Sacred Heart University established The College of Education and Health Professions in 1997. In the fourteen years that have passed since then the college has doubled in size and generated several new degree and certification programs. In the health professions two doctoral programs (Doctor of Physical Therapy and the Doctor of Nursing Practice) were developed, and, post-professional orthopedic and geriatric residency programs in physical therapy were established. Two new master’s degree programs (Occupational Therapy and Exercise Science & Nutrition), and two new undergraduate programs (in Exercise Science and in Health Science) were begun. In addition, the College began to offer graduate and undergraduate certificates in Geriatric Health and Wellness, and witnessed significant growth in on-site and on-line programs in Nursing. Within the School of Education a weekend cohort for a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Leadership was developed, and new post-graduate Certificate of Advanced Study programs with concentrations in science education, social studies education, and education technology were instituted. In addition, the School of Education opened an on-site reading clinic and established new graduate certificate programs in literacy. 

The reputation of the college has grown as well. The DPT program has been ranked among the best in the nation, and Nursing enjoys a state-wide reputation for excellence. The Education Department (which became the Isabelle Farrington School of Education in 2007) has become the top independent educator of teachers and administrators in the state and has recently achieved full accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in recognition of its excellence in teacher preparation programs.

The continuous growth and diversification of programs in the College of Education and Health Professions has led the University to a decision to reconfigure the college into two distinct academic units -- the Farrington College of Education and the College of Health Professions. The transition began with an announcement in May, and the new structure will be effective July 1, 2011. Dr. Patricia W. Walker will remain dean of the College of Health Professions and will simultaneously serve as dean of the Farrington College of Education until a search for a new dean of education is completed.  “It has been my honor to serve as dean of the College of Education and Health Professions to for the past fourteen years.  I look forward to continued collaboration between the two units in the future,” said Dean Walker.

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