Program Planning

Majors and Minors

Students may elect a major as early as summer orientation before they begin classes in the fall. A major must be declared upon completion of five semesters (80 semester hours) of full-time study. Students take a minimum of 28 semester hours in a major field, as determined by each department. Please note that some majors require prerequisite courses. The programs also offer fieldwork or internships through which students may apply their knowledge and explore opportunities in a career field related to their area(s) of study. Students may elect a single department major or a combination of majors.
The curriculum offers the following options:

 

 

Options	Description
Single Major	A coherent sequence of courses administered by a single department
Double Major	Student fulfills two complete majors
Joint Major	A sequence of courses drawn from two departments and advised and administered with the cooperation of both
Interdepartmental major	An interdisciplinary program involving two or more departments or programs
Option for Personalized Education (OPEN)	OPEN offers students an opportunity to design a major with the assistance of a faculty advisor. It enables a student to work out an individualized major in accordance with their own educational needs and goals. Contact the Associate Provost of Curriculm Assessment, and Accreditation, Kelly Hager, for more information (kelly,hager@simmons.edu).

Minor

A minor is an integrated group of courses designed to give a student significant exposure to a subject area other than his or their major. (A minor is different than the 3D requirement of the Simmons PLAN.) All minors are 20 credits (five courses). Minors are not required for graduation, but they can be elected by those students who wish to indicate an area of interest that complements and refines their major, suggests a distinct area of concentration, or expresses a particular passion or avocation.

Majors

Students may plan a program of academic and career preparation by electing a major in the humanities, the social sciences, the sciences, or one of the professional programs. Undergraduate majors include:

 

Accounting
Addiction Studies*
Africana Studies
Art
Arts Administration
Asian Studies
Biochemistry
Biology
Business*#
Chemistry
Chemistry-Management
Communications*
Computer Science*#
Data Science and Analytics

Economics

Economics and Mathematics 

Environmental Science

Exercise Science

Finance

Financial Mathematics

French and Francophone Studies

General Studies* (for CompleteDegree students only)

Graphic Design

Health Care Policy and Management*

History

Human Services*

Information Technology and Cybersecurity*#

International Relations

Journalism

Literature
Marketing*

Mathematics

Media Arts
Music

Neuroscience and Behavior

Nursing*

Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition and Wellness

OPEN

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Psychology*#

Public Health*

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

Retail Management

Social Work*
Sociology

Spanish

Web Design and Development

Writing

Women’s and Gender Studies

 

*Available to CompleteDegree Students as a major. #Available to CompleteDegree Students as a minor. Please consult CompleteDegree@Simmons for updated offerings.

Minors

Academic majors are also offered as minors. In addition, a number of specialized and interdisciplinary minors are available:

Biostatistics

Cinema and Media Studies

Education

Gender History

Health Care Management

Health Humanities

Law and Justice
Leadership for Social Impact

Migration Studies

Performing Arts

Photography

Public History

Public Policy Studies

Radio

Scientific Computation

Sustainability

Other Academic Programs

Honors Program

The Honors Program at Simmons University provides a foundation for a motivated group of on-campus undergraduate students to explore the complexity of the world and their place in it. The goal of this four-year academic program is to support depth in a departmental discipline of choice, and to enhance this knowledge through interdisciplinary studies, global awareness, and pre-professional preparation.

The Honors Program provides an opportunity for students with distinguished high school academic records who are newly entering Simmons to join a community of intellectually engaged scholars who seek to challenge themselves both in and out of the classroom.

The requirements of the Honors Program include:
Year 1: an Honors section of SIM 101: The Simmons Course: Explore; an Honors Integrative Learning Seminar with an accompanying one-credit seminar; an Honors Section of The Leadership Course; and HON 190: Public Speaking in the 21st Century.
Year 2: HON 290: Lead Others/Lead Ourselves
Year 3: SIM 301: The Simmons Course Excel; with Year 4, a total of 12 Honors credits
Year 4: Honors Capstone

Three of the 5 Key Content Areas must be fulfilled with Honors courses.
Two of a student’s 3D courses, should they choose to complete a 3D, must be at the 200-level or above.
The program includes Honors level courses in subsequent years and specially arranged co-curricular activities. Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4 and be in good academic standing to remain in the program.

