Religious Studies

Male student with his hands together in prayer.

Major or Minor in

Religious Studies

Are you curious about how different people's beliefs and values influence their actions? Do you wonder how belonging to different communities, religious and otherwise, shapes the way people think about themselves? How different teachings or stories that people consider sacred generate meaning and purpose in their everyday lives? Religious studies majors at Linfield seek answers to questions like these, and they strive to understand how different persons (religious and otherwise) have answered them.

Visit the religious studies department

As a religious studies major at Linfield

you might take:

Women in Religion

See how women are depicted in the Bible or other religious literature and examine the various roles women play in religious traditions. (RELS 342)

Pilgrimages: Sacred Journeys

Learn about the significance of pilgrimage in several religious traditions and go on your own sacred journey. (RELS 320)

Buddhist Narrative

Learn how to read religious texts as literature while you explore many types of Buddhist literature from past-life stories to enlightenment poems. (RELS 373)

Religious studies at Linfield

Beyond the classroom

In our program, expert faculty will help you choose courses tailored to your personal interests and encourage you to go beyond the classroom.
Gain firsthand experiences in our local community with trips like a Friday prayer at a mosque in Portland or a Shabbot service at a synagogue in Salem.
Participate in evening devotions at a Hindu temple or meditation at a Tibetan Buddhist temple.

Internships provide invaluable hands-on experience and further develop your professional skills. Religious studies majors at Linfield have found internship placements in organizations such as Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Take your studies around the world! Study abroad in programs designed specifically for religious studies majors.

Life After Linfield

You will leave prepared for a career in areas such as:

Religious Institutions

Pastor
Spiritual Director
Chaplain

Administrative Services

Regional Director
Onboarding Specialist
Vice President of Corporate Operations

Estimate wage: $75.5k

Estimate of what Linfield religious studies alumni could be making based on their current ages, occupations and geographic locations.

Potential wage: $89.1k

The potential wage is based on the average wage for the occupations.

Top career paths

The top five education-to-career paths of Linfield religious studies alumni include:

Pastor
Development and volunteer coordinator
Assistant Director
Onboarding Specialist
Spiritual Director

View more career outcome information

Request more information

Have questions about religious studies at Linfield? Reach out! We'd love to connect with you.

Gennie VanBeek
Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
Renshaw Hall
503-883-2238
gvanbeek@linfield.edu

Meet our faculty