The Educational Program

The Simmons Education in Context

Simmons prides itself on outstanding undergraduate programs taught by high-quality faculty. Our commitment to excellence in teaching, small class size, and innovative programs builds on founder John Simmons’s original mission to offer an education that would enable women to earn an independent livelihood.

Based on national surveys of employers and graduate schools, the faculty determined a set of critical skills for undergraduate students to achieve upon completion of their Simmons University degree. The skills include: communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, data analysis and interpretation, ethical leadership, integrative learning, and the navigation of cultural differences. Each required course in our General Education program, PLAN (which stands for Purpose, Leadership, ActioN) develops one or more of these essential capabilities; they are critical to achieving successful employment and post-graduate education in any major or field of study. 

Communication

Effective communication develops through iterative experiences across the curriculum. Students should be able to execute the most challenging communication tasks required by a major, manifesting the knowledge, skills, and attitudes characteristic of the chosen discipline. All communication consists of developing and expressing ideas, as well as understanding and applying meaning-making practices in cultural, historical, and institutional contexts. Written, visual, oral, and sonic forms of communication can be synthesized into an integrated work and accessed by reading, listening, and viewing.

Critical Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving 

Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills help students succeed in their chosen fields and as citizens and community members. These intellectual abilities are developed through learning experiences in the classroom and laboratory and during internships and educational opportunities outside of the classroom. Creative problem-solving applies critical thinking to address complex questions or achieve goals in innovative ways.

Data Analysis and Interpretation 

Students apply data analysis and interpretation skills to locate and use quantitative and qualitative data both as citizens and in their major discipline. Data analysis encompasses distinct ways of thinking and quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and techniques; such skills are developed through experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Ethical Leadership 

Leadership is situational, relational, and behavioral. Any individual, regardless of title or position, may choose to lead when moved by a sense of purpose to foster positive change. Success is largely dependent upon building relationships across diverse people, grounded in self-knowledge (values, ethics, social identity, and life experiences) and context. Leadership development entails identifying that sense of purpose and fostering collaborative relationships, building commitment to common goals, and cultivating people’s ability to contribute.

Integrative Learning 

Students’ capacity for integrative learning is central to personal success, social responsibility, and civic engagement. Students face a rapidly changing and increasingly connected world where integrative learning has become a necessity. The ability to make connections across courses and disciplines, over time, between campus and community life, and among multiple perspectives enables students to apply their learning across academic, professional, personal, and social boundaries.

Navigation of Cultural Differences 

Navigating cultural differences, both domestically and internationally, relies on understanding the implications of historical and contemporary power structures—social, economic, and political—on diversity, inclusion, and inequality. Through their curricular and co-curricular work, students will develop the cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills that support appropriate and effective interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is based on the philosophy that advising enables students to build on their strengths, identify and improve on their weaknesses, and maximize their use of available resources.
First-year students are assigned a “First-Year Advisor” prior to the beginning of the semester in which they enter. First-Year Advisors are either members of the faculty or experienced professional advisors.

Incoming students will meet with their First-Year Advisor during orientation to plan their course of study. First-year students are required to meet with their First-Year Advisors each semester to change courses, discuss academic concerns, link their academic interests with their professional plans, and strategize for registration for the following semester.

After a student’s first-year at Simmons, they will transition to a major advisor who is a faculty member within their intended area of study and continue their academic journey at Simmons with their new advisor. If a student is unsure about what they would like to major in after their first year, they will be supported by a professional advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Advising until they have decided on their major(s) and minor(s).

Professional and faculty advisors assist students in planning academic schedules and interpreting the goals and objectives of a Simmons education. Advisors guide students through departmental requirements while helping them to focus their studies. Advisors specialize not only in a student’s general academic program but also in pre-law and pre-health, and they serve as a liaison to faculty for student athletes. Advisors are knowledgeable about the requirements of majors and minors and are also prepared to discuss career and graduate school possibilities.

Program Planning

The Simmons approach to liberal education is flexible. Students develop a program suited to their individual interests and career plans. Some areas of study are sequential and are best elected early in a student’s program. Faculty and staff advisors assist students as they consider their options, set goals, and make academic and career plans. The fieldwork and internships offered by academic departments provide opportunities to test career areas and to consider the possibility of further professional study after graduation. Simmons has also identified opportunities for study abroad and encourages participation in study abroad offerings.

