Sacred Heart University

Top Graduate Programs, Faculty, and Facilities at Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University (SHU), founded in 1963 and located in Fairfield, Conn., is the second-largest Catholic university in New England. SHU is recognized as an international leader in higher education. It is also known for its active, engaged learning environment and a faculty dedicated to personally fostering student development and success.

The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 380 Colleges: 2015 and Best 296 Business Schools: 2015, and was named to Bloomberg's Best Business Schools for the Part-Time MBA option. U.S. News & World Report ranks SHU among the best regional universities in the North in its annual "America's Best Colleges" publication, and also ranks the physical therapy program best in Connecticut and among the top five in New England.

Campus and Surroundings

The main campus of Sacred Heart University is set on more than 120 acres in Fairfield County. Its main campus in Fairfield is 90 minutes from Manhattan and 150 minutes from Boston. The community and surrounding area are considered one of the nation's most dynamic business and economic regions, with numerous Fortune 500 companies headquartered on Connecticut's "Gold Coast."

SHU also has a convenient Graduate Center and film/TV conservatory located in Stamford, a satellite education program campus in Griswold as well as international campuses in the Irish-speaking community of Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, and the only American-accredited MBA program in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Graduate and Doctoral Degree Programs in a Range of Fields

SHU offers more than 80 graduate degrees programs, concentrations, certifications and certificates through the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Communication and Media Arts, the Jack Welch College of Business, the College of Health Professions, College of Nursing and the Farrington College of Education, including:

College of Arts and Sciences

- Applied Psychology

- Chemistry

- Computer, Information Science & Gaming

- Cybersecurity

- Criminal Justice

School of Communications and Media Arts

- Communication

- Film and Television Production

- Media Literacy and Digital Culture

- Sports Communication and Media

Jack Welch College of Business accredited by AACSB

- Doctor of Business Administration in Finance

- Accounting

- Business Administration

- Digital Marketing

- Finance and Investment Management

- Human Resource Management

Farrington College of Education accredited by NCATE

- Sixth Year Certificate of Advanced Study Programs

- Special Education Cross-Endorsement

- Master of Arts in Teaching

- Initial Teacher Certification

- Tuition-Paid Teaching Internship

College of Health Professions accredited by CAAHEP, ACOTE, CAPTE

- Exercise Science & Nutrition

- Healthcare Informatics

- Occupational Therapy

- Physical Therapy

- Physician Assistant Studies

- Speech-Language Pathology

College of Nursing accredited by CCNE

- Doctor of Nursing Practice

- Family Nurse Practitioner

Innovative Programs, Resources, and Research Opportunities

SHU is home to innovative programs, technologically advanced facilities, and problem-based learning labs. This includes the Frank and Marisa Martire Business and Communications Center, a $50 million, 120,000-square-foot state-of-the art facility completed in Spring of 2015. It is home to the Jack Welch College of Business and newly announced School of Communication and Media Arts. The building boasts top-notch equipment in the business and communications fields and acts as the center for student collaboration. SHU also supports research and internship opportunities ranging from the "Big Four" accounting firms, advertising and communication agencies, nationwide clinical placements to school districts across the state. SHU is currently building the Center for Healthcare Education -- 117,000-square foot facility -- that will be home to the College of Health Professions and College of Nursing beginning in Fall 2017.

Outstanding Faculty, Small Classes

SHU retains 263 full-time faculty members with extensive experience in their respective fields. They provide expert insight and instruction coupled with real-world experience to the student body.

Faculty members at SHU work closely with graduate students. Classes are small, with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 22 students. Current students and alumni of SHU rate their experiences with graduate faculty highly, citing close interaction and commitment to partnerships that lead to academic success.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Sacred Heart University

Graduate tuition at Sacred Heart University varies by program. Off-campus internship opportunities that provide tuition waivers or stipends are available on a competitive basis through the Office of Career Development. A limited number of research and staff assistantships are also available to graduate students. Teaching internships, which provide partial tuition waivers toward the teacher certification or the Master of Arts in Teaching program, are available in area school districts. Financial aid in the form of federal student loan programs and deferred payment plans are available through the Office of Student Financial Assistance.