About Simmons

Simmons University is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian university providing an undergraduate program for women and graduate programs for all individuals.

The University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the programs of study, other services, and facilities in the way described in its materials and on its website. However, the University shall be entitled, if it reasonably considers it to be necessary (including in order to manage its resources and pursue its policy of continuous improvement appropriately):

To alter the timetable, location, number of classes and method of delivery of programs of study, provided such alterations are reasonable.

To make reasonable variations to the content and syllabus of programs of study (including in relation to placements). To suspend or discontinue programs of study.
To make changes to its policies and procedures which the University reasonably considers necessary. Such changes if significant will normally come into force at the beginning of the following academic year, and if fundamental to the program will normally come into force with effect from the next cohort of students.
Not to provide programs of study or to combine them with others if the University reasonably considers this to be necessary (for example, because too few students apply to join the program for it to be viable).

This document is for informational purposes only. It is not a contract and does not form a contractual obligation between the University and its students, faculty, or staff. All information included herein is subject to change without advance notice or obligation. Information that is subject to change includes, but is not limited to, program and/or course offerings, faculty assignments, modality of delivery, admission and graduation requirements, and statements of tuition and fees. The University maintains the right to make any and all changes to this information, in its sole discretion.

Core Purpose

Transformative learning that links passion with lifelong purpose.

Values

We are at our best when students are first.
We cross boundaries to create opportunities.
We prepare students for life's work.
We make a collective investment in community.

Simmons University is a nationally recognized private institution of higher education located in the heart of Boston. It includes a women's undergraduate college and distinguished graduate programs for women and men in health sciences, social work, library and information science, business, education, and the liberal arts.

Simmons consistently ranks among the nation's top schools in its category in the U.S. News & World Report annual survey. A comprehensive university, Simmons is nationally recognized for its experiential learning programs, its blend of graduate and undergraduate offerings, and its commitment to liberal and professional education.

Student success is a priority at Simmons and is founded on these core characteristics:

A close-knit, accessible community that encourages collaboration and challenges students to do their best work;
Faculty and scholars who focus on students' educational and career objectives;
Extraordinary professional preparation with an emphasis on intellectual exploration and rigor, the integration of theory and practice, leadership, and informed citizenship; and
An outstanding location in the heart of Boston, a world-class center for education, medicine, and technology, with unlimited educational, career, and social opportunities.

In this spirit, the University fosters open exchange of ideas among students, faculty, and the general Simmons community.

Simmons faculty and leadership have reimagined the organization of the school's academic disciplines. In 2024, Simmons transitioned to a new academic structure with six schools, highlighting the University's signature strengths, accelerating pathways to meaningful careers, and providing students with the leadership skills needed to create a more just world.

Over more than a century, Simmons has developed a distinct expertise in educating undergraduate women for their own empowerment. A commitment to student success is a hallmark of the University's culture. Self-directed inquiry coupled with mentoring builds confidence and leadership skills. Graduates are leaders in professions-- such as Social Work, Nursing, Library Science, Communications and Business, among others -- that have significant impact on families, communities, workplaces and professions.

Simmons University's Schools and Degree Programs

Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Department of Communications

Bachelor of Arts in Communications
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Bachelor of Arts in Interaction Design and Web Development

Department of Education

Master of Science in Education
Post-Master's Certificate in Severe Special Needs

Department of Humanities

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Spanish
Bachelor of Arts in History
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities
Bachelor of Arts in Literature
Bachelor of Arts in Writing
Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children
Master of Arts in Children's Literature
Master of Arts in History
Master of Arts in Children’s Literature / Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children
Master of Arts in Children's Literature / Master of Science in Library and Information Science
Master of Arts in History / Master of Science in Library and Information Science

Department of Politics and Policy

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Master of Public Policy

Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Master of Arts in Gender and Cultural Studies
Master of Arts in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy

School of Library and Information Science

Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy

School of Management

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Business & Management
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance
Bachelor of Healthcare Policy and Management*
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Marketing
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Retail Management

School of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice

School of Sciences and Health Professions

Department of Behavior Analysis

Master of Science / Education Specialist
Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Biology

Bachelor of Science in Biology
Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavior

Department of Chemistry & Physics

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Science in Physics

Department of Computer, Data, and Mathematical Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences

Department of Nutrition

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Wellness
Certificate - Didactic Program in Dietetics
Certificate - Sports Nutrition
Dietetic Internship Program
Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion

Department of Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Department of Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology*
Bachelor of Neuroscience and Behavior

Department of Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Master of Public Health

School of Social Work

Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Bachelor of Science in Human Services*
Master of Social Work
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Social Work

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies*

*Available for Online Degree Completion students only

Additional Instructional Locations

Simmons' Graduate programs in Children's Literature are also offered at the Eric Carle Museum of Picturebook Art (125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002).

Simmons' Graduate programs in Library and Information Science are also offered at SLIS West (Greenfield Community College, One College Dr, Greenfield, MA 01301, USA) and Yonsei University (50 Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea).

