What does a religious studies professor do?

Religious studies is the academic discipline of studying one or several religious traditions or their adherents’ behaviors in a critical light. A religious studies professor may specialize in specific beliefs, institutions, texts, a religious language, such as Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, or Sanskrit, a historical period, or a more abstract field, such as theories or philosophies of religion. Your main duties include a mix of teaching, research, and advising students. Depending on the University, you may serve as an advisor to a graduate student writing their thesis or dissertation. You also have administrative responsibilities, such as professional development, faculty meetings, and departmental administration.