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 Curriculum 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
Africana Studies
Applied Psychology (for CompleteDegree students only)
Applied Spanish
Biochemistry
Biology
Business & Management*#
Chemistry
Communications*
Computer Science*#
Data Science and Analytics

Economics

Engineering Program (3+2)

Finance

General Studies (for CompleteDegree students only) 

Health Care Policy and Management (for CompleteDegree students only)

Health and Exercise Science

Human Services (for CompleteDegree students only)

Information Technology and Cybersecurity*# 

Literature
Marketing*

Mathematical Sciences

Neuroscience and Behavior

Nursing

Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition and Wellness

Physics

Political Science

Psychology#

Public Health*

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

Retail Management

RN to BSN*

Social Work*
Sociology

Web Design and Development

Writing

Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

 

 

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

 

Current students at Simmons University who intend to major in one of the following majors must declare that major by January 31, 2025. This includes undergraduate students who start as a matriculated undergraduate student in the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 semesters. Students who defer to Fall 2024, regardless of when they were accepted to Simmons, and traditional Fall 2024 starts and beyond will not be able to declare the majors listed below.

 

Art
Arts Administration
Asian Studies

Chemistry Management

Economics and Mathematics
Environmental Science

Financial Mathematics

French and Francophone Studies
International Relations
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Spanish

Statistics

Minors

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

Art
Arts Administration
Asian Studies
Biostatistics
Cinema and Media Studies
Design
Education
Environmental Health
French and Francophone Studies
Gender History
Health Care Management
Health Humanities
Integrated Media
International Relations
Journalism
Law and Justice
Leadership for Social Impact
Literature and Writing
Mathematics
Migration Studies
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Photography
Public History
Public Policy Studies
Scientific Computation
Social Media
Software Development
Spanish
Statistics
Sustainability
Web Design and Development

 

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 that disciplinary 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.

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,Eli Ratner (eli.ratner@simmons.edu). 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.

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 some may fulfill a KCA or KSA requirement.

Students in good standing are eligible to study abroad. The Center for Global Education 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.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts degree is the baccalaureate degree conferred on students in all majors except those in the departments of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, computer science, and nutrition, for which the Bachelor of Science is awarded, business and management for which the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is awarded, nursing for which the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is awarded, and social work for which the Bachelor of Social Work is awarded.  In the instance where a student completes a major in both the sciences and in the arts, they may choose either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree. It is not possible to earn two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously.

A candidate for a degree is expected to satisfactorily complete the work of an approved program, including all required courses, within the traditional number of college years. When a student withdraws for a period that would extend the work of her program beyond a traditional length of time, the additional work required for satisfactory completion will be determined by the faculty. A student who temporarily withdraws must meet the degree requirements in effect at the date of their readmission to the University.

Students transferring into Simmons and those working toward a second baccalaureate degree, must spend at least two semesters at Simmons and earn a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit while regularly enrolled to be eligible for the Simmons baccalaureate degree.

Current Simmons students who wish to enroll in summer courses at other institutions must first file a petition for transfer of credit in the Office of the Registrar. No more than 16 semester hours of summer school credit from other institutions may be credited toward the Simmons degree. For additional information, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Department or Program Recommendation

Students must be recommended for the degree by their department or program advisor. Students must complete a substantial amount of advanced work while regularly enrolled at Simmons so that the department can adequately evaluate a student’s candidacy for degree recommendation.

 

Course Numbering Simmons courses are designated by a department or program abbreviation and a course number. These numbers can be understood in the following way:
COURSE LEVEL	STUDENT LEVEL AND PREREQUISITES
100	These courses are open to all undergraduate students. Some may require specific high school preparation. They generally have no prerequisites and are taught at the introductory level.
200	These courses are open to sophomores and above and for first-year students under advisement or placement by the department. Such courses are more focused than the introductory 100-level courses; and prerequisites are at the department's discretion. A prerequisite for a 200-level course is typically one course in the department (or a complementary department or program) at the 100 level. First-year students should be advised that these classes will likely include upper-class students and will be more challenging than 100-level courses.
300	These courses are typically open to juniors and seniors and are usually taken by students majoring or minoring in the field. Such courses are advanced in content and pace and represent a high level of study in the field. Courses at the 300 level generally have prerequisites, typically at least one 100- and one 200-level course.
400	These courses are limited to graduate students in the program or those students approved to enroll by the program's director. In general, undergraduates are not permitted to take 400-level courses.
500	Generally, 500-level courses are dually listed, with a 300-level undergraduate course. Graduate students sign up for the 500-level course, and undergraduates for the 300-level.

