SMU’s Second Century Campaign has partly focused on academic excellence, and the Perkins School of Theology is making a contribution with its new Doctor of Pastoral Music (DPM) program.

Gary MacDonald, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, explained that the school’s Master of Sacred Music degree is “the driver” for the new program. Professors from Perkins and the Meadows School of the Arts teach courses for Master of Sacred Music students, as they will for those in the DPM program.

According to MacDonald, C. Michael Hawn, a University Distinguished Professor of Church Music and director of the Master of Sacred Music program, has been leading the development of the DPM program.

“This program will allow those in the profession to broaden their understandings of church music and the role it plays in a social context as well as identify opportunities to expand music ministry into the community,” Hawn said in a press release.

To apply for the program, applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA from a Master of Sacred Music, Master of Church Music, MA in Church Music, or equivalent degree program. They must also have at least five years of full-time experience in ministry and write an essay discussing why they want to pursue the degree, as well as the focus of their study and how it will affect their ministry.

The application deadline for June 2016 admittance is March 15, 2016, and Oct. 1, 2016 for January 2017 admittance. The program will begin with five students in June, and will add another five in January.