A higher calling may be leading you to seek a theology school. The education and training provided by top theology schools is essential in preparing individuals for ministry. Some ordained ministers lead congregations with thousands of people. Others serve in specific areas, such as with children and youth. Others are planted with social organizations serving those in crisis, or in more secular roles, such as chaplains of sports teams. Some people seeking to receive an education from a theology school will be part of the next generation of scholars. Other areas where a degree from a theology school is beneficial range from music and the arts to counseling to even the legal and business fields. The professional education offered by theology schools and seminaries allow individuals to earn undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees, as well as professional degrees and certificates that add to their spiritual longing to lead people in their faith. Programs affiliated with top public and private higher education institutions, as well as denominations or religious points of view, often offer an intensive curriculum that incorporates theoretical and practical learning.

Expect to learn not only inside the classroom but in public arenas and through experiences in churches and congregations in pursuing programs of study, such as a master of divinity, doctor of theology, and master of arts. Many programs, which include online-only schools, also offer an in-depth look at a variety of faiths and religious traditions. Others will place a heavy focus on evangelism to prepare its students for their duties upon graduation. Some programs have existed for centuries and boast famous graduates, such as the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who graduated from Boston University School of Theology, which is the first Methodist seminary in the United States, dating to the 1870s. Other schools have connections to well-known ministers, such as the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth in Louisville, Kentucky. Some schools are located in urban settings and expose students to issues facing inner-city residents while others are set in tranquil rural locales that embrace the idea of a spiritual retreat while earning your degree.

Have faith and choose the right theology school
You will want to look at a school's affiliation with a particular denomination or see whether it's a non-sectarian program. Another factor to consider is whether the school or seminary has received accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools, which represents more than 250 graduate schools that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs. Some programs offer flexible and part-time formats that allow students to work in the ministry or even unrelated fields, if pursuing a career change.

Theology schools are in the midst of change, with a push by the Atlanta-based Fund for Theological Education to add more minority faculty members. You also might find some smaller schools consolidating or partnering with other institutions in order to survive during difficult economic times, according to news reports.

It is possible for your faith to evolve into a career that can help enrich the lives of people in your community and throughout the world.