 

Requirements for the award of the Simmons baccalaureate degree are listed below:

Completion of 128 Semester Hours with a Passing Evaluation

To obtain a broad education and depth of specialization, students must successfully complete a minimum of 128 semester hours for graduation. Most courses in the undergraduate curriculum carry four credits. Though a full-time load is a minimum of 12 credits, students typically take four courses (16 credits) per semester. Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00, which is calculated from all courses taken at Simmons using the letter grade system to graduate. Each student’s program should be a carefully developed plan of study. This plan should include: 1) courses selected to fulfill the overall undergraduate requirements, 2) courses required of and elected by the student in their major, and 3) electives.

A traditional full-time student who takes more than 18 credits will be charged for any credits over the 18-credit maximum.

Students formally admitted to an accelerated degree program (3+1, 3+3, 4+1) may take up to 22 credits under the flat tuition plan.Students who take more than 22 credits will be charged for any credits over the 22-credit maximum.

Undergraduate students who pay flat tuition and have earned at least 32 credits may elect to take up to 22 credits at the standard flat tuition twice (for two semesters) during their academic program. To be eligible for this higher credit cap, students must have an overall 2.8 GPA and be in good behavioral standing. Students must fill out the UG Overload Form when registering for the semester they would like to exercise the 22-credit flat tuition option. (Dix Scholars and CompleteDegree students are not under flat tuition and are not eligible for this overload.)

The Undergraduate Administrative Board must approve any credit above 22 credits.

Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 to be calculated from all courses taken at Simmons using the letter grade system to graduate. Each student’s program should be a carefully developed plan of study. This plan should include: 1) courses selected to fulfill the all-college requirements, 2) courses required of and elected by students in their major, and 3) electives.

The Simmons General Education Program: PLAN (Purpose Leadership ActioN)

On-Campus Students

While taking courses in the Simmons PLAN (Purpose Leadership ActioN), our general education program, students will engage with the City of Boston, develop their own understanding of leadership, engage in integrative learning across academic disciplines, and design key components of their course of study. PLAN brings the Simmons principles and values into the present day. Students will complete the Simmons PLAN over the entire four years of their college experience.

(Note: All students who matriculate with an associate’s degree are exempt from all PLAN courses.)

CompleteDegree Students

CompleteDegree students will, similarly, engage with the Simmons community, refine their own understanding of leadership, engage in integrative learning across academic disciplines, and design key components of their course of study.

(Note: All students who matriculate with an associate’s degree are exempt from all PLAN courses except the capstone.)

PLAN Requirements for On-Campus Students

Year One

Writing Boston

Fall or Spring Semester, 4 credits

In this writing-intensive first-year course, students will utilize Boston as the theme to hone their college level writing skills. Through engagement with readings about the City, this course develops writing, critical analysis, and information literacy skills.

Simmons 100: Explore

Fall Semester, 2 credits

Explore is designed to provide students with Simmons-specific resources that can be utilized to foster personal and academic success. It will also give students the opportunity to connect with their classmates and reflect on key issues and situations they will face as college students while transitioning to the Simmons community.

Sophomore or Junior Year

Simmons 200: Extend

Fall or Spring Semester, 2 credits

This course will focus on academic, co-curricular, and career planning. In addition to assignments related to resume and interview preparation, internship preparation, and an exploration of graduate school opportunities, the course includes units on the development of competencies in financial literacy, digital literacy, and cybersecurity, as well as an exploration of what it means to be AI-literate in a specific field. SIM 200 will be  cohorted by discipline (Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, Health Professions), so students are advised to take this class after they declare their major.

PLAN Requirements for CompleteDegree Students

Courses are listed in the order we recommend they be taken.

Connect 101, Simmons Connect

3 credits
Highly recommended to be taken in your first term
Simmons Connect is designed to connect you to your new Simmons community, to discipline-specific writing skills and strategies, and to tools and resources to ensure your success at Simmons and in your career post-graduation. This class is required of all Complete Degree students who matriculate without an AA/AS degree and highly recommended for all Complete Degree students.

