Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 as a way to provide an education for the local community in the Catholic tradition.  Since then, the university has grown to 45 degree programs from associate’s to the doctoral level.  The university has a demonstrated commitment to service with over 35,000 hours donated each year.

Overview of Programs, Certificates, and Degrees

  • 1 online bachelor’s degree, 2 online master’s degree and 1 online certificate programs
  • Campus-based certificate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs are offered
  • Students can skip a session if personal, family or work commitments become too demanding
  • A variety of nursing-specific scholarships are available

Online Nursing and Health Care Degrees Review

Nursing programs at Sacred Heart University are based upon the four principles of community, spirituality, ethics and diversity.  Because of the small student to faculty ratio, students are able to received individualized counseling from faculty members.  The programs offer hands on practice through service learning partnerships and a simulation lab.  Keeping in line with the university’s service learning tradition, students may participate in medical mission trips in places as distant as Jamaica and Guatemala.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

The online bachelor’s degree program is ideal for working nurses seeking to return to school. Sacred Heart University recommends preparing for at least ten to twelve hours of study per week; sessions are eight weeks long.  Topics of the course include intercultural health and wellness, research, and leadership development.

Duration and Cost

Tuition is $500 per credit hour, and the number of credits required to complete the program vary depending on the amount of credits transferred in. The program requires 123 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Online Master’s Degrees in Nursing

Sacred Heart University offers two options for registered nurses seeking to earn a Master’s Degree in Nursing online, an RN to MSN option and MSN option for nurses who already have their bachelor’s degree.  The course offers the following three specializations:

  • Clinical Nurse Leader- Prepares nurses to sit the Clinical Nurse Leader exam through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  •  Patient Care Services Administration- Prepares nurses for a role in leadership and administration
  • Nurse Education-Prepares nurses for a role in teaching and instruction

Core courses for the programs include Health Care Policy and Ethics, Theory and Professional Roles, and Principles of Health Care Research.

Duration and Cost

The course is $580 per credit hour and takes approximately 2 years to complete if one course is taken each session.

Online Certificate program in Nursing

The online Home Healthcare Management certificate program is designed for nurses in management positions in home health care agencies to meet the requirements of the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH).  Students may also use credits earned in this two-course certificate program towards the BSN program. Students are required to take six credits of coursework in the form of two courses—Leadership and Management and Management of Home Healthcare Agencies.

Faculty

Sacred Heart University has award-winning nursing faculty with years of clinical experience.  Students have access to faculty through small class sizes, with a student to faculty ratio of 13:1.

Things to consider:

  • Nurses who take courses must carry malpractice insurance
  • 6 start dates are offered per year

Accreditation

Sacred Heart University’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Address:
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, Connecticut 06925-1000