Pre-Law

Unlike pre-medical programs, which are quite specific and virtually obligatory for medical school candidates, a pre-law “curriculum” is largely a myth. While no particular curriculum path is the ideal route to law school, Simmons’ strong academic programs, small classes, and extensive opportunities for student/professor interaction are an ideal preparation.

A student who is considering law school after graduation should make an appointment with the Pre-Law Advisor to discuss specific interests and plans. Through the pre-law program, the Pre-Law Advisor helps to guide students with their applications to law school; supplies information to help with the application process and with taking the LSAT; and keeps in touch with pre-law students through a weekly email blast and in-person meetings. Additionally, the Pre-Law Advisor organizes extra-curricular activities of interest to prelaw students: lectures and brown bag lunch discussions, panels of Simmons alumnae who practice law, and internships related to law. For more information, please contact the Pre-Law Advisor, Kristina Pechulis at pechulis@simmons.edu.

Pre-Health/Pre-Medical

Undergraduate preparation for medical, dental, optometric, or veterinary medicine school should include a strong foundation in the natural sciences and a background in the social sciences and humanities. Admission requirements for medical schools can be fulfilled within the context of almost any liberal arts or science major at Simmons.

First year students should meet with the pre-health Professional Advisor to discuss their interests and course of study. Our pre-health Student Academic Mentor coordinates activities and information sessions throughout the academic year and is always available to answer questions. The Faculty Pre-Health Advisor assists students with academic planning, extracurricular initiatives and the application process. Interested students may also join the Simmons Premedical Liaison and the Colleges of the Fenway Chapter of the American Medical Students Association (AMSA). Simmons is a member of Biological Honor Society (Beta Beta Beta).

3 + 1 Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs

Qualified students can earn both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in four years. For more information on the programs listed below, please visit the page noted, the appropriate graduate catalog, or the Simmons Website for more information.

BS in Computer Science or BS in Information Technology and MS in Library and Information Science

BA in Economics and MA in Public Policy

BA in Political Science and MA in Public Policy

BA in Sociology and MA in Public Policy

BSW and MSW in Social Work

4 + 1 Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs

Qualified undergraduates can obtain an accelerated degree in Children’s Literature, Gender/Cultural Studies, History, Nutrition, and other programs. Undergraduate courses can be counted toward the Master’s degree—the number varies by program. A student applies for admission to the graduate program in their junior year. See the appropriate graduate course catalog, or the Simmons website for specific program requirements.

 

BA/MA in Children’s Literature and BA/ MFA in Writing for Children

BS/MS Biology/Nutrition

BS/MS Exercise Science/Nutrition

BS/MS Nutrition/Nutrition and Health Promotion

BS/MS Public Health/Nutrition

BSN-MSN Nursing

BS/DPT Physical Therapy

BA/MA in History

 

Accelerated Doctoral Degree Program 

See the Physical Therapy entry in this Catalog for more information on the 3+3 BS Exercise Science / Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Study Abroad

Simmons students are encouraged to study abroad. Options include semester, full academic year, summer, and short-term travel courses led by Simmons faculty.

Semester, academic year, and summer study abroad is offered through partnerships with other universities and providers. Using partnerships, Simmons is able to identify high quality study abroad opportunities throughout the world for students in all majors.

Simmons also often offers travel courses to international (and sometimes domestic) destinations. Enrolled students participate in class sessions during the semester before departure. The travel component of two to four weeks takes place during semester breaks in January or early summer. Often travel courses are taught in English and have no prerequisites, and many fulfill a mode of inquiry requirement.

Students in good standing are eligible for study abroad. The Study Abroad office will help students identify the program that best matches their academic and career interests. Students interested in international study are urged to begin planning early in their academic career by visiting the study abroad website.

Credit for Prior Learning

The Credit for Prior Learning program offers Dix Scholars and CompleteDegree students an opportunity to receive academic credit for knowledge gained through life experience. For more information, please contact your advisor.