Biology Graduate Feed

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At the graduate level, the department offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree. This is a research-oriented degree. The department offers students a wide variety of research opportunities with concentrations in two areas: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

• Related Degrees: M.D. / Ph.D., Ph.D.
• Program Type: Major
• Program Frequency: Full-Time
• Format: In Person

Applications to the Department of Biology will be evaluated by the Admissions Subcommittee of the Graduate Studies Commitee (the Departmental committee with oversight of the graduate programs). Applicants should apply for admission to the Graduate Program in Biology through application to the Graduate School at Howard University. Students are expected to have an undergraduate background in the biological sciences or a related field. Training appropriate for admission to the Graduate Program is a minimum of two years of college level biology, including a course in genetics; two years of chemistry, including Organic Chemistry; one year of mathematics, through precalculus; and one year of physics. Students deemed qualified but not having appropriate training may be admitted provisionally. A GPA of 2.8 or higher is required for admission. Applicants with GPAs between 2.8 to 3.0 may be admitted provisionally. Weaknesses or deficiencies, identified through testing during the first semester in residence, may be remedied through appropriate course work planned in consultation with a temporary adviser and the Graduate Studies Committee. Also note that admissions to the Ph.D. program requires the student have an identified research mentor within the Department of Biology who is willing to support the applicant and allow the applicant to join their laboratory to conduct their thesis research. The performance of each student will be evaluated annually. 
 

Decisions on applications will be based on the following considerations: 

1. The applicant's official transcripts.

2. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from members of the academic community familiar with the applicant's academic performance. 

3. Review of the following documents submitted with the application: current CV/Resume, a brief personal statement and an application essay.(The personal statement can include
an applicant’s academic journey and interest in science. The application essay should include comments on the applicant’s current and potential future research interests. The application essay should also identify the potential research advisor(s) the applicant desires to work with. The personal statement and essay should each not exceed 3 pages).

4. Availability of graduate positions and support in the department. 

5. Admission to the Ph.D. Program requires prior agreement of a Graduate Faculty member to act as the student’s advisor in the Department. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to contact directly those faculty members with whom they are interested in working. Contact information and research interests of the Graduate Faculty are available at the departmental website

Admission and residency in the graduate program in Biology are guided by the General Admission Requirement and Rules and Regulations for the Pursuit of Academic Degrees in the Graduate School. Students are strongly encouraged to consult and familiarize themselves with these rules and regulations.

To apply, click HERE for information on procedures and forms

Degree Requirements

The Department of Biology offers a Ph.D. in Biology with concentrations in Cellular and Molecular Biology or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The degree program is offered as full-time, in-person graduate programs at our Washington, D.C. campus. To learn more about graduate program admission requirements and courses of study, please visit the page for the program that interests you:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biology

The Ph.D. degree requires 72 total credit hours consisting of 40-46 credits of coursework, a 2-credit Graduate Seminar, 15 research credits, and 12 thesis credits.

All graduate-level courses (400-level and above) in the Department may be used to satisfy degree requirements. Doctoral candidates are required to take courses as follows:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.): Total credit hours required  = 72

Divided as follows:

• Coursework: 33 hours
  • Core Courses: 11 - 12 hours
  • Elective Courses: 18 - 19 hours
    • Writing Course (BIOG200): 1 hour
  • Graduate Seminar Courses: 2 hours
• Research: 27 hours
• Dissertation12 hours

Credit will not be given for more than the required twelve hours of Dissertation. Students should not enroll in Dissertation until they have been admitted to candidacy. Letter grades will not be given for more than twelve hours of research. The electives may include additional research credits for which letter grades will not be given.  Students in the Ph.D. program should not expect Departmental support in the form of a graduate assistantship beyond five years.

Required courses:

One (1) course from one of the following two groups of courses and two (2) from the other:

1. Cellular and Molecular Biology

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology of the Cell

2. Ecology, Environmental and Systematic Biology

• Ecological and Environmental Biology
• Evolutionary and Systematic Biology

One semester of Biological Writing for Graduate Students (BIOG200)

Two (2) semesters of Graduate Seminar

Caution to Prospective Students

The Board of Trustees of Howard University on September 24, 1983, adopted the following policy statement regarding applications for admission: "Applicants seeking admission to Howard University are required to submit accurate and complete credentials and accurate and complete information requested by the University. Applicants who fail to do so shall be denied admission. Enrolled students who as applicants failed to submit accurate and complete credentials or accurate and complete information on their application for admission shall be subject to dismissal when the same is made known, regardless of classification."

All credentials must be sent to:

Howard University Graduate School
Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
2400 Sixth Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20059