What is MAST+?

MAST+ is... 

...a program that integrates your theological journey through seminary with your creative ambitions or dream projects. As a segmented, two-year experience, the cohort builds creative community and encourages students to take their vision and voice outside the historic structures and engage popular culture in their fields, wherever God may guide. 

Program History at Perkins 

In the fall of 2018, Perkins launched an innovative new program that offered, "resources and training to a select cohort of master's level students interested in writing or creating other media for the church and academy." Today, the program is still going strong with a talented and committed group of program alumni/ae. Since the program's inception, Perkins, SMU, and the greater world have undergone tremendous changes and untold challenges, from an unprecedented pandemic, to increasing global political divisiveness and fractures in church and society. Within this context, it is more important than ever for our students and future leaders in the church to seek new, innovative, and collaborative ways to employ their talents and creativity.

MAST+ is a next step in the life of this journey. While the first five years of the MAST Program supported the "Minister-Author-Scholar-Teacher" model, the new framework responds to the experiences, needs, and realities of a fast-paced, new world in which we are now living. MAST+ adapts to students' needs and interests by expanding the notions of discernment and process in an intentional community of creative learners.