 

Leadership 201, Gender and Leadership

4 credits
The study of leadership in American higher education has traditionally centered cis-gendered white men and their socialized masculine behaviors. This course seeks to counteract that by exploring women leaders in the United States, both leaders in history as well as present day to support students’ development of their own leadership identity. The course will identify trends common to cis-gender women leaders as well as the unique and authentic leadership practices that successful cis-gender women leaders have enacted that contributed to the social, economic, political and personal successes they achieved. The course will be gender inclusive where possible, though more scholarship is needed that is inclusive of multiple gender identities.

CDA 201, Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Public Issues

6 credits
Problem solving, critical thinking skills, and integrative techniques for researching an issue are important for all students to learn no matter their major or their future job aspirations. This course will introduce students to multiple ways of looking at an issue within their chosen discipline; students will gain knowledge to analyze common themes, communicate effectively, and use interdisciplinary perspectives to provide solutions to a potential employee and/or mentor. Students will use techniques from information science and public policy, for example, to formulate and answer questions with quantitative and qualitative techniques while enhancing their academic search skills.
Recommended prerequisite: CNCT 101

 

Connect 201, Pathways to Career and Leadership

1 credit
Connect 201: Pathways to Career and Leadership focuses on career and life planning. It represents a culmination of a two-course sequence that foregrounds the concepts of metacognition and self-directed learning. The course also focuses on the development of competencies in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the refinement of leadership skills.

3D (Design Across Diverse Disciplines)

Included in Connect 201
For this graduation requirement, students will design and propose a cluster of three courses they have taken and plan to take that addresses a topic, problem, or issue from various disciplinary perspectives. Students will explain the rationale for their selection of these courses, focusing on the intellectual coherence of the courses they have chosen.

 

The Capstone

4-8 credits
All students will complete a Capstone experience in their major, which will be designed by individual departments. Regardless of discipline, Capstone experiences will address career and graduate school preparation. (One Capstone in a student’s major is required to fulfill PLAN requirements; students with multiple majors may be required to fulfill Capstones in each major, depending on major requirements.)

 

 

Graduation Requirements for On-Campus Students

PLAN Requirements, Purpose,
and Double Counting (for On-Campus Students) 

	PLAN REQUIREMENT	PURPOSE	DOUBLE COUNTING
Year 1	Writing Boston fall or Spring semester, 4 credits Simmons 100: Explore fall semester, 2 credits	Communication essential capability Engagement with Simmons Communities and with Boston; academic skill-building
Sophomore or Junior Year	Simmons 200: Extend Fall or spring semester, 2 credit	Discipline-specific career education; Academic skill-building; post-graduation support/ planning; careers, graduate school
Any year	Key Content Areas (3 courses) • Artistic, Literary Aesthetic • Global Historical •Scientific Inquiry	Exposure to content across disciplines	Each KCA may be fulfilled through major/ minor course of study (if applicable)
Any year	Key Skills Areas (5 courses) •Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice •Integrative Learning •Leadership •Quantitative Literacy  • Writing Intensive	Application of skills and knowledge toward social engagement and change	At least two KSA courses must be taken outside of the student’s major

Exemptions/Alternate Requirement

• As of May 2021, all students entering with an AA/AS degree are exempt from all PLAN requirements.
  
  Note: All students must complete a capstone in their major. Capstones are not part of PLAN but of requirements for all majors.

Starting a New Language

• For incoming students as of Fall 2024 and thereafter: Incoming undergraduate students are not required to take a language course as a part of the Simmons PLAN curriculum. The language placement exam is optional and available only to students who are interested in taking Spanish or French at the undergraduate level.
• For students whose first semester was prior to Fall 2024: All on-the-ground undergraduate students must satisfy the PLAN Language Requirement that was in place at the time of their enrollment. Language exams are still available to students who have not yet taken one and require a placement. The language requirement is met by one of the following: 
  The successful completion of the 102 level* in Spanish or French at Simmons University or in any modern language taken through the COF or at another institution with preapproval from the Associate Provost for Curriculum, Assessment, and Accreditation. (*Completion of the 101 level [or its equivalent] is a prerequisite of the 102 level.)
  OR
  The successful completion of one GH KCA course AND one DEIJ KSA course taken specifically to fulfill the language requirement. 

