Simmons University Health Sciences Graduate Programs

Health Sciences

Preparing the Future Leaders of Healthcare

A Simmons education prepares you for leadership in your career, a commitment to social justice principles, and engagement in meaningful work.

Simmons students and educators find inspiration at the intersection of life and science—cultivating the innovative practices and procedures needed to advance our scientific future and save lives. Our faculty are leaders in their fields and pride themselves on being personal mentors. You’ll work with them to master the fundamentals and put that knowledge into practice through handson learning in our state-of-the-art labs.

Situated in the heart of Boston, the Simmons campus is surrounded by world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities—like Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Our students are sought after for clinical rotations, research projects, and employment opportunities with leading experts in the industry.

The Simmons Advantage

• More than 850 clinical and community partners across all programs

• Small, interactive classes that facilitate strong student/faculty and peer-to-peer connections

• Close proximity to the worldrenowned Longwood Medical Area in the heart of historic Boston

• A science building that houses a state-of-the-art 11,000 square foot, 30-bed simulation center that includes high-fidelity OB/GYN, pediatric, emergency room, intensive critical care, medical/surgical, and home health suites

• 100% NCLEX RN board pass rate (Direct Entry Students 2022) and 93% FNP board pass rate on National Board Certification Exam

• 88.2% first-time pass rate on the PT exam (2021-2022), 100% ultimate pass rate

• 98.6% pass rate on the Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam

• Long, consistent record of campus graduates exceeding the average BCBA® first-time pass rate; in 2021, graduates scored 15 points above the national average

• Flexible program offering for the Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion with both online and on-campus options

• Nutrition partnerships with dietetic internship programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellness Workdays, Be Well Solutions, and more

Health Sciences Programs and Degrees

Behavior Analysis

• Master of Science in Behavior Analysis (MS)

• Educational Specialist (EdS)

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Health Professions Education (HPED)

• Micro-Credential (Certificate)

Nursing

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for BSN Holders

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Direct Entry

• Master of Science in Nursing–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN–PMHNP)

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nutrition and Dietetics

• Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition and Health Promotion

• Sports Nutrition Certificate (CSN)

• Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Certificate

• Dietetic Internship Program (DIP)

Physical Therapy

• Physical Therapy (DPT)

Behavior Analysis Degrees and Programs

MS or EdS

There are two degree options that students may pursue at our Boston campus—the Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and the Educational Specialist in Behavior Analysis. The MS meets the educational needs of students who hold a bachelor’s degree and are seeking a master’s degree. The EdS degree program is an advanced graduate degree that provides students who currently hold a master’s degree with an area of educational specialization. The entire program of study for either degree can be completed in 20 months and requires the completion of the same 40 credits.

MS (Online)

Simmons also offers an online Master of Science in Behavior Analysis. Students complete weekly asynchronous coursework online and complete synchronous live classes with faculty and peers. The online degree can be completed in as few as 20 months.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree

PhD (Online)

The PhD in Behavior Analysis program is a 48-credit doctoral program designed to train and position qualified behavior analysts to make significant contributions to the field. Students are actively engaged in professional research, teaming up with Simmons’ nationally renowned faculty to implement, write, and publish research, and to present their work at national conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. Live online classes allow students across the country to join our program and collaborate in real time with peers and faculty.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Master’s degree in behavior analysis or a related field

• BCBA® certification or significant behavior analytic coursework and/or experience in the field

simmons.edu/ba-curriculum

Find out more about behavior analysis courses, curriculum, faculty, and program details.

Health Professions Education Degrees and Programs

Micro-Credential Certificate (Online)

The Health Professions Educator

Micro-Credential program is specifically intended for professionals in clinical or academic roles who aspire to expand or improve their teaching, management, or research-based roles in health professions education. This program is for health professionals who work in athletic training, dental, nursing, nutrition, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech pathology-audiology fields (or others) and who desire to improve their skills and knowledge in theory, evidence, and practice for specific health professions.

Specialization Track

Students can specialize in the Teacher track to learn more about specific approaches to adult learning theory, didactic instruction, competency-based education, interprofessional education, programmatic assessment, curriculum design, and more.

The certificate consists of 12 credits, or four 3-credit courses (for completion).

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Master’s degree in a health professions discipline from an accredited US institution or equivalent

• Practical experience in one’s field within the past three years and, if relevant, current licensure

• GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate and graduate studies

• English proficiency exam (TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS); exempt if a bachelor’s or master’s degree was earned in the US

simmons.edu/ hped-curriculum

Find out more about HPED courses, curriculum, faculty, and program details.

