Applications and all supporting materials (test scores, letters of recommendation, writing samples, transcripts, etc.) should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Certain professional graduate programs will utilize a CAS application managed by Liaison International. These common national applications are often sponsored by the accrediting agency. If a CAS application is used, then all supporting materials will be sent to Liaison International for processing. Once compiled, completed, and verified, applications will be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please refer to the specific program application page or contact an admissions counselor.
Students are responsible for the submission of all application materials. Once an application is received, the Office of Graduate Admissions will generate an electronic file for the candidate. When a file is complete and verified by the Office of Graduate Admissions, it will be sent to the program office for consideration. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible concerning any decision regarding their application. Submission of some materials, such as transcripts and test scores, may take several weeks to arrive. Early submission of these materials is advised.
Application Deadlines
There is no formal University-wide deadline for applications for graduate study. However, several departments and programs have established their own deadlines. For more information on specific program deadlines, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 203-365-7619. For all other programs, it is recommended that all application materials be submitted as soon as the application is filed. International applicants should submit their official transcripts with proof of degree and supporting materials at least four months before the first day of class.
Completion of the Application File
In order to complete an application for graduate study, the following materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Application
A completed application form and any supplemental forms must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Incomplete or unsigned applications will be returned.
Fee
A nonrefundable fee must accompany the application. Applications without the fee or proof of payment will be returned.
Transcripts
Official transcripts from all prior colleges and universities attended must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Official transcripts are those sent by the registrar of a college directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions or Liaison International if applying through a national CAS application. Sacred Heart University students and alumni may authorize the Office of Graduate Admissions to obtain their official SHU transcripts on their behalf. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for an authorization form. Hand-carried transcripts will not be accepted. All transcripts from foreign institutions should be accompanied by an evaluation completed by a translation service. The Office of International Admissions has several recommended agencies for prospective students to contact.
Test Scores
Any test scores required for admission must be forwarded by the testing service to Sacred Heart University. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 203-365-7619.
Letters of Recommendation
Two or more letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Certain programs have specific requirements for the recommendations. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for details at 203-365-7619.
Résumé
A résumé highlighting career and academic accomplishments should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Personal Statement
A personal statement that addresses the applicant’s career aspirations and reasons for pursuing the intended graduate degree program at Sacred Heart University must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Creative Portfolio
Candidates applying to the Film and Television Masters program must supply a portfolio highlighting both their writing capabilities and creative work. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 203-365-7619.
Initial Teaching Certification Applicants
Candidates applying for their initial teaching certificate must complete an essay discussing a recent experience interacting with children and/or youth and how this experience relates to their expectations for a teaching career. Applicants must also submit a passing score on the reading, writing, and mathematics sections of the Praxis Core Academic Skills examination or obtain an official Praxis waiver from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Applicants who have an undergraduate cumulative GPA below 2.67 (on a 4.0 scale) must request a waiver of this requirement from the Office of Graduate Admissions in order to be considered for admission. Applications must provide evidence of having submitted a state and national criminal history background check prior to registering for their first class.
Certified and Licenced Students
Certified teachers or licensed health professionals who are applying for any graduate program must submit a copy of their current certification or licensure.
International Applications
All admitted international graduate students must possess the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. In addition, international applicants should have achieved an excellent academic record that includes at least sixteen years of primary, secondary, and college-level education.
International graduate students essentially follow the same procedure and use the same application form as all other graduate students applying to Sacred Heart University; however, the following additional documentation must also be submitted:
- Certified official copies of all university/college academic transcripts
- Proof of a bachelor’s degree completion from an accredited university or college including semester-by-semester mark sheets, academic transcripts, grade reports, final examination results, diplomas and degree certificates from every college or university attended showing dates attended, course titles, grades obtained, credit hours if any, and the conferral of a bachelor’s degree
- An explanation of your university/college grading system to be provided along with transcripts
- Official English language proficiency test results. Acceptable exams include TOEFL, IELTS, Sacred Heart University’s English Language Institute (online placement exam, CaMLA EPT, or MELAB), PTE, iTEP, ELS Level 112 English for Academic Purposes, the Cambridge Certificate In Advanced English, and the Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English
- For all university-level academic work completed outside the United States, an official course-by-course foreign credential evaluation is preferred with some graduate programs requiring submission. Please contact the Office of International Admissions for a list of approved evaluation companies.
- Identification page(s) of the student’s passport
- A certified bank statement or government financial guarantee with U.S. dollar figures verifying the student’s family and/or sponsor’s ability to pay the costs required to attend Sacred Heart University for one year of study dated within six months of enrolling at Sacred Heart University. The bank statement or financial guarantee must be in English and signed by a bank or government official.
NOTE: Materials that are received by fax and email will be used as working documents only and are considered to be unofficial. Such documents may be used for making an admission decision; however, original or photocopies with a school seal and signature are required when a student enrolls at Sacred Heart University. Submission of falsified documents is grounds for denial of admission or dismissal from the University.
- Additional documentation as specified per graduate program
Upon acceptance to a graduate program, receipt of the student’s passport and proof of the student’s ability to afford the cost to attend Sacred Heart University for one year must be received as well as a non-refundable enrollment deposit and the student’s payment for shipping an I-20. The Office of International Admissions will work closely with the University’s PDSO to issue the student’s I-20 for the purpose of obtaining an F-1 Visa. For more information on international admission, contact the Office of International Admissions at internationalenroll@sacredheart.edu.
Non-Native English Speakers
Non-native English-language speakers applying for graduate study must submit official test scores forwarded directly from the testing service to Sacred Heart University. The following examinations are accepted: TOEFL, IELTS, Sacred Heart University’s English Language Institute (online placement exam, CaMLA EPT, or MELAB), PTE, iTEP, ELS Level 112 English for Academic Purposes, the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, and the Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English.
- Test scores must be forwarded directly from the testing service to Sacred Heart University. For unconditional admission to an academic program, the following minimum scores are required:
- TOFEL score of 550 on paper-based test or 80 on the TOFEL iBT
- IELTS – 6.5
- SHU ELI online placement – 80
- SHU ELI CaMLA EPT – 70
- SHU ELI MELAB – 80 (proctored on-site at SHU)
- PTE – 62
- iTEP – 5
- ELS Level 112 English for Academic Purposes – x
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – 5.5
- Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE) – 5.5
Incomplete Applications
The Office of Graduate Admissions will keep incomplete applications on file for one year. If an application has not been completed after one year, it will be considered withdrawn. Withdrawn incomplete applications are destroyed after two years.
Interviews And Advisement Sessions
The University encourages prospective graduate students to meet with a representative from the Office of Graduate Admissions regarding their opportunities for graduate study. The University also suggests that prospective students meet with faculty advisors or program directors for academic advising. For more information on our various information sessions held throughout the year, call 203-365-7619.