Anatomy (Ph.D.)

Anatomy (Ph.D.) | Graduate

The healthcare field is expected to grow 16 percent between 2020 and 2030, much faster than other industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Trained in the latest anatomical technologies, our Anatomy Ph.D. graduates are well-positioned to contribute to advancements in healthcare and biomedical sciences.

Graduates with a Ph.D. in Anatomy are well positioned to contribute to advancements in the health sciences field, pursuing faculty positions at research universities and careers in industry or across a wide range of medical and allied health fields, from physical therapy and nursing to neurophysiology. The Ph.D. in Anatomy at Howard's Graduate School is designed for students interested in gaining advanced training in anatomical and biomedical sciences, including examinations of cell biology, medical human gross anatomy, systematics, bioinformatics, histology (study of tissues), and neuroanatomy. You will gain practical training in the latest anatomical technologies including in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, pharmacological animal models, and cadaver observation. You may choose from six distinct fields of specialization: Molecular, cellular and developmental biology, neuroscience, evolutionary and organismal biology, epigenetics and aging, evolutionary developmental biology, and paleobiology.  As a student in the Anatomy graduate program, you will enjoy a highly collegial atmosphere and numerous opportunities to collaborate with faculty on grant-funded lab research. Our graduate seminar series also provides exposure to the latest research in the field and offers a venue for you to present your early-stage research. As a student in Washington, D.C., you will have access to a wide network of research-active agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Students may pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Program Snapshot

      ❱  72 credit hours 

      ❱  Full-time

      ❱  On-campus format

      ❱  Degree: Ph.D.

      ❱  Dual degree: M.D./Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024 entry: 

      ❱  No spring entry 

Fall 2024 entry: 

      ❱  Dec. 1, 2023 (early deadline)

      ❱  Feb. 15, 2024 (priority deadline)

      ❱  Apr. 15, 2024 (final deadline)

Applicants should submit their applications as early as possible for earlier consideration of departmental funding opportunities. Applicants have until the final deadline to apply. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. 

Transfer credits accepted (reviewed by committee)

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: M.D. / Ph.D., Ph.D.

Application for Admission

• Online GradCAS application
• Statement of purpose/ Statement of academic interest (500-1,000 words)
• GRE scores not required
• Official transcripts sent to GradCAS
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent 
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

GRE Required?

• No

GRE Preferred Minimums

• GRE Verbal Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Quantitative Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Analytical Writing: N/A

GPA Required Minimums

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.0

Prerequisite Courses (Recommended)

The following course prerequisites are recommended, not required. No expiration date for recommended prerequisites.

• Biology (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• General Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Organic Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Physics (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Other recommended college-level courses include Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Humanities, Behavioral Sciences, Anatomy, and Math/Statistics courses. 

Reference Requirements

Evaluator type accepted:

• Professor (Required)
• Supervisor/Manager
• Coworker
• Clergy

Evaluator type not accepted:

• Friend
• Family Member