations.
Education
Students with a Christian studies degree can teach the Bible or theology in Christian schools or can work as a director of religious education.
Healthcare
There are many nonclinical roles one can do like a healthcare chaplain, patient advocate, or being a hospital volunteer coordinator.
Where will your Christian studies degree take you?
Getting a degree in Christian studies prepares one for making a difference in many types of careers. Students get to use their skills that they learn in this major to make an impact wherever they go and whatever they decide to do.
Classes one would take are Christian Discipleship, Church History Survey, Hermeneutics, Christian Ethics, The Pentateuch, The Life and Teachings of Jesus, and more.
Adrienne Antley, author, is an intern in the CSU Marketing & Communication Office and is a double major in communication and public health.
Learn more about the College of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern.
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