Downside fixing shouldn’t be the primary exercise that you could be affiliate with the tutorial research of faith, however if you acknowledge how downside fixing entails analyzing a state of affairs, figuring out the issue, conducting analysis, growing an typically inventive answer, and speaking that outcome, it aligns with lots of the abilities developed within the Non secular Research classroom at Alabama. That has been the expertise of our alums, together with Anna Davis
She first signed up for an REL course, pondering “I would like a Humanities credit score, and I’m inquisitive about religions.” Possibly you’ve stated the previous, maybe you’ve thought the latter. Any cause is an efficient cause to take a Non secular Research class – and finally grow to be a Non secular Research main. Hailing from Prattville, Alabama, Anna graduated with a BA from the College in 2016, having double majored in Geography, with a GIS focus, and Non secular Research. At the moment, she is within the remaining semester of her MBA program on the College of Tennessee, Knoxville.
That want for a humanities credit score and her curiosity in religions are what drew her to the Non secular Research division, but it surely’s not what made her keep. Anna says that she thought she had signed up for our World Religions course, “…but it surely seems it was the intro course (REL 100) with Russell [McCutcheon]. I actually loved his lectures after which finally took that World Religions class (REL 102) with Steven Ramey.” After listening to concerning the prospects of a double main from Dr. McCutcheon, Anna discovered that to be her most suitable option, somewhat than declaring a minor. Upon reflection, as soon as she was handed a button at an occasion by one other REL scholar, Andie Alexander, Anna “simply by no means left”. She even met her husband, Ashton Sims, within the scholar lounge within the division.
And- voila. Anna Davis has grow to be one other instance that an REL diploma can complement your life and profession – even exterior the stereotypical academia and clergy routes. Anna works as an Operations Supervisor for ACRT, a utility forestry firm. She initially began out as a utility forester after which pretty shortly moved as much as supervisor. A typical day as a forester was spent within the subject checking on utility corridors for “vegetation that might affect the utility infrastructure”. Now, as a supervisor, Anna’s day revolves round offering help for these utility foresters on the bottom in addition to interfacing with prospects throughout states. “My territory covers Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.” Anna says.
However what does this should do with Non secular Research?
Anna’s every day work as an Operations Supervisor means she offers with quite a lot of logistics and entails investigating points, using what she describes a problem-solving abilities that she picked up throughout her time as an REL scholar. Dealing with prospects throughout state borders or discovering an answer to a complication within the subject is analogous to analyzing the complexities of definition and categorization of the factor we name faith. Anna says, “REL gave me the skillset to ask questions, assume critically, and keep away from assumptions.” She continues, “They make my sophisticated job a lot extra manageable.”
And a few recommendation for undergraduates?
“Pursuits change, however when you have a great basis, you actually can do something.” She additional asserts that the undergraduate years are an essential time to be exploring your choices. “There are such a lot of jobs and fields on the market you don’t have any concept.” She says that college students ought to use the time to achieve “common abilities” (akin to these handy-dandy downside fixing abilities!) that may aid you in any job. And when you’re nervous about beginning someplace new and unfamiliar? Relaxation assured, Anna says, “They are going to educate you the right way to do the job,” and with these common abilities, you’re ready to study and to unravel the distinctive issues in any job.
This submit is a part of a collection that highlights the vary of accomplishments that college students in
Non secular Research obtain whereas on the Capstone and of their lives after commencement. All of us hear
questions like, “What are you going to do with a Non secular Research diploma?” As this collection makes
clear, the talents that college students develop in Non secular Research, together with crucial pondering, interacting
with numerous viewpoints, social evaluation, and the power to speak to a number of audiences,
contribute to a broad vary of actions and careers.
