What Can You Do With a Religious Studies Degree? A Real-Life Path to a Rewarding Communications Career

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, MMN Correspondent: A required religion class changed everything for Keeley McMurrary. She started at the University of Alabama with majors in English and theater, hoping to study Shakespeare and write sketch comedy. Then she enrolled in a religious studies course with Dr. Rollens. She expected a classroom focused on a single viewpoint. What she found was a space full of fascinating questions. What is religion? Who decides what counts as religion? She took pages of notes and attended every class. Soon she added religious studies as a third major. That curiosity had been with her for a long time. Keeley grew up in a nonreligious home in Huntsville, Alabama. She always felt drawn to the ways people express belief. A near-death experience at sixteen made her even more curious about purpose, the afterlife, and chance. When she discovered an academic field that explored those ideas with care and open-mindedness, it felt like home. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she continued into the master's program at the University of Alabama. She found a lively intellectual community and thrived. Later she earned admission to a PhD program in American Religious History at Florida State University. Around that time the pandemic arrived, and she started to reconsider her direction. Keeley decided to explore communications, public relations, and creative media. That decision proved to be a smart one. Today she works as a writer, editor, and graphic designer at the Office of Development at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Her days involve crafting donor appeals, preparing event materials, and telling stories about the people who benefit from scholarships and programs. She also takes on freelance projects. Her credits include the documentary "Unveiling Majesty," which examines drag culture in the South, and co-authored chapters in "Huntsville & Madison County: Quality of Place and Space." Her religious studies background gave her an edge in the job market. Keeley applied for her role by emphasizing skills she had built in her degree. Rhetoric, research, writing, and a natural comfort with academic institutions all came up in her application. She also had hands-on experience as a research assistant for Professor Altman, which included grant-funded programs and project management. Those tasks prepared her well for development work. There is also a deeper layer to her success. Studying religion sharpened her sense of how cultures work. Keeley writes for many different audiences: donors, alumni, students, corporate partners. Each group speaks its own language and holds its own values. Her academic training taught her to pay close attention to those differences. That awareness helps her communicate in ways that feel genuine and relevant. She also thinks about institutions in a larger context. How does a university relate to its local workforce? How does education support economic growth in a region? Religious studies taught her to look for the quiet reasons behind these relationships. Keeley finds this perspective useful every day. Employers consistently value the skills religious studies majors bring. Critical thinking, analytical writing, cross-cultural understanding, and clear communication are central to the field. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, those abilities rank at the top of what hiring managers seek. The American Academy of Religion also notes that religious studies graduates thrive in law, education, journalism, and public policy. If Keeley could give her younger self one message, it would be simple. Loosen your expectations and trust that your education will guide you to the right places. A liberal arts degree is flexible by design. It prepares graduates to move between roles, adapt to new industries, and find meaning in many different careers. The University of Alabama Department of Religious Studies shares stories like Keeley's to show the range of opportunities available. Students learn to engage with diverse perspectives, analyze social structures, and speak to multiple audiences. Those abilities open doors in fundraising, marketing, education, and many other fields. For anyone wondering if a humanities degree can lead somewhere practical, Keeley's path offers a reassuring answer. Careers do not always follow a straight line. Her journey includes detours and pivots, and each one added something valuable. A religious studies degree gave her the flexibility to embrace those changes and build a career with purpose. Keeley now spends her working days highlighting students and alumni whose lives have been shaped by giving. She connects generous donors with the people they support. It is a role that involves storytelling, relationship building, and careful listening. All of those skills trace back to her time studying religion. Her story is a reminder that the questions raised in a religious studies classroom are useful far beyond graduation. They teach you to understand people, uncover meaning, and see the whole picture. Those are tools for a good life and a thriving career.