2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Accreditation and Memberships

Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.)

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process.  An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.  Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

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 and Human Development is nationally accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 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.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program 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)

The baccalaureate and master's degree programs in social work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, Commission on Accreditation (www.cswe.org/accreditation/). CSWE-COA is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), as the programmatic accreditor for baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in social work in the United States and its territories.

 

The College of Health Professions has numerous programs individually accredited by professional organizations and is a member of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP). Each year the college completes a report to ASAHP. Additionally, each year these accredited programs must submit an annual report to their respective accrediting bodies to maintain accreditation. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE  ACOTE® is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACOTE is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).  At the heart of the continuing accreditation process is a process of self-study. Our program submitted the  Interim Accreditation report based on self-study on April 15th, 2021. The next full accreditation review will be AY26-27. The master’s degree (M.S.) education program in Speech-Language Pathology at Sacred Heart University is accredited by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, and by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800 498 2071 or 301 296 5700. Our education program has been  approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education, making graduates eligible to serve as SLPs in Connecticut public schools. The Speech-Language Pathology program at Sacred Heart is a member of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Our next accreditation site visit will take place in Fall 2023.  The Master of Science in  Physician Assistant Studies Program is licensed by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (CTOHE), and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Sacred Heart University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the Sacred Heart University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2031. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The Doctor of Physical Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of PT Education (CAPTE). The next CAPTE accreditation review is in the Spring of 2025. The Physical Therapy Orthopaedic Residency Program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). The next ABPTRFE accreditation review is in Spring of 2026. The Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Applicant.  The next accreditation site visit will take place in Spring 2027. The Master of Science in Athletic Training Education program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE). Next site visit in AY 2026-2027. The program has an association membership with the Association for Athletic Training Education (AATE). The Associate of Science in Radiography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The program’s current length of accreditation is the maximum eight (8) years. JRCERT contact information is: 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, (312) 704-5300, mail@jrcert.orgwww.jrcert.org

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

The Associate of Science in Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.  St. Vincent's College Associate Degree in Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA  30326.

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

Membership

AACSB International

Academy of Management

Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS)

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 

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

Alpha Kappa Delta - International Sociology Honor Society

Alpha Phi Sigma - Criminal Justice Honor Society

American Academy of Audiology (AAA)

American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB)

American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

American Accounting Association

American Art Therapy Association

American Association for Anatomy (AAA)

American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA)

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)

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

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) 

American College Health Association (ACHA)

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)

American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA)

American Conference of Academic Deans (ACAD)

American Council on Education (ACE) 

American Counseling Association (ACA)

American Economic Association

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

American Library Association (ALA)

American Management Association (AMA)

American Marketing Association (AMA)

American Mathematical Society

American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

American Public Health Association (APHA)

American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) 

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)

American Sociological Association (ASA)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

American Student Government Association (ASGA)

American Veterinary Medical Association

Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut (ATOMIC)

Association for Athletic Training Education (AATE)

Association for Evolutionary Economics

Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS)

Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA)

Association for Play Therapy

Association for Psychological Science (APS)

Association for Regional Representatives of Oregon and Washington (ARROW)

Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)

Association of Advancement Services Professional (AASP)

Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) 

Association of College and University Unions (ACUI)

Association of Collegiate Educators in Radiologic Technology (ACERT)

Association of Doctoral Programs in Health (ADPS)

Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA)

Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)

Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP)

Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN)

Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)

Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)

Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA)

Atlantic Hockey Association

AVIXA

Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) - Biological Honor Society

Beta Gamma Sigma - International Business Honor Society

Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC)

Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS)

Brewers Association 

Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC)

Campus Compact

Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) 

Catholic Library Association

Catholic Theological Society of America

Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS)

Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH)

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)

CFA Institute

Chief

Club Management Association of America (CMAA)

Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation

College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA)

College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA)

College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)

College Sports Communicators (CSC)

College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of American (CSCAA)

Collegiate Information & Visitor Services Association (CIVSA)

Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Programs (CAATE)

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Commission on English Languages Program Accreditation (CEA)

Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants (ConnAPA)

Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home

Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents (CAGCS)

Connecticut Association of Health Science Librarians (CAHSL)

Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA)

Connecticut Bar Association (CBA)

Connecticut Brewers Guild, Inc

Connecticut Broadcasters Association (CBA)

Connecticut Bursar Group 

Connecticut Colleges Purchasing Group (CCPG)

Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC)  

Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN)

Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA) 

Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA)

Connecticut Science Teachers Association

Connecticut Society of CPAs (CTCPA)

Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists (CTSPJ)

Connecticut Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA)

Connecticut State Chess Association

Connecticut Women's Golf Association (CWGA)

