About the Department

Being called to a life of religious service is personal and humbling. One must live with an awareness and sensitivity for religious questions and values. There are many career options either focused directly on theology or where theology is an essential component. Many such vocations are in church leadership, but a sense of fulfillment in one’s life can also be found in other pathways as a result of the moral insights derived from theological study. Theology is also a wonderful liberal arts foundation to prepare you for advanced study. Studying theology at Valparaiso University can prepare you for many possible paths.

Professional Church Work (with B.A. in theology)

• Deacon or Deaconess in congregation or other institution
• Church Youth Minister
• Director of Christian Education
• Parish Worker for evangelism and outreach
• Staff position with church or private agency (e.g., Lutheran Volunteer Corps, Young Adults in Global Mission, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Youth for Christ, Board for Youth Ministry)

Career Related to Theology (theology major with another field of study)

• Social worker in a church-related agency
• Teacher in elementary or secondary church-related schools
• Editorial work in religious publishing houses
• Church music director/organist
• Librarian for religion holdings in university or seminary libraries
• Journalism related to religion and theology with newspapers, magazines, or journals
• Television or video programming on religion, church, and ecumenical subjects
• Work in overseas branches of the churches in areas of education, social work, nursing, Bible translation, and much more

Preparation for Advanced Study of Theology and Religion

• Seminary training for ordained ministry
• Graduate study in theology for teaching in church colleges and seminaries
• Graduate study in religious studies for teaching in university religious studies departments
• Graduate study in a discipline related to theology, e.g., sociology of religion, psychology and religion, philosophy of religion, religion and literature, cross-cultural anthropology, area studies in history and literature, archaeology, religion and society, ethics in medicine, or business, and much more.