Nursing Degrees and Programs

MSN, FNP (On Campus or Online)

Our 48-credit Master of Science in Nursing provides Registered Nurses (RNs) the opportunity to advance their careers and become Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs). The program includes foundational and primary care courses, and clinical, research, and leadership development are key components throughout. This 2-year program prepares students to deliver primary health care to diverse populations across their lifespan. Online students are required to attend one on-campus immersion experience.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of science in nursing

• Current RN license

• Statistics (one semester)

• Statistics course must have been completed within seven years prior to the application deadline

MSN, PMHNP (Online)

The Master of Science in Nursing–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is 47 credits and prepares students for a career path as an advanced practice mental healthcare provider, developing the skills and expertise needed to help patients across a variety of in-patient and outpatient settings. Through engaging online courses and immersive clinical experiences, students learn to conduct mental health assessments; to diagnose; to provide brief individual, group, and family therapy;

to make psychopharmacological recommendations; to prescribe medications; and to recommend additional interventions that can help improve patients’ mental health and overall quality of life. Students are required to attend one on-campus immersion experience. The MSN-PMHNP program can be completed in as few as 24 months on a full-time schedule, or in as few as 28 months on a part-time schedule.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of science in nursing

• Current RN license

• Statistics (one semester)

• Statistics course must have been completed within seven years prior to the application deadline

Direct Entry MSN

The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing is a 96-credit program that prepares students to become licensed as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. The program takes three years to complete (full time) and is designed for students from all academic backgrounds. In the first four semesters of the program, students complete the pre-licensure nursing curriculum. Students learn from industry leaders and are prepared for the registered nurse licensure (NCLEX) exam. Upon passing, newly-licensed RNs move into the post-RN licensure portion of the program, which consists of foundational and primary care courses. Research and leadership development are also key components of this program.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

• Official high school transcripts (required for enrolled students)

• Human anatomy and physiology (two semesters with labs)

• Microbiology (one semester with a lab)

• General chemistry (one semester with a lab)

• Developmental psychology (one semester, spanning birth to death, or a combination of courses covering this)

• Statistics (one semester)

• Prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to the application deadline; applicants with more than two prerequisite retakes within the past 10 years are not eligible to apply DNP (Online)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program develops nursing leaders who will improve healthcare outcomes in clinical practice, research, and management. Graduates complete 30 credits and 1,000 clinical hours and graduate with the clinical, organizational, and leadership skills to meet the changing demands of the present and future healthcare system. The DNP program is offered in a “blended” format. Classes are taught online, and students are required to attend two on-campus weekend residencies per semester. Students are also required to document DNP-related

practice hours and policy experience in a comprehensive DNP portfolio. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Master of science in nursing

• Current RN license

• National certification in an advanced practice specialty (NP, CNS, etc.) or an MSN in education or leadership

• Certification in management preferred, but not required, for nurse managers

• College-level statistics course taken within seven years prior to the application deadline with a grade of B or better from a regionally accredited US institution

simmons.edu/ nursing-curriculum

Find out more about nursing courses, curriculum, faculty, and program details.

Nutrition and Dietetics Degrees and Programs

Nutrition (MS) (On Campus or Online)

Our Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion program helps students develop an advanced understanding of nutrition, fitness, and wellness. The program can be completed in one academic year including one summer session, or in two to four years of part-time study (for US students only). The program requires 31 to 32 credits depending on the concentration and elective choices. On-campus classes are offered in the evening with some individual courses offered online, and our online program offers fully online courses.

Tracks

Students customize their plan of study by choosing one of two tracks or concentrations: the Research track or the Entrepreneurship track. Students pursuing the online degree have access to the same courses and opportunities to customize their program as students in the on-campus program.

The Research track is designed for students interested in research and nutrition epidemiology. The curriculum culminates with the completion of a thesis research project.

The Entrepreneurship track is for students interested in starting their own business in the food and nutrition field. The curriculum includes courses from the Simmons School of Business and culminates with the completion of a business plan.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

• Human anatomy and physiology (two semesters with labs)

• Inorganic chemistry (one semester with lab)

• Organic chemistry (one semester with a lab)

• Biochemistry (one semester)

• Fundamentals of nutrition OR Introduction to nutrition (one semester)

• Community nutrition (one semester)

• Statistics (one semester)

Sports Nutrition Certificate (CSN) (Online)

The Certificate in Sports Nutrition enables health and wellness experts to expand their area of practice, combining nutrition and exercise knowledge to build competence in personal training and fitness. The CSN can be combined with the MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion and/or the Didactic Program in Dietetics.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

• Human anatomy and physiology (two semesters with labs)

• Fundamentals of nutrition OR Introduction to nutrition (one semester)

Didactic Program in Dietetics Certificate (DPD)

