6 Reasons to Choose SHU's Graduate Programs

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Thank you for your interest in Sacred Heart University! We are proud of our vibrant school community of creative and committed students who fuel our forward leading spirit, and we are excited to be a part of your educational journey.

But, why should we matter to you? What makes Sacred Heart’s graduate community stand out above the rest?

We've distilled it down to six top reasons to choose our graduate programs. We’re excited to share our “why” with you, and to let these numbers (and stories) speak for themselves!

Our Growth Mindset:
One of the Fastest-Growing Universities on the East Coast

Over the last 15 years, Sacred Heart has experienced university-wide enrollment growth, and we continue to be recognized as one of the most vibrant universities on the east coast. As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, SHU was recently named one of the “fastest-growing Catholic colleges in the country” by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Over the last decade, our graduate program offerings have grown 300% and we continue to expand our degrees and build our graduate community every year. Sacred Heart offers more than 40 masters and doctoral degrees within five colleges. You can learn more about each college by clicking below:

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The College of Arts & Sciences

The Davis & Henley College of Nursing

The Jack Welch College of Business & Technology

The Farrington College of Education & Human Development

The College of Health Professions

Our Flexible and Hybrid Degrees:
Education Options to Meet Your Needs

We understand that many of our graduate students wear several hats — they’re working professionals, parents, caregivers, and more. The majority of our graduate programs are offered through a part-time, hybrid delivery model with evening, weekend, and remote class options. This empowers our students to continue to meet their personal and professional responsibilities while earning an advanced degree.

For students who enjoy the convenience of an online program but also want the traditional classroom experience, a hybrid program can be the perfect solution. Often, in-person classes for hybrid programs are scheduled on nights or weekends, allowing you to complete your degree without interrupting a traditional 9-5 work schedule.

Each degree program has its own unique set of flexible and hybrid class offerings. Here are a few examples of the variety of options our graduate degrees provide:

Master’s in Public Administration

100% online + full and part-time options
A degree for non-profit, emergency, and community managers

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Fully online + 3-year program
A holistic, practice-focused, applied doctoral program

Ph.D. in Social Work

Part-time online program + 1-week summer immersion on campus
A program for current social work professionals, looking to advance their career

Master's in Accounting

Online coursework + 1 on-campus seminar per month
Choose from two in-demand concentrations and complete your career in as little as one year

To learn more about what your specific program of interest offers, please select a degree from our graduate program catalog.

OUR LOCATION:
IDEALLY TUCKED AWAY, YET CLOSE TO MAJOR CITIES

Sacred Heart University is ideally located in Fairfield, Connecticut. While we’re a small city, don’t let that fool you — we’ve got A LOT going on! With amazing food, convenient access and transportation to larger cities, and a thriving professional sector — you don’t want to miss this coastal gem.

Hartford, Stamford, and the surrounding areas of Connecticut are recognized job hubs, home to several bustling industries and professions the most popular of which include:

finance

Financial Services

Insurance

Health

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Education (K-12 and Higher Education)

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Sports (Home of ESPN headquarters)

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Manufacturing

Here are a few phrases that have been used to describe the community and lifestyle surrounding Sacred Heart:

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Our Facilities:
Empowering Future-Focused Learning

We know the term is thrown around a lot, but Sacred Heart facilities truly are state-of-the-art. The majority of our facilities have been built or renovated within the last two years, ensuring that Sacred Heart students are always working with the most current tools and have access to the best possible resources.

Click the videos below to tour our facilities, labs, and studios!

Tour SHU’s West Campus

Home to the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, the School of Computer Science & Engineering, the Farrington College of Education & Human Development, the School of Social Work, and Film & Television Production studios

Tour iHub powered by Verizon

A nexus of business, academic study, and entrepreneurship at SHU

Tour the SHU Engineering IDEA Lab

Home to the School of Computer Science & Engineering

Tour the SHU SCMA Studios in the Martire Center for the Liberal Arts

Home to the School of Communications, Media, & the Arts

Tour the Center for Healthcare Education Facilities

Home to the College of Health Professions and College of Nursing

Our Notable Alumni:
A Reputation for Excellence and Impact

Our strong alumni network actively supports the Sacred Heart graduate community, “paying it forward” to future generations of Pioneers by maintaining well-connected professional networks and giving back to the SHU community.

Sacred Heart University has graduated several highly influential business men and women who continue to make substantial contributions within their spheres of influence, including: Frank Martire (NCR), Brian Hamilton (Inmates to Entrepreneurs and The Brian Hamilton Foundation), Suzanne Greco (Subway), Gary Levin (Levin Financial), and Douglas Kennedy (Peapack-Gladstone Bank).

A few other well-known Sacred Heart graduates include Kevin Nealon (actor and comedian), John Ratzenberger (actor), and Jeff LeBlanc (singer/song writer).