Consortium of Eastern Regional Theatres (ConsERT)

Consortium of Universities for Global Health 

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP)

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

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

Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS)

Council of Connecticut Academic Library Directors

Council of Graduate Schools

Council of International Schools (CIS)

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Delta Epsilon Sigma - General Scholarship in Colleges and Universities with a Catholic Tradition Honor Society

District of Columbia Bar Association (DCBAR) 

Eastern Association of Colleges and University Business Officers (EACUBO)

Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (EASFAA) 

Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)

Eastern Economic Association

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA)

Eastern Psychological Association (EPA)

Eastern Region Public Media (ERPM)

Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference (ECHC)

EnglishUSA 

Fairfield Chamber of Commerce

Florida Regional Admissions Counselors (FRAC)

Forum on Education Abroad

Gamma Sigma Epsilon - Chemistry Honor Society

Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England

Golf Course Superintendents of America (GCSAA)

Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Public

Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE)

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

Ice Sports Industry

Inside Higher Ed (IHE)

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

Institute of International Education (IIE)

Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA)

Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)

Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA)

International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC)

International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)

International Information System Security Certification Consortium, Inc (ISC2)

International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH)

International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA)

Internet 2

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

LGBT PA Caucus

Lilly Fellows Program (LFP)

Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities

LOEX

MakeHaven

Mathematics Association of America (MAA)

Medical Library Association

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)

Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC)

Midjourney, Inc

Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce

Modern Language Association (MLA) 

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)

National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) 

National Association of College Basketball Coaches (NABC)

National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU)

National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)

National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)

National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work (NADDSW)

National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) 

National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP)

National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC)

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

National Club Baseball Association (NCBA)

National Club Basketball Association (NCBBA)

National Club Football Association (NCFA)

National Club Softball Association (NCSA)

National College Lacrosse League (NCLL) 

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA)

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR)

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

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

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)

National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)

National Federation of Collegiate Club Sports Leagues

National Field Hockey League

National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)

National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) 

National League for Nursing (NLN)

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)

National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP)

National Orientation Directors Association (NODA)

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)

National Retail Federation (NRF)

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE)

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA)

National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)

New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM)

New England Collegiate Volleyball League (NECVL)

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

New England Consortium of Clinical Educators (NECCE)

New England Consortium of Graduate Social Work Field Education Directors (NECON)

New England Golf Course Owners Association (NEGCOA)

New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA)

New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA)

New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference (NEIFC) 

New England Transfer Association (NETA)

New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA)

NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation

North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)

North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM)

Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers (NEACUHO)

Northeast Conference (NEC)

Northeast Modern Language Association (NMLA)

Northeast Women's Volleyball Club League (NWVCL)

Online Learning Consortium (OLC)

Phi Alpha - National Social Work Honor Society

Phi Alpha Theta - National History Honor Society

Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)

Pi Mu Epsilon - Honorary National Mathematics Society

Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society

Pi Theta Epsilon - Specialized Honor Society for Occupational Therapy

POD Network

Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA)

Psi Chi - International Honor Society in Psychology

Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA)

Public Radio Program Directors Association (PRPD)

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

Regional Admission Counselors of California (RACC)

Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC)

Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)

Sigma Iota Rho - Honor Society for International Studies

Sigma Tau Delta - International English Honor Society

Sigma Theta Tau - International Honor Society of Nursing

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)

Society for Neuroscience (SFN)

Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)

Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR)

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)

Society of American Archivists (SAA)

Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE)

Society of Research Administrators International (SRA)

Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC)

Southern Economic Association (SEA)

Southern Finance Association (SFA)

Stamford Chamber of Commerce

Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA)

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)

Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL)

TESOL International Association

Texas Association for College Admission Counseling

Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP)

The Association of College and University Printers (ACUP+)

The Broadway League

The College Board

The College Irish Dance Association

The Executive DBA Council (EDBAC)

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

The Husserl Circle

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

The National Catholic College Admissions Association (CCAA)

The New England Development Research Association (NEDRA)

The Obesity Society

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)

Theta Alpha Kappa - National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology

Tuition Exchange (TE)

United Soccer Coaches

United States Bowling Congress (USBC)

United States Equestrian Federation

United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA)

United States Ice Rink Association

United States Professional Diving Coaches Association (USPDCA)

University Station Alliance (U:SA)

Upsilon Pi Epsilon - International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines

US Chess Federation (US Chess)

US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)

USA Cheer

USA Fencing

USA Lacrosse

USA Track & Field (USATF)

USA Weightlifting

USA Wrestling

USRowing

Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (VACRAO)

Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC)

Women Leaders in College Sports

Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA)