College Major and Adult Religiosity: An Exploratory Analysis

• In Event: 455 - Section on Sociology of Religion Paper Session. Changing the Conversation on Science and Religion: Culture, Movements, and New Frontiers

Abstract

In this study, we address the question: Does pursuing different college majors shape individual religiosity in different ways? The relationship between higher education and religiosity has been widely studied and previous research has focused on institutional factors as well as pre-college characteristics to explain the relationship between college education and individual religiosity. This research assumes a homogenous effect regardless of substantive differences in the type of education pursued. Using the General Social Survey (GSS), which recently began collecting information on college majors, we explore whether there are any religious differences across individuals who have completed different college majors. We find that the magnitude of the relationship between higher education and religiosity varies widely across the different degree types and this relationship is not consistent across religious practices, beliefs, and identities. Those with degrees in the natural sciences show the highest rates of religious practice while those with degrees in the humanities and social sciences show the lowest rates of religious belief. We conclude with a discussion of the implications our findings have for future research in education and religion.

Authors

• Simon George Brauer, Duke University

• Cyrus J. Schleifer, University of Oklahoma