Our Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Certificate, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), fulfills the didactic component necessary to become a registered dietitian. Students learn to improve the eating behaviors, health, and quality of life of our culturally diverse population. The DPD can be combined with the MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion and/or the Sports Nutrition Certificate.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

Dietetic Internship Program (DIP) Certificate

Our Dietetic Internship Program is a graduate certificate in dietetics and is intended for students pursuing the registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN) credential who hold an undergraduate degree and have completed the didactic course requirements from an accredited program as required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The dietetic internship has a community concentration and is one of only two dietetic internships in the nation with an eating disorder concentration. Students have two options for completing the internship. The Stand-Alone track is a 35-week program that includes all supervised practice hours and one course that may be applied for graduate credit. Students have the option of applying to any of our graduate programs, but admission for any additional programs is separate.

Students in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion + Dietetic Internship Program (MSDI) track complete both the Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion and the dietetic internship over a two-year period (five semesters, including one summer). In this track, students will need to complete all supervised practice and master’s requirements before they may be issued a verification statement. Students complete the Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion and choose either the Research or the Entrepreneurship track.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

• Completion of DPD certificate or other program in which student obtained of verification statement of required content

Physical Therapy Degree and Program

Physical Therapy (DPT)

Our Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a 99-credit, three-year, fulltime program designed for individuals who have completed three years of undergraduate work at Simmons or hold a bachelor’s degree from another institution. Prospective students must also have completed the necessary physical therapy prerequisite work.

Students attend expert-led lectures, advance their technique in the skills laboratory in brand-new lab spaces, and participate in small-group discussions focused on clinical practice. We also partner with Harvard Cadaver Labs at Harvard Medical School for PT students to learn the principles of anatomy and physiology and to understand body functions.

Students build their skills during fulltime clinical internships, which are carefully selected to give students the opportunity to be mentored by experienced clinical practitioners in a variety of patient populations.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science

• Exercise physiology (one semester, no lab required)

• Biology (one semester with a lab)

• Chemistry (two semesters with labs)

• Physics (two semesters with labs)

• Human anatomy and physiology (two semesters with labs)

• Statistics (one semester)

• Psychology (two semesters)

• Prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to the application deadline, a maximum of two prerequisites may have been retaken

• A minimum of 30 observation hours

World-Class Nursing and Science Facilities

A Campus That Works

The One Simmons project is a comprehensive update and modernization of nearly all of our campus facilities and buildings to suit the needs of today’s students and our future.

Many of our buildings on campus were renovated within the past two years to include colorful, accessible spaces for students to live, study, and work in.

Nursing Simulation Center

The new science building houses a state-of-the-art 30-bed simulation center. High fidelity suites include an OB/GYN suite, pediatric suite, emergency room, intensive critical care unit, medical/surgical suites, and a home health suite.

New Science Classrooms and Labs

Updated physical therapy spaces include a faculty research lab and two teaching labs. Nutrition has a commercial kitchen lab with seven cooking stations. The behavior analysis program in collaboration with psychology has eight testing rooms and one teaching lab.

The Living and Learning Center

The final stage of the One Simmons project is the construction of the living and learning center. When completed in 2026, this new tower will provide a contemporary and elegant 1,100-bed residence, dining facility, and athletic center.

Professors Who Practice What They Teach

Our faculty are thought leaders and award winners, researchers and professionals in their field. They pride themselves on being personal mentors. You’ll work with them to master the fundamentals and put that knowledge into practice through hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art labs. Their research, scholarship, and experience cover a wide range of issues, including:

• Health policy

• Psychiatric mental health

• Pediatric/adolescent concussions

• Public health nursing and environmental health

• Maternal-child nutrition issues among low-income women and their children

• Creating inclusive learning environments for health professions

• Health promotion and disease prevention

• Underlying causes of child obesity

• Biomechanics of movement in children and adolescents with chronic pain

I am passionate about the role that nurse practitioners play in shaping the healthcare system. My goal is for every Simmons graduate nursing student to leave our program prepared to advocate for social justice in health through patient care and professional leadership.”

NAILA RUSSELL, DNP, BSN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AND DIRECTOR OF ADVANCED PRACTICE, FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAM

Our innovative approach to training, research, and practice keeps all of us— students, faculty, and graduates—at the cutting edge of dietetics practice.”

ELIZABETH METALLINOSKATSARAS, PHD PROFESSOR AND RUBY WINSLOW LINN ENDOWED CHAIR OF THE NUTRITION DEPARTMENT

Teaching at Simmons in the musculoskeletal sequence of the physical therapy program allows me to share my past and current clinical experiences with students in the classroom.”

JUSTIN JONES, DPT, MSPT PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AND CHAIR OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT

Clinical Sites

Boston-based students have access to more than 850 clinical training sites, including world-class institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, VA Boston Healthcare System, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Nursing

The nursing clinical placement focuses on the primary care setting across the lifespan, including pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, and adult and geriatric care. Your dedicated clinical placement specialist provides you with a team-based approach to clinical placement, and will work collaboratively with you throughout the clinical placement process.

Nutrition

Nutrition students complete supervised practice rotations in clinical/acute care (11 weeks), food service (4 weeks), community placement (16 weeks), and professional practice (1-2 weeks). Interns accepted into the concentration on treatment of eating disorders will spend approximately 12 weeks in specialty rotations that serve clients in treatment for an eating disorder. The eating disorder rotation is in lieu of some of the other rotation periods.

Some of our partnerships with medical and wellness institutions may allow students to apply early to dietetic internships or complete their MS and dietetic internship at the same time.

Physical Therapy

Our DPT students pursue careers in clinical settings, nursing and residential care, home health, and private practice. In 2021, the median wage for physical therapists in the US was $92,920, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17% growth in PT employment over the next decade.

Simmons allowed me to have opportunities to be a leader in my graduate fieldwork. In the physical therapy program, I was able to build my careerbased leadership skills throughout my clinical rotations, including at the Boston College Campus School and Boston Children’s Hospital.”

ELEANOR POWELL ‘22DPT

Licensing Pass Rates

Behavior Analysis

We take pride in a long, consistent record of campus graduates exceeding the average BCBA® first-time pass rate. In 2021, graduates scored 15 points above the national average.

Nursing

100% NCLEX RN board pass rate (Direct Entry Students 2022) and 93% FNP board pass rate on National Board Certification Exam.

Nutrition

98.6% pass rate on the Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam.

Physical Therapy

88.2% first time pass rate on the PT exam (2021-2022), 100% ultimate pass rate.

Jobs After Graduation

Alumnae/i of our health science graduate programs go on to work in a variety of locations including:

• The Active Workplace

• Boston Children’s Hospital

• Concord OB/GYN Associates

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

• Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Boston Children’s Hospital

• Massachusetts General Hospital

• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

• Spaulding Rehabilitation

Student Resources and Organizations

Student Organizations

• Simmons University Physical Therapy Association (SUPTA): SUPTA is the student-led governing body of the Simmons University DPT program. This organization provides current and former Simmons DPT students with networking opportunities and information about events at Simmons as well as in the surrounding area.

• Student Nursing Association (SNA): The SNA is an on-campus, student run club for Simmons nursing students.

LibGuides

• Nursing: This guide is for Simmons nursing students who need to find scholarly and evidence-based materials. On each page of this guide you’ll find resources and tips on how to get the most out of them.

simmons.libguides.com/nursing

• Physical Therapy: This guide connects physical therapy students directly to a wide variety of physical therapy resources to support your clinical and research needs.

simmons.libguides.com/physicaltherapy

Student Support

• Accessibility Services

• Counseling Services

• Gym and Health Center

• Student Services One Stop

• Writing Center

Boston

Simmons is located right next door to the Longwood Medical Area, home to worldrenowned medical and academic institutions including the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and more. Many of Simmons’ clinical and research partnerships are possible because of our location, which provides opportunities to place students and graduates on the frontlines of healthcare.

Fenway Park

Shops at Landmark Center

Whole Foods

Museum of Fine Arts

Huntington Avenue

Boylston Street

The Fens

Longwood Medical Area

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Student Ambassadors

Student ambassadors are available to prospective students to showcase the Simmons experience. They can provide personal insights and answer questions about being a student, perspectives on campus life, academic opportunities and resources, and extracurricular activities, and much more.

General Application Requirements

Please be sure to reference the prerequisites specific to your program(s) of interest in addition to the following general application requirements.

• Complete application

• Personal statement

• Current résumé

• Three letters of recommendation

• Official college transcripts from all institutions attended, whether or not a degree was earned.

Tuition, Fees, and Scholarships

Graduate tuition is charged per credit. Each year the per-credit fee is reviewed and potentially adjusted. Each semester carries an additional student activity fee. DPT students also pay a laboratory fee for their first summer term course. All admitted students are reviewed for merit scholarships which can range from $10,000 to $50,000. Scholarships are decided upon at the same time as admission and are spread evenly across the time of study. Go to simmons.edu/graduate-financial-aid to learn more.

Apply Now

simmons.edu/graduate-apply

The program has a reputation for providing students with clinical rotations in Boston’s top hospitals—not all programs can offer an experience as rewarding as Simmons.”

DANTE DAVIS ‘24MSN/FNP