School of Sciences and Health Professions
Fostering a love of science
Simmons has been preparing students for careers in science since 1902.
At the School of Sciences and Health Professions, you'll explore the natural and social worlds from various perspectives, integrating public health, mathematical, computational, health, and life sciences to identify and address complex issues. Our flexible programs offer ample opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including accelerated pathways that allow you to earn an advanced degree in less time.
Learn about accelerated graduate education at Simmons
Meet the Dean
“We are the only undergraduate institution in Boston that focuses exclusively on women and underrepresented racial and gender minorities studying STEM.” — Dr. Paul Geisler, Dean
Embrace Our Mission
We will empower you to navigate, innovate, advocate, and collaborate in the rapidly changing fields of science and the health professions.
Take the Next Step
Apply to Simmons and join students studying an array of academic disciplines. Our programs include Behavioral Analysis, Computer Science, Physical Therapy, Public Health, and Nutrition, among many others.
Tap into Your Potential
At Simmons, you can explore the natural and social worlds from various perspectives. Our programs integrate health, public health, mathematical, computational, and life sciences designed to help you identify and tackle complex issues.
Get Involved, Get Inspired
At the center of a comprehensive STEM education at Simmons, you'll find active engagement through innovative and inclusive teaching, real-world research experience, and professional development.
You will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty experts and put theory and curiosity into practice through on-site and off-site research opportunities.
Our health professions programs integrate academic excellence with rigorous practical and experiential preparation. Clinical and fieldwork-based education provide professional role modeling, direct observation, patient and client care, and competency development in various settings and contexts.
What Makes Us Different?
The School of Sciences and Health Professions holistically focuses on the interconnectedness of health, life, nature, and science, explores the natural and social worlds from various perspectives, and fosters a culture of social justice by encouraging students to address health disparities across local and global landscapes.
"Simmons professors are passionate about what they do and want more students to join their research.”
Jawaria Ali ’25
Chemistry
“The support I had from my professors and peers gave me the confidence I needed to consider a career in STEM seriously.”
Emma Harrison ’22
Biochemistry
“I do not think we would be doing what we are doing today if it had not been for the Behavior Analysis program at Simmons.”
Stephanie Keesey-Phelan '13MS, '20PhD
Behavior Analysis
Science Center
Students and faculty innovate together in this vibrant, collaborative space where they can access a comprehensive simulation center, and state-of-the-art equipment in updated and modern laboratories dedicated to the natural, mathematical, physiological and psychological sciences, and physical therapy practice.
Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Are you preparing for a career in healthcare? Interprofessional education (IPE) at Simmons can prepare you to work collaboratively with other related disciplines towards achieving common goals.
Spotlight on our Students and Alums
3+3 Exercise Science/PT Student Shares the Gift of Sports
In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Simmons Shark Lauren Stenmon ’28 ’30DPT shares how she balances the intense studies of her accelerated degree program with her athletics schedule.
Internship Inspires Alumnae/i Career in Healthcare
Dianna Shaw ’92, who majored in psychology and sociology at Simmons, was interviewed by The Bay Magazine about her over 30-year career assisting older adults.
Celebrating the 2024-25 Passionate Leaders Scholars
Six Simmons undergraduate scholars from different disciplines have been selected to join the 2024-2025 Passionate Leaders Project cohort.
Student in Health and Exercise Science and Physical Therapy Accelerated 3+3 Program Publishes Paper in Peer-Reviewed Journal
Amoli Vad ’28 has published her first paper in a peer-reviewed journal. We spoke with Vad about what inspired her research and why she chose the 3+3 accelerated program at Simmons.
Simmons Biochemistry Alum’s Nonprofit Celebrates 10-year Milestone
Oksana Hradyska ’12 recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of her successful non-profit, Sitters for Scholars. Hradyska founded the organization as a free babysitting service in 2014, in response to the lack of affordable and reliable childcare for parents attending college. The services were later expanded for low-income, single-parent families.