Math Competency Requirement

Students will be required to demonstrate competency in mathematics in one of the following ways before they may take a Quantitative Literacy course:  

• Pass the mathematics competency exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising prior to registration;

• Successfully complete MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course at Simmons; or

• Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 or above to the Registrar’s office.

• Students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first semester at Simmons. Students who do not pass the mathematics competency exam prior to registration or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above must take MATH 101 in the first semester it is available.

Key Content Area (KCA) Requirements

The key content area courses draw upon three broad areas of knowledge to emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to ways of knowing. They engage phenomena as objects of study through approaches rooted in various disciplines tied to the sciences, the arts and broad frames of historical and cultural understanding. Students must complete one course from each of the following three areas:

1] Aesthetic, Literary, and Artistic (ALA)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in art and literature as well as ways of knowing or creating original works or aesthetic approaches to these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in any of the creative and performing arts as well as in any course in the study of literature, art, and music. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of aesthetic, literary, and artistic phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that studies the digital or computational aspects of artistic creation would meet this requirement.

2] Global Historical (GH)

Global Historical courses provide perspectives on contemporary or historical phenomena as they present themselves socially. They may foreground the perspective of a particular community or person or a specific interpretive frame or historical moment in time ,or they may include comparative ways of knowing phenomena across cultures of the globe, within and beyond the US, past and present. 

Courses in this area offer students the opportunity to study societal topics closely and to appreciate cultural and historical differences as they have manifested for humankind. 

3] Scientific Inquiry (SCI)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in the natural and physical world and on ways of knowing these phenomena, particularly through experimental approaches. This requirement is primarily met by courses in the sciences and psychology; the requirement may also be met by courses in other disciplines providing perspectives on scientific phenomena. All courses meeting this requirement include a “hands on” component providing students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the scientific method.

Key Skills Area (KSA) Requirements

While the Key Content Areas focus on knowledge of content, the Key Skills Areas emphasize skills acquired or applied in courses. This category spans skills that are essential for student’s success in and beyond academia. It extends to opportunities for students to apply their developing skills and knowledge toward social engagement and change. Students must complete one course from each of the below areas. Note: At least two KSA courses must be taken outside of the student’s major.

1] Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)

Courses with a DEIJ designation provide students opportunities to build skills in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice that can be deployed in organizations, professions and society. Students in these courses critically analyze social forces and systems and learn how to take some form of action to respond to these forces and systems. A DEIJ course allows explicit knowledge about DEI–Diversity, Equity and Inclusion– through examination of power and privilege as they pertain to gender, race, dis/ability, sexuality, immigration status, socioeconomic status, etc. And it also focuses on application of this knowledge toward the creation of change aimed at Justice–not just DEI, but also DEIJ. The ultimate goal of these courses is to–through a combination of analysis and action, or praxis–help students develop agency around understanding and challenging existent forces and systems.

2] Integrative Learning (IL)

The Integrative Learning KSA allows students to study a topic or question that cannot be fully understood without its examination through the lenses of subfields within or between disciplines. This integrative approach to learning aims at helping students develop the habits of mind needed to meaningfully explore topics and issues that require movement across different perspectives. The KSA is filled by courses that root their approach in any set of disciplines and/or subfields. A central topic or question guides the course, and students learn about content specific to the course topic, but the course is most centrally an opportunity for students to understand what they can and cannot know in the absence of employing multiple perspectives.

3] Leadership (LDR)

The Leadership courses help students expand their ideas of what leadership is and who can lead. These courses support students’ ability to envision opportunities to lead, formally or informally, in their careers, their communities and their lives. Each course focuses on the relationship between leadership and social identities and allows students to develop and demonstrate leadership skills related to both working in teams and public speaking. Students engage such topics as conflict resolution and advocacy on meaningful issues.  Leadership courses typically study successful leaders and/or organizations, or specific theories or best practices, in order to help students envision their own ideas of leadership.

