2017-2018 Graduate Catalog

Accreditation and Memberships

Sacred Heart University has been granted institutional accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, one of six regional associations in the United States that accredit schools and colleges. Institutional accreditation is the means used by regional accrediting commissions to assure the educational community, the general public and other agencies and organizations that an institution has clearly defined and appropriate educational objectives and that it has established conditions under which its achievements can be met. Accreditation also provides that an institution is so organized, staffed and supported that it can continue to meet its objectives in the future.

In addition, several University programs have received either specialized accreditation or approval by the state of Connecticut or have been granted specialized accreditation by national professional organizations.

The Farrington College of Education is nationally accredited by CAEP/NCATE, the national accrediting body for educator preparation programs.  All educator programs of the college are approved by the State of Connecticut to prepare candidates for educator certifications.  Programs of study in building level administration and supervision, Connecticut literacy specialist, elementary education, secondary English education, social studies, and world language: Spanish are nationally recognized by their respective Specialized Professional Associations.  

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Sacred Heart University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). All programs of study leading to undergraduate or graduate degrees (including online programs) are fully accredited and approved by the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education Board of Governors.

College of Nursing



The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).   

The Master's degree program in Speech-Language Pathology at Sacred Heart University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).  Candidacy is a "preaccreditation" status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for maximum period of 5 years.  

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies has received Connecticut Office of Higher Education (CTOHE) state licensure, and the ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Sacred Heart University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Sacred Heart University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. 

The Doctor of Physical Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of PT Education. The Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. 

The Jack Welch College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 

The University is approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education for the education of veterans and their eligible dependents.

Memberships

AACSB International

Academy of Physician Assistants (ConnAPA) Connecticut

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society (ASL)

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

American Accounting Association

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education – CT (AACTE-CT)

American Association of Collegiate Schools and Programs

American Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg

American College Counseling Association (ACCA)

American College Health Association (ACHA)

American College of Healthcare Executives Copyright (ACHE)

American College Personnel Association (ACPA)

American Council on Education (ACE)

American Counseling Association (ACA)

American Educational Research Association

American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)

American Management Association (AMA)

American Mathematical Society

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

American Speech Language Pathology Association

American Psychological Association

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)

Association for Computing Machinery

Association for North East Business Deans

Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)

Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU)

Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU)

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)

Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO)

Association of College and University Unions (ACUI)

Association of College Administration Professionals (ACAP)

Association of College and University Housing Officers International

Association of College Honor Societies

Association of College Unions International (ACCUI)

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs

Association of Conferences and Events Directors (ACED)

Association of Departments of English

Association of Governing Boards

Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry

Association for Institutional Research (AIR)

Association of International Educators 

Association of Professors/Researchers in Religious Education

Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions

Association of Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA)

Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA)

Association of University Programs in Health Administration

Berkshire County Counselors Association (BCCA)

Bridgeport Higher Education Alliance (BHEA)

Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC)

Business Council of Fairfield County

Canadian Academic Accounting Association

Catholic Campus Ministry Association

Catholic Library Association

Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice (CAPP-USA)

Chi Sigma Iota (CSI)

Chief Administrators of Catholic Education

College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)

College Art Association

College Athletic Business Management Association (CABMA)

College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS)

College Board

College Consortium for International Studies

College Entrance Examination Board and Scholarship Service Collegium

Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Programs (CAATE)

Commission on English Languages Program Accreditation (CEA)

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants (ConnAPA)

Connecticut Association of Colleges and Universities for Teacher Education

Connecticut Association of Latino and Hispanic Education (CALAHE)

Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA)

Connecticut Bursar Group

Connecticut Campus Compact Steering Committee

Connecticut Career Counseling Association (CCCA)

Connecticut Colleges Purchasing Group (CCPG)

Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC)

Connecticut Cooperative Education and Internship Association

Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA)

Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC)

Connecticut League for Nursing Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA)

Connecticut Nurses Association

Connecticut Library Consortium

Connecticut Softball Collegiate/Scholastic Hall of Fame (CSCSHF)

Connecticut Speech Language Hearing Association

Connecticut Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CONNTESOL)

Connecticut Technology Council (CTC)

Council for Accelerated Programs (CAP)

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD)

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Council of Connecticut Library Directors

Council of Graduate Schools

Council for Higher Education

Council of Independent Colleges

Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)

Council on Social Work Education

East End Counselors Association (EECA)

Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers (EACE)

Eastern Association of Colleges and University Business Officers (EACUBO)

Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (EASFAA)

Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA)

Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA)

Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing (E&I)

Entrepreneurship Institute

European American Chamber of Commerce

European Council of International Schools (ECIS)

Fairfield Chamber of Commerce

Fairfield County Business Council

Fairfield County Library Administrators Group (FLAG)

Fairfield County Postal Customer Council (FCPCC)

Financial Planning Association (FPA)

Forum for World Affairs

Forum on Education Abroad

Greater Bridgeport Latino Network (GBLN)

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce

Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Hispanic Advisory Council of Greater Stamford (HACGS)

Institute for European Studies/Institute for Asian Studies

Institute of International Education (IIE)

Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

Institute of Management Consultants USA

Intercollegiate Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Intercollegiate Bowling Association

Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)

International Consortium of the National Council of Teachers of English

Kiwanis Club of Bridgeport

Lilly Fellows Program (LFP)

Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce (LACC)

Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC)

Massachusetts School Counselor Association (MASCA)

Mathematics Association of America

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)

Metro New York College Placement Officers Association (MNYCPOA)

Modern Language Association (MLA)

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)

National Association of Athletics Compliance Coordinators (NAAC)

National Association of Campus Activities (NACA)

National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA)

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

National Association of College Athletic Directors

National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS)

National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)

National Association of College Basketball Coaches (NABC)

National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)

National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA)

National Association for Developmental Education (NADE)

National Association of Educational Buyers New England Region (NAEB NE)

National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP)

National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP)

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)

National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM)

National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM)

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

National Association of State Administrators & Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS)

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)

National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification (NATABOC)

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

National Career Development Association (NCDA)

National Catholic College Admissions Association

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

National Catholic Student Coalition

National College of Sports Medicine

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

National Collegiate Licensing Association (NCLA)

National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

National Council of Teachers of Math (NCTM)

National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)

National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)

National League for Nursing

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)

National Orientation Directors Association (NODA)

National Society of Experiential Education (NSEE)

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

New England Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (NEACURH)

New England Association of College Admissions Counseling (NEACAC)

New England Association of College and University Housing Officers (NEACUHO)

New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (NEACRAO)

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA)

New England Occupational Therapy Education Council (NEOTEC)

New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE)

New England Transfer Association (NETA)

New Haven Chamber of Commerce

New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling (NJACAC)

New York State Association of College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC)

Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators (NEASEA)

Northeast Business Deans Association (NEBDA)

Northeast Conference (NEC)

Northeast Conference Baseball Committee

Online Learning Consortium (OLC)

Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC)

Pennsylvania Association of College Admission Counseling (PACAC)

Phi Delta Kappa, International Religious Educational Association

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)

Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Study

Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)

Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)

Stamford Chamber of Commerce

Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM)

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Tuition Exchange (TE)

United States Patent and Trademark Libraries

University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)

University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA)

Western Massachusetts Counselors Association (WMCA)

Westchester Putnam Rockland Counseling Association (WPRCA)

Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association (WSCA)

The World Affairs Forum

World Criminal Justice Library Network (WCJLN)