But it’s not just the big names that make a difference here at SHU — we know every graduate alumnus is capable of making a unique impact on their community. Here’s what just a few of our graduate students had to say about their time at Sacred Heart and how it’s impacting their professional careers and empowering them to achieve their goals:

“Choosing to pursue an MS in Digital Marketing from SHU’s Welch College of Business & Technology was one of the best choices I have ever made. I learned to execute marketing strategies and meet business objectives, elevate brands, and enhance the customer experience. I also gained valuable experience and certifications with marketing tools, such as SAS Data Miner and Google Analytics. The holistic marketing foundation that I developed while in the program was critical to my recent employment as a Digital Advertising Account Executive, where I feel thoroughly prepared to excel.”

Theophilus Ekiyor, M.S. Digital Marketing ‘20, Account Executive, Digital Advertising, Hearst Media Production

“I credit so much of the success I’ve had from the foundation that Sacred Heart University has given me. The MBA program gave me the tool kit I need to successfully navigate my role as a startup founder with emphasis on social good. They gave me the expertise I needed to market myself and my business, the leadership skills to grow towards my goals and the confidence to land press such as Forbes and Lifetime. Not only did they teach me academically, but also taught me the importance of what it truly means to be human. It's more than just a university.”

Juliana Fetherman, B.S. ‘18, MBA ‘19, CEO Making Authentic Friendships

“My professors and peers have challenged me to think deeply, act boldly and cultivate an empowered sense of self that I am thrilled to go forth and share in the field. The study of social work has made me a stronger provider to those I serve professionally, a wiser support to those I love as family and friends and a better advocate and caretaker for myself. I am forever ever changed by my time at SHU, and have learned a valuable lesson about the power of community that will inform all of my future endeavors.”

Christopher Fusco, MSW ‘20

“Sacred Heart University’s Speech-Language Pathology Program provides graduate students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals beginning in our first semester. The professors and clinical educators are dedicated and go above and beyond for all their students in order to ensure success throughout the program. The small class size and individualized attention provides a foundation for students to develop professional relationships with the faculty. With an MS in SLP from SHU, I know that I will be well prepared to enter the field upon graduation. Being an alumni of Sacred Heart University, I couldn’t imagine continuing my graduate studies anywhere else!”

Kayla Plitnick, M.S. Speech-Language Pathology '21

Our Strategic Partnerships:
Offering Unique Hands-On Learning Opportunities

We know that the best learning never happens in a vacuum, but rather in an integrated setting where students have a plethora of opportunities to interact with real-life scenarios and practical, hands-on experiences. For this reason, Sacred Heart is proud of its growing number of strategic partnerships within our own university community, at the local and state level, and our global initiatives.

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The Center for Nonprofit Organizations

The Center for Nonprofit Organizations is part of the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology at Sacred Heart University. The Center’s mission is to provide MBA and MPA students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills while assisting not-for profits in achieving their goals and servicing the greater needs of the community. Through the Center, SHU students make a valuable contribution addressing the long term viability and effectiveness of not-for-profit organizations while gaining real world experience.

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Institute for Public Policy

The Institute for Public Policy is an independent, non-partisan organization whose mission is to inform public policy debate and foster constructive discourse on pressing issues facing Connecticut through research, education, and community outreach. This partnership provides training and education to current and future public servants through the Master of Public Administration program.

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WSHU (NPR Affiliate)

WSHU is Sacred Heart University’s onsite National Public Radio station serving Fairfield County and southeastern Connecticut. The School of Communication, Media, and the Arts works in partnership with WSHU, an NPR affiliate, to provide students with hands-on professional experiences in broadcast journalism and media production.

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iHub powered by Verizon

Verizon and Sacred Heart University have built a beautiful innovation space open to anybody looking for a convenient place to work. The center is the nexus of small business, entrepreneurial students, academic staff, and forward-looking organizations working side by side to develop and grow their relationships, projects, and business.

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Stamford Hospital's Tandet Center

The Physician Assistant (PA) graduate program at Sacred Heart, works in close partnership with Stamford Hospital’s Tandet Center, where graduate students are able to participate in clinical rotations. The Tandet Center includes state-of-the-art labs, classroom, and a patient assessment suite.

Global Study Opportunities

Dingle, Ireland

Open to all students in FCE teacher preparation programs, students enroll in one course, ED 341/541 “Irish and American Education in Comparative Perspective.” This course counts in lieu of Education in the United States or it serves as an MAT elective.

Students will be introduced to the students and teachers of Dingle, Ireland and experience the Irish education system up-close and personal. You will observe classrooms in action, learn from Irish teachers and administrators, and meet teacher candidates and their professors.

Global Service Learning Trips — Guatemala

Graduate students in the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology programs travel with faculty members to provide supervised healthcare to a select group of marginalized Guatemalan citizens. Principles of service-learning and interprofessional collaborative practice frame the objectives of the experience. Students are supervised by faculty to provide rehabilitation services in community based facilities, special needs schools, and homes.

Find Your Fit
at Sacred Heart University

After learning more about why we love Sacred Heart and the distinctive features of our graduate programs, we hope that it’s easier to picture yourself as part of our graduate school community. If you have any questions, please reach out to a member of our admissions team. You can schedule a one-on-one call or connect with us via email — we would be happy to help you.

We hope to see you soon at Sacred Heart!

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Fairfield, CT 06825

203-371-7999

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