4] Quantitative Literacy (QL)

Quantitative Literacy (QL) is a “habit of mind,” competency, and comfort in working with numerical data. Courses in this area will develop a student’s ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. QL courses will develop the skills necessary to understand and create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, and to clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate)

5] Writing Intensive (WI)

Writing-Intensive courses further develop the competencies introduced to students in the first year writing course, Writing Boston. They encourage more advanced writing proficiency and centralize at least two of the following skills: awareness of audience and context, formulation of arguments and conclusions, evaluation and utilization of researched sources. Writing-Intensive courses also typically include frequent (usually weekly) writing assignments, some informal and ungraded writing, and at least one paper that is examined in draft form by the instructor and then revised by the student. This requirement is filled by courses in multiple departments, and courses are often rooted in the research and methods of the department’s particular academic discipline.

Graduation Requirements for CompleteDegree Students

PLAN Requirements, Purpose,
and Double Counting (for CompleteDegree Students) 

	Plan Requirement	Purpose	Double Counting
	CNCT 101, 3 credits LDR 201, 4 credits	Communication essential capability Engagement with Simmons Communities; academic skill-building Leadership, teamwork
	CDA 201, 6 credits CNCT 201, 1 credit	Interdisciplinary and integrative learning Post-graduation support/ planning; careers, graduate school Academic skill-building; 3D planning
	3D (Design Across Diverse Disciplines)	Interdisciplinary and integrative learning 3 courses that are topically connected;	Each 3D course may count as a KCA. One 3D course may count in each major/minor course of study. 3D courses must be drawn from different disciplines. Two 3D courses may have been taken during the first or second year.
	Capstone	Expertise in student’s field of study	The Capstone is in the major.
Any year	Key Content Areas (4 courses) Social/Historical Artistic, Literary Aesthetic Scientific	Exposure to content across disciplines	Each KCA may be fulfilled in a major/ minor course of study (if applicable).
	Quantitative Literacy (1 course)	Critical thinking and problem solving; literacy in numeric systems	The QL requirement may be fulfilled through a course in a student's major/minor course of study (if applicable).
	Language and Culture Requirement (2 additional GC KCA courses)	Cultural skill development

Math Competency Requirement

Students will be required to demonstrate competency in mathematics in one of the following ways before they are able to take a Quantitative Literacy course:

Pass the mathematics competency exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising no later than the end of their first term at Simmons;

Successfully complete MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course at Simmons;

Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 or above to the Registrar’s office.

Students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first semester at Simmons. Students who do not pass the mathematics competency exam by orientation or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above, must take MATH 101 in the first semester it is available.

Language and Culture Requirement (QL)

Complete Degree students must take two additional Global/Cultural KCA courses to satisfy this PLAN requirement.

Quantitative Literacy Requirement (QL)

Quantitative Literacy (QL) is a “habit of mind,” competency, and comfort in working with numerical data. Courses in this area will develop a student’s ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. QL courses will develop the skills necessary to understand and create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, and to clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate).

Key Content Area (KCA) Requirements

The key content areas pertain to phenomena as objects of study across the disciplines, rather than modes of inquiry defined by a particular discipline or set of disciplines.
Indeed, these categories describe areas of knowledge from multidisciplinary perspectives. The phenomena included under each of the four areas listed below thus admit of a wide variety of ways of knowing or disciplinary approaches. Students must complete one course from each of the following areas:

1] Aesthetic, Literary, and Artistic (ALA)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in art and literature as well as ways of knowing or creating original works or aesthetic approaches to these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in any of the creative and performing arts as well as in any course in the study of literature, art, and music. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of aesthetic, literary, and artistic phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that studies the digital or computational aspects of artistic creation would meet this requirement.

2] Global Cultural (GC)

The term “global cultural” is broadly construed; it includes all cultures, past and present, within and beyond the U. S., and in their multiple forms of manifestation. Courses in this area offer our students the opportunity to understand and learn to appreciate cultural differences as they have made themselves manifest in humankind. This requirement can be met by courses in any discipline—from the liberal arts to the sciences and the professions—that provide a multicultural perspective of the world. For example, courses that focus on cross-cultural practices, or on minority cultures in the U. S., or on non-European cultures, or that provide world surveys of cultures would all meet this requirement.

3] Scientific Inquiry (SCI)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in the natural and physical world and on ways of knowing these phenomena, particularly through experimental approaches. This requirement is primarily met by courses in the sciences and psychology; the requirement may also be met by courses in other disciplines providing perspectives on scientific phenomena. All courses meeting this requirement include a “hands on” component providing students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the scientific method.

4] Social and Historical (SH)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in society and history as well as ways of knowing these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in the social sciences, including economics, political science, sociology, social psychology, social work, and history. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of social and historical phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that focuses on the social applications of management principles would provide such perspectives.

 

List of CompleteDegree courses with KCA designations

 

Marks and Evaluations

Every student must obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00, to be calculated from all courses taken at Simmons using the letter grade system, to be eligible for the baccalaureate degree. The grading system is based upon the following categories:

A = 4.00

A- = 3.67

B+ = 3.33

B = 3.00

B- = 2.67

C+ = 2.33

C = 2.00

C- = 1.67

D+ = 1.33

D = 1.00

D- =.67

F (Fail) = 0

P (Pass)*

AU (formal audit)*

W (Approved Withdrawal)*

*not included in GPA

Grading Options

A student may select grading options by filling out a form in the Office of the Registrar. This may be done at any time from registration up to (but not after) the day designated as the final day to add a course in each semester. Any student who fails to fill out this form and secure the necessary approvals will automatically receive letter grades.

Pass/Fail

A regularly enrolled Simmons student may take at most one for-credit course pass/ fail in any given semester.

Courses taken to fulfill specific requirements may not be taken for the pass/fail option, including

• The following PLAN courses: Writing Boston Course, SIM 100: Explore, and SIM 200: Extend 

• Modern Languages and Literatures: All language courses numbered 101, 102, and 201; Level I or Level II language courses taken at another institution by a student while they are enrolled at Simmons.
• Mathematics: MATH 101; and
• The Capstone

In addition, specific majors and minors require that courses be taken for a letter grade. Each department has the discretion to allow or deny students to take courses P/F.

If a student using the pass/fail option receives a P in a course, the student will receive credit for the course, but the P will not be averaged into her GPA. If the student receives an F in a pass/fail course, no credit for the course will be given, and the F will be averaged into the GPA as a zero. Departments may also have specific policies about pass/fail courses for their majors.

Formal Audit

A formal audit may be elected by any full-time undergraduate student after the first semester, provided that the student has the instructor’s permission and agrees to abide by the instructor’s conditions for the audit. A student may formally audit no more than one course each semester. There is no charge to full-time undergraduate students for a formal audit. A formal audit will appear on the student transcript, but no credit is given. A formal audit may not be used to satisfy any of the undergraduate requirements. More information on the formal audit option is available through the Office of the Registrar.

Informal Audit

Any undergraduate student is permitted to informally audit a course with the instructor's permission. The instructor will determine with the student the expectations for coursework., who will determine with the student expectations for coursework. No record of the student’s work is kept, and the student is not permitted to take the final examination. No credit is granted for an informal audit, and the audit does not appear on her transcript. Informal audits do not go through the Office of the Registrar.

Incomplete Evaluations

Required coursework must ordinarily be completed by the last day of final examinations. In extenuating circumstances, undergraduate students may

• request an “incomplete” (I) grade, as described below.
• appeal to the Undergraduate Administrative Board for a “retroactive W.” Students should consult their faculty advisor, Student Affairs, or the Advising Office as early as possible when extenuating circumstances make it impossible to complete the coursework.

Failure to file an approved incomplete agreement with the Registrar (in the absence of a grade) will result in the automatic assignment of an F grade. Failure to submit work by the date agreed upon in an Incomplete Agreement will result in the assignment of the grade noted in the agreement (F or other).

Instructors Shall Approve Incomplete Agreements only if:

• The required work in the course is incomplete because of circumstances beyond the student’s control.
• The student can complete the required work within four weeks of the last day of classes. If the student needs longer to complete the work, they must petition the Undergraduate Administrative Board.
• No more than 30% of required coursework or work worth more than 50% of the total grade remains to be completed. The earned grade shall be recorded.
• The completion of the remaining coursework makes a passing grade in the course possible. (If completing the remaining work cannot result in a passing grade, the student is not eligible for an Incomplete. An F shall be recorded.)

Incomplete Agreements

• The Incomplete Agreement shall outline a plan to complete the work. The agreement shall include the grade to be filed by the Registrar should the student not complete the work.

