Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences Web site at Sacred Heart University. As evidenced by the core curriculum and reflected in our mission statement, the College of Arts and Sciences is committed to developing in students a love of wisdom and truth and a capacity for critical reflection that will orient them to professional leadership, social and ethical responsibility and service to others. Excellence is the theme in all the College's endeavors. The Catholic Intellectual Tradition demands no less: students are encouraged to live up to their highest potential and be ready to assume leadership roles in their families, their workplaces and their communities.

With over 2,000 students enrolled, Arts and Sciences is the largest of the four colleges at Sacred Heart University. The pursuit of knowledge is always exciting on its own merits, and in this college, intellectual pursuit intersects with practical learning. But what exactly is “practical” about a liberal arts education? We often ask employers, and they say that communications skills – the ability to take in information and share it with others – are the first requirements for people in their workforce. And communications skills are among the most important tools one attains through a liberal arts education.

In addition, a foundation in the liberal arts sharpens one's ability to think critically, to solve problems, to understand the many uses of language and data, and to learn and work with others. The most essential skill today and for the future is learning how to learn. The world is changing so rapidly that we are, increasingly, educating students who will grow up into jobs that literally don't exist today. Therefore, the College takes great care to equip its students with capabilities that will help them to adapt and successfully answer to all their responsibilities in life.

The College continues to grow and develop. More than one hundred full-time professors and a variety of affiliate faculty members are involved in this process. Students are taught by fully qualified, caring and accomplished professionals. The student-to-faculty ratio remains low.  Research opportunities abound at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and internships provide practical opportunities for reflective application of skills. In addition, innovative service-learning options give students the chance to help others while pursuing academic credit.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers 18 bachelor's degrees in fields ranging from Art & Design, English, History and Spanish to Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Information Technology, and Mathematics. There are programs in Criminal Justice, Media Studies, Communication and Technology Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work and Sociology, as well as in Philosophy and Religious Studies. Students may also participate in foreign study through the University's numerous academic partners around the world. Sacred Heart University has initiated a partnership with the American University of Rome, Notre Dame of Australia in Freemantle, and the Diseart Institute of Celtic Culture in Dingle, Ireland.

In addition to its many undergraduate disciplines, the College of Arts and Sciences offers four graduate degree programs: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Chemistry, Master of Science in Computer Science, and Master of Arts in Religious Studies.  Tracks in information technology and in computer science are available within the computer science master's degree program.  Graduate certificates in Interactive Multimedia, Web Development, and IT and Network Security are also available.  The College is always looking for ways to address the concerns of the region through focused programming for students, and our graduate certificates in CS/IT are perfect examples.

Once again I welcome you to the College of Arts and Sciences website, and I hope you return often to keep updated on College developments, news and events.