Graduate Admission
Students are admitted into graduate study at Sacred Heart University using a portfolio approach. This allows the University to review an application using a variety of factors such as prior work experience and other nonacademic activities that may be relevant to the student’s planned area of study.
In addition to the admission requirements specified by each graduate program, all applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a higher education institution accredited by a regional association of colleges and schools recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and recognized as accredited by the Connecticut State Department of Education or a Connecticut higher education institution accredited by the Connecticut Board of Governors of Higher Education. Applicants are expected to have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher. Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA below 3.0 may be provisionally accepted to certain programs if they demonstrate those qualities needed to succeed in the University’s graduate programs. Certain programs may require above a 3.0 cumulative GPA and have additional requirements of a prerequisite GPA or an interview. Individual requirements are listed online for each program or you can contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Sacred Heart University offers combined undergraduate to graduate programs that allow students to take graduate courses during their undergraduate study sequence. The combined program courses and schedule offered vary by degree program. Questions regarding a students eligibility to apply to a combined program should be directed to and confirmed by their academic advisor.
Once students apply for graduation, they must also file an application for the master’s degree portion of the combined program with the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants that meet the minimum GPA requirement for the graduate degree program are guaranteed admission into the graduate program. All other application materials and requirements may be waived at the discretion of the graduate program director. Once students are admitted, the master's matriculation will be opened for the start term immediately after the last bachelor’s degree term. Students will be charged graduate tuition and fees only after they are officially matriculated into the graduate degree program.