Simmons University has agreements with the following organizations for degree offerings for their employees:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215)

Boston Children's Hospital (300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215-5450)
New England Center for Children (NECC), 33 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772. In the United Arab Emirates: MRC-NECC, PO Box 112923, Zone 23, Building 31, Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi; NECC Clinic - Abu Dhabi, Retail Unit No. RD03, Eco Plaza, Plot B11, Block D, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi; and NECC Clinic - Allied Health, Building 27 (IBN Sina) Block B, 2nd Floor, Office 203, Healthcare City, Dubai
RCS Learning Center (6 Strathmore Rd., Natick, MA 01760)
VA Hospital (1400 VFW Pkwy, Boston, MA 02132)

Academic Calendar

The following calendar applies to all undergraduate and graduate students unless otherwise indicated. Please view Simmons website for the most up-to-date calendar. Visit the Simmons website for the most up-to-date academic calendar.

Fall 2025 Semester

September 2025

September 1
Labor Day, No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

September 2
Fall 2025 Classes Begin For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion Undergraduate students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

September 8
Fall I 2025 Semester Classes Begin For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students
Add/Drop Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis Nursing, and Social Work Students

September 12
Last Day to Add/Drop Fall 2025 Course(s) in Workday For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

September 13
Add/Drop Period Begins For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

September 21
Add/Drop Period Ends For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

September 22
Withdrawal Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

September 26
Add/Drop Period Ends at 4:30 PM For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students
Last day to Change Fall 2025 Course(s) Grading Basis to Pass/Fail or Formal Audit For:
Traditional Undergraduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Interim grading portal opens for Traditional Undergraduate and Online Degree Completion faculty on Workday.

September 28
Add/Withdrawal Period Begins For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

October 2025

October 10
Add/Withdraw Period Ends at 4:30PM For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students
Interim grading portal closes for Traditional Undergraduate and Online Degree Completion faculty on Workday.

October 13
Indigenous People's Day – No classes for:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition & Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

October 14
Administrative Monday - Monday Classes Meet For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

November

November 2
Withdrawal Period Ends For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

November 27
Thanksgiving Day -- No classes for:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

November 26-28
Thanksgiving Break - No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

December 2025

December 9
Spring I 2026 Registration Opens
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

December 12
Fall 2025 Classes End For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion Undergraduate students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

December 14
Fall I 2025 Semester Classes End For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing and Social Work Students

December 15
Reading & Review Day for all Undergraduate students

December 16-19
Final Exam Period for all Undergraduate students
Note: Synchronous finals in the Undergrad Online Degree Completion Program are taken during the last class meeting time.

December 17
Final Grades Due for Fall I 2025 Semester:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

Spring 2026 Semester

January 2026

January 5
Fall 2025 Final Grades Due at 10 AM EST For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

January 12
Spring I 2026 Semester Classes Begin For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students
Add/Drop Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

January 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

January 20
Spring 2026 Classes Begin For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

January 25
Add/Drop Period Ends For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students
26 Withdrawal Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students
30 Last day to Add/Drop Spring 2026 Course(s) in Workday For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

February 2026

February 1
Add/Drop Period (Add/drop form with instructor, advisor, and student signatures) Begins For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

February 13
Add/Drop Period Ends at 4:30PM For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students
Last day to Change Spring 2026 Course(s) Grading Basis to Pass/Fail or Formal Audit For:
Traditional Undergraduate students
Online Degree Completion students

February 15
Add/Withdrawal Period Begins For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion Undergraduate students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

February 27
Add/Withdrawal Period Begins For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

March 2026

March 2-6
Spring Break - No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

March 8
Withdrawal Period Ends For:
@Simmons | Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

April 2026

April 7
Summer I 2026 Semester Registration Begin For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

April 20
Patriots Day - No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

April 21
Administrative Monday - Monday Classes Meet For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

April 23
Final Grades Due for Spring I 2026 Semester:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students May 2026

May 2026

May 5
Spring 2026 Classes End For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Undergraduate Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students

May 6
Reading & Review Day for all Undergraduate students

May 7-10
Final Exam Period for all Undergraduate students
Note: Synchronous finals in the Undergrad Online Degree Completion Program are taken during the last class meeting time.

May 11
Spring 2026 Final Grades Due at 10AM EST For:
All Graduating students
Summer 2026 Semester & Summer I 2025 Semester Classes Begin For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, Online LIS, Online MPH students
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students
Add/Drop Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

May 15
May 2026 Commencement Ceremony

May 18
Spring 2026 Final Grades Due at 10 AM EST For:
All Returning students

May 24
Add/Drop Period Ends For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students

May 25
Memorial Day - No Classes For:
Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students
Online Degree Completion students
Online HPED, Online Nutrition, and Online LIS students
MPH Online Students
Withdrawal Period Begins For:
@Simmons I Behavior Analysis, Nursing, and Social Work Students