Sacred Heart University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Sacred Heart University is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The university was founded by Reverend Walter W. Curtis in 1963, the Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. SHU's campus is spread over an area of more than 60 acres. Over 4,000 students enroll in SHU every year.

Sacred Heart University is comprised of the following schools and colleges:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Education & Health Professions
• John F. Welch College of Business
• University College

SHU's athletic teams are called the Pioneers. Its men's teams participate in baseball, cross country, basketball, golf, ice hockey, soccer, lacrosse, fencing, track and field, volleyball, football, tennis and wrestling. The women’s teams participate in basketball, cross country, equestrian, bowling, field hockey, golf, fencing, softball, lacrosse, swimming, ice hockey, track and field, rowing, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The university also has a cheerleading squad.

There are 9 different Greek organizations active on campus, including six sororities and three fraternities. Notable SHU alumni include Kevin Nealon, Saturday Night Live cast member; John Ratzenberger, Actor; Lydia Hearst-Shaw, American model; and Jon Corto, linebacker for Buffalo Bills.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Roman Catholic religious affiliation.
• Many students concentrating in education and teaching, therapy and counseling, nutrition and exercise therapy, and business and management.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
• Large number of students.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• High faculty salary.

School characteristics:

• The school is private, not-for-profit.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Sacred Heart University:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 5,958 in 2009-2010 (5,454 full-time equivalent).

About 41% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 59% of the class.

Undergrads are 66% of enrolled students and graduate students are 34%.

Students under 25 years old represent 71% of the student body. About 11% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Sacred Heart University provides on-campus housing for 2,332 of its 5,454 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Northeast Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 37 male students received the aid (men were 49% of those receiving aid) and 39 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 51% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Sacred Heart University offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Professional Practice).

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate With Arts & Sciences (Education Dominant).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ART STUDIES (23 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (358 awarded)

• Accounting
• Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
• Business Administration and Management
• Business, Management, Marketing & Related Support Services
• Finance
• Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (32 awarded)

• Computer and Information Sciences

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (475 awarded)

• Education
• Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
• Reading Teacher Education

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (17 awarded)

• Social Work

LAW (0 awarded)

• Legal Assistant/Paralegal

LIBERAL ARTS (114 awarded)

• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• General Studies
• History
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature

MATHEMATICS (6 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (49 awarded)

• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (85 awarded)

• Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
• Nursing
• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (78 awarded)

• Athletic Training/Trainer
• Occupational Therapy/Therapist
• Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (11 awarded)

• Philosophy
• Religion/Religious Studies
• Religious Education

SCIENCE (43 awarded)

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Exercise Physiology

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (47 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (178 awarded)

• Physical Therapy/Therapist
• Psychology