• Incomplete Agreements must be submitted to the Registrar by the last day of classes in the semester the course is offered. If circumstances make this impossible, students must appeal to the Undergraduate Administrative Board for approval of the Incomplete.
• If a student cannot initiate the paperwork, their instructor or advisor may fill out the form; in such cases, the petition may be accepted without the student’s signature.
• If the instructor is not available to complete the grading, the Incomplete Agreement must be submitted to and signed by the Department Chair or Program Director to ensure the grading of the submitted work.
• Students requesting more than two incomplete agreements in a semester must petition the Undergraduate Administrative Board for approval.

Appealing a Denied Incomplete Agreement

In cases where an Instructor does not approve an Incomplete Agreement, a student may file a written appeal to the Undergraduate Administrative Board. Grounds for appeal are limited to: arbitrariness or capriciousness (the agreement was rejected based on standards different from this policy); and/or unlawful discrimination (in which case the student should follow Simmons’ grievance procedure for bringing a claim of unlawful discrimination, as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog and elsewhere.) A written appeal must be submitted to the Undergraduate Administrative Board by the last day of classes.

Course Repeat Policy

The course repeat policy allows students to repeat up to two courses for credit on a limited basis to enhance their understanding of the subject or to improve their overall grade point average. The following principles apply to this policy:

• A student may repeat at most two Simmons courses for credit.
• If a course is repeated for credit, both versions of the course will appear on the student’s transcript and be included in the student’s grade point average.
• A student who repeats one 4-credit course must complete 132 credits in order to earn 128 unique credits and meet that requirement for earning a degree.
• A student who repeats two 4-credit courses must complete 136 credits to earn 128 unique credits and meet that requirement for earning a degree.

Academic Difficulty

The Undergraduate Administrative Board, a faculty committee that monitors Simmons's academic standards, periodically reviews the records of students experiencing academic difficulty.

This responsibility includes reviewing the records of any student who has two or more failures in a semester (including a retroactive withdrawal) any student whose semester or cumulative grade point average is below 2.0, any student who as a result of their achievement in Simmons Summer School has a summer or cumulative GPA of less than 2.00, any student who applies for a leave of absence or withdraws after the eighth week of the semester, or any student whose overall record is considered marginal.

The faculty has given the Undergraduate Administrative Board the authority to take whatever action is deemed appropriate to each individual’s situation. Such actions may include a letter of warning, probation, continued probation, removal from degree candidacy, or exclusion from Simmons. As a result of this review, the Undergraduate Administrative Board may impose special conditions may be imposed by the Administrative Board, in which case both the student and a parent or guardian (if the student is dependent) may be notified.

Warnings of academic difficulty are reported to academic advisors and other student support specialists by individual faculty members throughout the academic year, and assistance is made available.

See also the sections on Student Academic Progress in the Academic Policies portion of this Catalog.

Academic Honors and Recognition

Departmental Honors

Departmental Honors are offered by most departments to qualified students. Typically, the student must fulfill the following requirements in order to be granted departmental honors. The student:

• must have a superior record in the major.

• must complete a thesis or project that has been approved by the department or program and be supervised by at least one faculty member within the department and receive a grade of A or A- on that thesis or project;  

• must present their work to the department or program at a designated forum; and 

• must not have been found guilty of violating the Honor Code of Responsibility

In some cases, individual departments may have more specific guidelines for departmental honors. See the individual department listings for details.

The Dean’s List

The Dean’s List was established to recognize undergraduate students’ academic excellence. To be included on the dean’s list, compiled each semester, a student must have obtained a semester GPA of at least 3.50, have earned at least 12 credits using the letter grade system, and not have been found guilty of violating the Honor Code of Responsibility during that semester. For more information, contact the Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.

Academy

Academy is Simmons’s honor society. Senior students who have demonstrated superior achievement according to the rules of the faculty and who have not been found guilty of violating the Honor Code of Responsibility may qualify for admission after completing at least 32 semester hours of Simmons credit using the letter grade system. Students are considered for Academy at the end of their senior year. The number of students admitted into Academy equals about 10 percent of the senior class.

Latin Honors

Latin Honors of summa cum laude (3.90- 4.00), magna cum laude (3.75-3.89), and cum laude (3.55-3.74) are granted to graduating seniors who achieve grade point averages at a distinguished level, have earned at least 32 semester hours of letter grades, and are not in violation of the Honor Code of Responsibility.