My dream is to become a college professor on the field of theology, how hard is it to be one, hows the salary?

Question

Basically, I want to know everything about achieving this. I am a junior right now and always wanted to do this. Any websites you can spare. Or how hard is it to be full time? Anything about it. What are good colleges to go to (preferably Massachusetts)? Would you recommend it? Thank You

Answer 1

Just to clarify, given some of the answers you've received, a theologian is a practicing Christian (of any denomination, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.) who specializes in a specific area of Christian theology, such as Christian ethics, Church history, systematic theology, patristics, etc. Christian theologians are almost exclusively employed by religiously-affiliated colleges or seminaries as professors.

If you are asking about a career as a professor in the field of Religious Studies, that's completely different, and requires a very different path of study.

Aspiring theologians usually major in something like history or religious studies in college. If they attend a Christian college, they can major in theology. (Theology majors are not offered at state-supported or non-sectarian colleges and universities.) Then they attend seminary, which is graduate school for practicing Christians. There are denominational seminaries for each denomination, and divinity schools that are interdenominational.

Episcopal Divinity School, Duke University Divinity School (Methodist), Starr King School for the Ministry (Unitarian), Catholic U School of Theology, Andover Newton Theological School (Baptist) are some of the best denominational seminaries.

Yale Divinity school, Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Divinity School, The Divinity School at the University of Chicago, Graduate Theological Union, and Union Theological Seminary in New York are the best non-denominational div schools in the US.

One begins by working toward an M.Div. (Master of Divinity), and then proceeds on toward the Ph.D., sometimes, but not always, at the same institution. The M.Div. usually takes about three years of coursework, and requires a thesis, which must be defended. If you haven't gotten your Greek and Hebrew yet, you MUST get those languages down before you finish your M.Div.

After completing the Ph.D., one applies for teaching positions in one's area of specialization (Biblical studies, ethics, systematic theology, etc.). The Ph.D. is by far the hardest part. It will take about two more years of coursework, qualifying exams, reading knowledge of French and German, and of course, researching, writing, and defending the dissertation.

As to your questions about good colleges for an aspiring theologian, it definitely depends on one's denomination. If you are Catholic, a Catholic college would be appropriate. If you are Lutheran, a Lutheran school would be great. However, it is not necessary to attend a denominational college. One could conceivably attend any good college or university, and be sure to take classes in religious studies, history, and philosophy. (Make sure to select a school that offers religious studies as a major, so that you have the opportunity to study Christianity and other religions as well as an undergraduate.) That would be a very good preparation for Div school.

Oh, and about salaries. A professor of theology can expect about 40 - 60 K to start, depending on whether s/he is offered a position at a school in an urban or rural area, whether the school is well-endowed or not, whether it is a denominational school or not, etc. Salaries top out at about 80 K, but you'll have to be a tenured full professor to reach that level.

If you are asking about becoming a professor of religious studies, repost your question, and I'll be sure to answer it as well.

Answer 2

Theology Professor Salary

Answer 3

Seminary Professor Salary

Answer 4

If you have any notions of being rich or even well-off, this isn't the ideal choice. It can be romantic to just make enough to get by but keep in mind that you'll be stuck with this for a lifetime. It's also pretty vicious competition for the few professorships as there are an excess of philosophy Ph.D.s in relation to job openings (and there are few other jobs for theology people).

That said, theology is really one of the pinnacles of intellectualism and it will be a mentally stimulating career. You'll have to put in long hours on your doctoral dissertation but you'll probably be amazed with yourself when it's all over.

Boston College and Boston University come to mind for great theology schools in Mass. I'm under the impression UMass Amherst has a decent program, too.

Answer 5

Theology is not a field that one would enter if financial gain is the desired goal. If you want to be a theologian, then you should study as many religions as possible and you may want to learn greek, latin, arabic, and even hindi. You do not need to know that many, but at some point, you will have to read some transcriptions as none of the sacred texts are written in English. Most 4 year colleges offer a religious studies program. A divinity school will give you education in the faith that sponsors the school. do you want to know about a specific religion or about religions over the world? there is a difference, but since you specified Theology, the implication is that you wish to delve into many religions or spiritual beliefs.
To really do well, not only do you have to read the scriptures or sacred texts, but you should know the cultural history as well. In some cases, you may even want to study within the culture to pick up the nuances of the beliefs. You can study abroad in Tibet or Ghana with the local religious leaders and along with any degree, you could add to your resume of expertise.

Answer 6

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand- How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep- while I weep! O God! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? O God! can I not save One from the pitiless wave? Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream? ~Edgar Allan Poe

Answer 7

That's my dream too!! Although I'm in law school now, sometimes I look into getting a PhD in theology at Yale and their website says it could take 6 years and requires proficiency in two modern languages in addition to English.