Simmons Alumna and Chief Justice Advances System Improvements in Child Welfare in Massachusetts and Nationally
The Honorable Amy L. Nechtem ’76 is the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Department, protecting the safety, health, and wellbeing of children residing in the state. Chief Justice Nechtem spoke with us about her her commitment to systems enhancement affecting vulnerable children and families, both influenced by the early impact of the Simmons sisterhood.
Exercise Science Student Interns at Boston Children's Hospital
Caroline Aspinwall ’24, majoring in Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology, shares details about her internship experience at Boston Children’s Hospital.
STEM Student Receives Research Scholarship from American Chemical Society
Biochemistry major and Literature and Writing minor Reagan Cleversey ’26 received the competitive James Flack Norris / Theodore William Richards Summer Research Scholarship from the American Chemical Society. She spoke with us about her passion for medicinal chemistry and the importance of mentorship.
SSHP Highlights
24%
Undergraduate Simmons Students Major in STEM
We excel in preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Annually, about a quarter of all undergraduate students at Simmons are majoring in one of our STEM fields
Proximity to Medical and Technology Hubs
Our campus is within walking distance of the Longwood Medical Area and a short ride to Cambridge’s Kendall Square, making it easy to complete internships and clinical rotations at hospitals, medical research facilities, and technology companies.
75+
Years of Physical Therapy Leadership
Simmons has been a respected leader in physical therapy education for over 75 years.
SSHP in the News
Simmons Awarded Grant Funding from Luce Foundation
Funding from the Henry Luce Foundation will support Simmons’ efforts to advance student success, retention, and confidence in STEM-related fields as well as a Clare Boothe Luce Professorship.
2024 Simmons Faculty Awards Celebrates Stellar Researchers and Educators
Simmons faculty from various disciplines received awards in undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, service, and a commitment to DEI at the 2024 Faculty Awards.
The Ongoing Battle for Transparency in Women’s Health
Professor and Director Val Leiter shares her recent research on the FDA’s role in marketing women’s health medical devices and her efforts to determine whether gender discrimination influences the oversight of medical devices for women.
Simmons University’s School of Sciences and Health Professions Welcomes Six New Faculty Members
The new faculty members have joined the Behavior Analysis, Biology, Physical Therapy, Psychology, and Public Health programs.
Simmons Welcomes Passionate Leaders Project Scholars for Spring 2024
The Passionate Leaders Project (PLP) supports Simmons undergraduates by enriching their academic and professional interests beyond the boundaries of a conventional classroom. Students may request up to $4,000 to support their research, internships, and creative endeavors. This semester’s cohort comprises student-scholars producing original research on healthcare for seniors, fashion sustainability, and the intersection of the arts, social justice, and gender-expansive agency.
Dr. Paul Geisler Named Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions
In January 2024, Dr. Paul Geisler, formerly Professor of Health Professions Education, Associate Dean of Health Sciences, and Interim Associate Dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, accepted a new position as Interim Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions. He will become the official Dean following the School’s formal renaming on July 1, 2024.
Simmons Creates Paths to Engineering
Simmons University is officially partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in the Engineering 3+2 program, in addition to Columbia University. As part of this program, students complete three years of course work at Simmons, followed by two additional years at a partner institution, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science from Simmons.
Eva Piernas' Journey from Simmons University to Infectious Disease Research ('23)
How Did Eva's Time at Simmons University Shape Her Path in Science? Eva Piernas, a recent 2023 alumni, reflected upon her journey at Simmons University, where she majored in Neuroscience on the neurobiology track and minored in Chemistry. As she...
Upcoming Events in the School of Sciences and Health Professions
Ifill Forum 2025 Panel Discussion: Women's Health is Public Health
- Mar 13, 2025
- 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
- C-520/C-521 and Virtual
Virtual Info Session: Online MS, Nutrition and Health Promotion
- Mar 17, 2025
- 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Virtual
Contact Us
School of Sciences and Health Professions
In the School of Sciences and Health Professions, you'll discover the intersection of health, life, nature, and science. We cultivate innovative practices and procedures to advance scientific knowledge, address complex problems, ask critical questions, reduce disparities, and improve individual and collective health.