Critical Thinking Cultural Competence Ethical Reasoning Advanced Written and Oral Communication Skills Research Methods and Information Literacy Empathy and Objectivity UGA graduates in Religion find meaningful work in a number of diverse sectors including academia, education, non-profit administration, business, law, government, NGOs, counselling and social work, healthcare, and religious ministry. Careers To discuss different career paths available to a student with a Religion major, schedule a meeting with Christine Lasek-White, who is the Internship and Career Coordinator for the Humanities in the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. You can contact her by email at cmlwhite@uga.edu. Also, you can reach out to MK Miller in the Career Center at mary.miller4@uga.edu and keep up with the Career Center to stay aware of events, upcoming opportunities, and resources. Skills & Tips Skills The study of religion facilitates the development of a core set of skills sought after by employers in a wide range of occupational settings. A sample of these skills and abilities follows. Critical Thinking Taking a reasoned approach to problem solving Critical evaluation of religious questions Integration of cross-cultural theological thought Analyzing new ideas Human Relations Awareness of individual and cultural differences Appreciating diversity Helping others organize and express unique points of view Communication Objective listening Effective writing Conveying complex information Speaking to groups Reading critically Tips Religious studies equips students with an understanding of global issues and trends in both historical and contemporary contexts. This understanding of multiculturalism and interculturalism is valued by a wide variety of employers in many industries including education, government, and business. Students who seek international careers may find that religious studies provides a good background in global issues. Many transferable skills such as analyzing and synthesizing data, research, communication skills, and critical thinking are associated with the religious studies degree. People who major in religious studies may or may not consider themselves “religious.” Expertise in religious ideas can be a plus for secular work environments as well as more traditional religious ones. An undergraduate degree prepares students for professional and graduate study in business, law, medicine, counseling, higher education, and other fields. Check for prerequisite classes needed to enter various graduate programs. Obtaining relevant experience through internships or volunteer experiences is critical to finding employment opportunities. Dual majors or minors can also help open the door in some fields. Join relevant organizations and seek leadership roles. Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. To search, select “groups” under the “interests” tab. Also, review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well. Information taken from UGA Career Center Student Leadership Opportunities Religion Ambassadors The Religion Ambassadors plan and organize community-building events for our majors and minors, advertise our program through social media, and recruit new UGA students into our program. Follow @uga_religion on Instagram to see what our Religion Ambassadors are planning next! To apply to be a Religion Ambassador or to ask for more information, contact Dr. Kendall Marchman, the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Department of Religion. Docents at the Anne Frank Traveling Exhibit Jewish Studies and the Department of Religion launched Anne Frank House's travel exhibit and experiential learning (EL) program at UGA in the Spring of 2024. The EL program invites UGA undergraduates to play an integral role in the exhibit by leading guided tours. Students who serve as docents may satisfy UGA’s undergraduate EL requirements. This EL provides an excellent opportunity for: engaging with UGA and Athens communities receiving museum related training gaining experience in peer education advancing skills in historical analysis Spiritual Well-Being Ambassadors In the fall of 2025, alongside Student Services, the Department of Religion launched the Spiritual Well-Being Hub. Spiritual Well-Being is designed to: Enhance overall student well-being with the inclusion of spiritual wellness Foster a sense of belonging among UGA students through spiritual and faith development Feature voices from all students to engage and inspire the UGA community Offer opportunities for students to engage with and cultivate their meaning and purpose Provide training that supports students' spiritual well-being The Spiritual Well-Being Ambassadors plan, execute, and enjoy spiritual events throughout the school year to promote well-being throughout UGA. To learn more about Spiritual Well-Being or to ask about the Ambassador application process, contact Meg Rooney, our Spiritual Well-Being Graduate Assistant. Other Résumé Building Experiential Learning It's a simple concept - when you learn by doing, you learn differently. You learn more. You learn beyond subject matter - you also learn about yourself. Therefore, all undergraduate students at UGA engage in experiential learning before they graduate. There are a wealth of opportunities on and beyond campus: explore the full range of activities on the UGA Experiential Learning website. Students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences can choose between a number of options for their experiential learning: Global: Participate in any UGA-approved study abroad or field study program. Research: Complete an undergraduate research course denoted with an R-suffix (such as RELI 4960R), or participate in a CURO Research Assistantship, or CURO Summer Fellowship. Service: Sign up for a service learning course approved by the Office of Service-Learning. Courses: Sign up for any UGA course approved for Experiential Learning. Non-Credit Activities: Participate in any non-course activity that has been approved for Experiential Learning. Franklin Performance Activities: Selected non-credit experiences; for example, participate in University Theatre Season productions or music ensembles. Students must seek approval from the Experiential Learning Certification Officer. Explore these opportunities in the Religion Department: Student Engagement in the Anne Frank Exhibit Responding to the alarming trend in antisemitic events in the state of Georgia, UGA’s Jewish Studies has created an experiential learning program that prepares students to engage with others in the campus community and beyond in combating antisemitism. Learn More About the Anne Frank Exhibit Enroll in the class "RELI 4095 Christianity and Sustainability" In an era marked by profound and often deepening environmental, social, and economic crises, we are challenged to seek sustainable solutions to these issues. This experiential learning course surveys, analyzes, evaluates, and applies ways in which various Christian thinkers and communities define these local and global crises and seek sustainable solutions. View Sample Syllabus for "RELI 4905 Christianity and Sustainability" Internships Do an internship and receive course credit through "FCID 4100 Humanities Internship" Students in Religion can do an internship and gain valuable work experience as well as course credit by enrolling in the "FCID 4100 Humanities Internship Course." The course is organized by Dr. Christine Lasek-White, the Franklin College Humanities Internship and Career Coordinator. If you are not sure which internship opportunities are available, you can go to Dr. Lasek-White's drop-in hours to find an opportunity that is right for you. Learn More About Humanities Internships Study Abroad UGA invests strongly in study abroad programs and has been ranked in the top ten in the nation for study abroad participation. Browse the full list of study abroad destinations on the UGA Office of Global Engagement website. Here are a few opportunities to whet your appetite! Spend a semester abroad at UGA's campuses in Oxford or Cortona: UGA at Oxford UGA Cortona Sign up for a study abroad program: Unearthing the Past: Athens, Rome, Florence, Paris, London Terry College of Business Study Abroad in Israel Food Production, Culture, and Environment in Japan First-Year Spring Break in Morocco GLOBIS Study Abroad in Morocco Conflict, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation in South Africa CONTACTS Dr. Kendall MarchmanUndergraduate Coordinatorkendallmarchman@uga.edu
