Sacred Heart University

Physical Therapy
Sacred Heart’s clinical doctorate (Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT) is rated the top Physical Therapy program in Connecticut and among the top five in New England by U.S. News & World Report. Qualified SHU undergraduates may complete an undergraduate degree and the DPT within six years of being admitted to theprogram as incoming freshmen; 3+3 students major in Exercise Science, Psychology, or Biology as undergraduates. The Physical Therapy program is fully accredited at both the state and national levels, and students are prepared to sit for physical therapist licensing examinations throughout the United States.

Athletic Training
SHU offers an accelerated BS/MS program in which students earn a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science inthree years and a master’s degree in Athletic Training in two years. The MS curriculum, combined with clinical experiences, prepares students to meet the licensure requirements of all states.   

Exercise Science
The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program at SHU has a career-specific, focused approach, ensuring that students are prepared to continue their studies or pursue employment in diverse fields within the exercise science umbrella. Students may also pursue a 3+2 accelerated program in the University’s MS in Exercise Science and Nutrition program.

Occupational Therapy
Sacred Heart University offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and undergraduate students maybe admitted as incoming freshmen to a 3+2 or 4+2 program leading to both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. SHU’s program prepares students for clinical practice and is highly unique; the curriculum utilizes a systems and developmental approach and strongly reflects a philosophy of humanism, service to others, and community-based practice. 

Nursing
The Nursing program at Sacred Heart University places personal attention and interaction between faculty and students as a major focus. With faculty members serving as advisors throughout the four years of study, students are assisted in developing critical-thinking skills as well as professional knowledge, skills, and values. Upon graduation, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are eligible to take the Registered Nurse Licensure Examination (NCLEX), for which SHU graduates have a 98% pass rate.

Health Science
Bachelor of Science in Health Science students pursue a pre-professional track that supports students aspiring to professional health care careers in fields such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, medical, dental, and many more allied health–related fields. Students complete their degrees with the foundational courses for graduate school and a keen understanding of the health care manager’s role in administration of health care facilities.

Speech-Language Pathology
SHU offers an undergraduate major in Communication Disorders and a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology, which employ case studies, cooperative learning, clinical education, field experiences, internships, and laboratory experiences. An accelerated 3+2 program combining the bachelor’s and master’s degrees is available to incoming freshmen. Because Sacred Heart University offers SLP, OT, PT, and Education degrees, students have the unique opportunity to work with colleagues across the allied professions prior to graduation.

Pre-medical Advisement program
Sacred Heart University offers a Pre-med program that is strongly rooted in both the humanities and sciences while remaining dedicated to academic rigor and nurturing altruism through service. In addition to course work and guidance in choosing the appropriate undergraduate major, Pre-med advisors assist with planning and applying to medical school and host workshops each semester. Pre-med students also take advantage of the many practical experience opportunities that Sacred Heart University has to offer, including volunteer work, internships, special fellowship programs, connections with esteemed MD alumni, and relevant cultural experiences.

KEY DISTINCTIONS

Center for Healthcare Education
Sacred Heart University’s new state-of-the-art Center for Healthcare Education building features a medical gym; audiology suite; motion analysis and human performance labs; an immersive acute care simulation lab with video and data capture capability; a simulated outpatient suite; high-fidelity manikins or actors playing roles; a home-care suite; an expanded human anatomy lab; and many more learning resources featuring the latest technology. The multi-professional educational clinic allows future students to collaborate on cases with students in other health profession disciplines to ensure they are prepared for the kind of interactions they will experience when they begin to work in professional health care settings.

Clinical experiences 
SHU offers a comprehensive range of clinical sites, including on-campus facilities such as an athletic training facility supporting the University's Division I athletics program; community settings; and hospitals such as the internationally recognized Yale New Haven Hospital.

Global study
SHU’s special global programs for health profession students include short-term study abroad, mission and service learning, and clinical experiences. International opportunities foster global health awareness and cultural competence and expose students to issues of social justice and health care development. Recent locations include Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, and Uganda.