After earning an associate degree in religious studies and a specific area of study, you will be ready to work in many different fields such as church leadership, church camps and ministries.The typical religious degree will require sixty credits in a specific area of study.

Obtaining an associate degree in religious studies will provide you with a chance to move up in your current employment and help your critical think strategies. You will earn enough credits to further your education if you want to obtain a bachelor's degree. This type of study will open up more opportunities in a specific career field.

There are many different schools that offer an associate degree in religious studies that are geared more to the specific degree one wants. There are divinity schools, holistic theology studies, pastoral counseling studies, seminary schools, shamanic studies and world religion studies as well as theology studies and religious education.

The student will take courses in Bible fundamentals, Christianity, Christian Missions and Christian Theology. You will have to take Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Written Communication, Oral Communication, Computer Literacy and Diversity.

The associate degree has a requirement for courses for Old Testament I, Old Testament Literature, New Testament I, New Testament Literature, and Introduction to Christian Education, Church Administration, and Worship Leadership, Introduction to Church History and Evangelism and Church Growth.

The Old Testament I teaches the message of the Old Testament, literary nature and historical background of the Old Testament. The study of the New Testament I is the introduction in to the backgrounds of the New Testaments and the teachings and life of Jesus.

Written and Oral Communications are important course when studying for an associate degree in religious studies. You have to have effective skills in writing and talking to succeed in any religious employment.

Introduction to Christian Education introduces the student to procedures that are present in any church school. You will learn about curriculum resources, psychological and philosophies theories of learning and historical perspectives. Church Administration teaches denominational structure of the church and practices and faith as they relate to a church.

Introduction to Church History teaches about the early churches and the churches in modern day. All schools have different titles for the classes needed, but they are all basically the same teachings.

Careers in Religious Studies

After obtaining your associate degree in religious studies, you will be prepared for a career in social justice agencies, christen publishing agencies, youth camps, churches and Christian schools, and missionary agencies. You could be a church administrator, assistant to the pastor or even a lay mission volunteer.