Sacred Heart University

Where personal attention leads to personal achievement

Distinguished by the personal attention it provides its students, Sacred Heart University (SHU) is known for its commitment to academic excellence, Division I athletics, cutting-edge technology, and community service. With over 9,000 students enrolled in more than 80 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, this dynamic University is an innovative presence within Catholic higher education.

Location
SHU’s location in Fairfield County, Connecticut, means proximity to world-class hospitals, nationally ranked elementary and secondary schools, a high concentration of Fortune 500 corporations, and access to the employers in Connecticut’s “creative corridor,” along with a central location between New York City and Boston.

Campus life
The SHU student body thrives on involvement outside the classroom, including 32 NCAA Division I sports; 29 club sports; a vibrant performing arts program with band and orchestra, dance, theatre, and choir; Greek life in 14 organizations with more than 1,800 students; media groups; and more than 90 clubs and organizations. 

Endorsements
National and international recognition includes a top-tier U.S. News & World Report ranking, including the #4 “Most Innovative School in the North”; The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges,” “Best Business Schools,” and #10 “Happiest Students”; Bloomberg Businessweek’s “Best Business Schools”; and selection by Colleges of Distinction. 

Internships and job placement
Many majors at SHU require an internship for graduation, and SHU’s extensive network of recruitment partners allows for students in all majors to gain experience through internships, field placements, and practicums. Students also intern in New York City throughout the school year and in their home states during summer breaks. Approximately 98% of our graduating seniors are attending top graduate and professional schools nationwide or are employed in full-time positions within the first year following graduation.   

The Catholic tradition
As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, SHU provides students with an education rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The spiritual heart of the campus is the stunning Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which provides a place of celebration and gathering for people of all faiths.

Buildings and facilities
On the heels of opening the Center for Healthcare Education, two new residence halls, and an on-campus diner, the Bobby Valentine Health & Recreation Center opened in August 2019, two additional residence halls will open in January 2020, and SHU has begun three more residence halls and dining areas. An engineering makerspace and an artificial intelligence lab were completed in fall 2019.

Earn Your Degree in Art and Design at Sacred Heart University
The Art and Design department prepares students to become artists and designers who are knowledgeable, educated, compassionate, responsive to social and civic obligations, and able to respond to an ever-changing world. 

The ideal location, near New York City and within the world-class design community of Fairfield County, Connecticut, provides students with unprecedented support and inspiration. Internships and a career-launching Senior Portfolio Night give students the experience and connections to find continued success in art.

Concentrations
All students in the Art and Design program take foundational coursework in digital visual communication design and traditional fine arts. Students may choose a major or minor from the following concentrations:

Graphic Design: Study typography, layout, computer graphics, multimedia, motion, web design, illustration, painting and drawing.

Illustration: Learn several aspects of illustration, including editorial and storyboard art, as well as fantasy and graphic novel art.

Studio Art: Focus on drawing, painting, figure drawing, methods and materials.