“In the beginning . . .” Study one of the oldest stories known to humankind — the Bible! Start with one of the best online Master’s in Theology.
Religion is one of the most fundamental cornerstones of our society. It shapes how we understand our identities, our actions, our communities, and life beyond. Theology looks at more than just the nature of God. It ultimately takes into account how humans find meaning in religion.
If you’re ready to ask some big questions, this degree is ready to give you some answers. You can earn a theology degree in so many different places—church ministry, mission work, education, social work, and more.
What is a Theology degree?
By definition, theology is the study of religion and God. No biggie, right? Lucky for you, a degree in theology has one main textbook—the Bible! Theology connects the old with the new. So even though the Bible is an ancient text, your coursework will illuminate new meaning that rings relevant today. Some common concentration areas within this degree include:
- Pastoral Leadership
- Biblical Studies
- Moral Theology
A master’s degree in theology will bring together a wide range of disciplines: linguistics, anthropology, philosophy, ethics, and more. This isn’t your average Sunday School meeting. A master’s degree in theology really digs deep and gets to the core beliefs.
If you want to focus solely on the bible, a Master’s in Bible Studies might be the best option for you.
How much can you earn with a Theology degree?
While it is more than possible to earn a comfortable living with a theology degree, this field is sometimes best for folks who feel an extra push toward it beyond monetary incentive. This degree can yield many career outcomes, but a common one is to work in the ministry.
According to Payscale, the average pastor or minister makes around $49k per year. That figure is just the average – earning potential can reach closer to $73,000 annually. Job satisfaction in this field is overwhelmingly positive, though. It inherently connects you to a broader community and purpose.
What is required for a Theology degree?
Each program below is different in its admissions and graduation requirements. However, they share some common ground. For instance, most programs cover anywhere from 30-50 required credit hours. Most will start with a core curriculum in foundational theology and later branch out into electives. The programs vary on whether they are coursework only or thesis-based.
While it is rare that you would need to provide a quantitative reporting of your academic merit (like GRE or GMAT scores), most programs require you to provide numerous religious references. This will likely be a letter from a church leader or mentor.
Finally, most programs do not require any previous formal training in theology, though some might accept transfer credits in the field. Just make sure you research thoroughly, and you’ll be good to go!
What are the best Theology degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
