How to Apply

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WHO WE LOOK FOR....... Students Locally and Globally

To be eligible for admission consideration into the Ph. D. program, an applicant must have:

  • Graduated from a regionally accredited institution or any international student with equivalent qualifications with at least a 3.0 cumulative average on a 4-point scale in a baccalaureate or prior undergraduate/professional training with either:
    • a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy OR
    • a Doctor of Pharmacy degree OR
    • a Bachelor’s degree in the biomedical sciences/biological sciences/chemistry/ chemical or biochemical engineering
  • Taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • Applicants are expected to have received some foundational training in the fields in which graduate work is planned.

Admission Requirements

The application for the Graduate School at Howard University requires the following documents:

  • Statement of Academic Interest & Professional Goals
  • Autobiographical Sketch
  • Resume
  • Three letters of recommendation (minimum)         
  • Official transcripts from each university or college attended
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing scores reported to Howard University School Code (5297)
  • World Education Services, Inc. (WES) transcript evaluation (international applicants)
  • TOEFL or IELTS score report (international applicants)
  • Financial Guarantee (if admitted) (international applicants)

Transcripts:

  • Send Official Transcripts if you have attended a University in the U.S. All International transcripts must be evaluated by WES
    • Applicants must report all institutions attended and send all official transcripts to GradCAS. If you do not list or send official transcripts for all institutions attended, processing of your application will be delayed.
    • Sending Transcripts Electronically (Click here for additional information)
    • Sending Transcripts by Mail
      • Provide the registrar with the following items:
      • GradCAS Transcript Request Form. Ask the registrar to attach it to your official transcripts. This form is not required but strongly recommended as it helps ensure your official transcripts are properly matched to your application.
      • If you cannot use this form, make sure the registrar prints "GradCAS" and your full GradCAS ID# on the transcript before mailing it.
      • Any school-specific forms required by the registrar.
      • Any transcript fees required by the registrar.
      • All information needed by the registrar to properly identify you in the school's database (including any name changes). 
      • Your GradCAS ID#.
      • Institutions must send transcripts directly to GradCAS to the following address:
        GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
        PO Box 9217
        Watertown, MA 02471

Note:

Pre-screening Documents for International Applicants:

While waiting on the official documents to GradCAS you may upload:

Unofficial GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS Test Score Report for pre-screening

Unofficial transcripts or WES evaluation for pre-screening (Upload your unofficial transcript for pre-screening.)

- Your official admission will depend upon the receipt and verification of your official transcript (s). 

Additional information for International Students:

  • Foreign Transcripts
    • Request a course by course evaluation of all foreign transcripts showing GPA calculation on a 4 point scale.
    • Foreign Transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES)
    • GradCAS will ONLY accept the evaluation report from the credentialing agency. Do not send your foreign transcript to GradCAS.
    • Request  the electronic WES evaluation directly through the application. Click Order WES Evaluation after listing your foreign school in the Colleges Attended section. Once WES completes your evaluation, they will send it to GradCAS electronically. GradCAS also accepts paper WES evaluations sent via mail.
    • WES evaluations can be mailed directly to GradCAS to the following address:
      • GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
      • PO Box 9217
      • Watertown, MA 02471
  • TOEFL Requirements
    • The applicant must meet the following minimum TOEFL score requirement
      • Internet-based test (preferred): 90
      • Computer-based test: 213
      • Paper-based test: 550
    • TOEFL Score Report
      • Use TOEFL Code 5297 to have official TOEFL scores sent to GradCAS
    • The TOEFL test is only waived if the applicant has received a degree in the U.S. In lieu of the TOEFL (if not offered in your country), applicants may submit results from IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with an overall score of a 6.5.

 

We hope that this information is helpful, and we look forward to processing your admissions file!

 

GRADUATE PROGRAM GOVERNANCE

Application Requirements

The general requirement for admission to the graduate program is a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree or a Bachelor’s degree in the biomedical sciences/biological sciences/chemistry/ chemical or biochemical engineering (or its qualifying equivalent for international institutions) from an accredited institution. A Bachelor or professional Doctorate degree in pharmacy is preferred.

Research experience in undergraduate level work and/or graduate level work as evidenced by program abstracts, poster/paper publications, podium presentations will be favorably viewed. Adequacy in communication skills will be evaluated from TOEFL, GRE scores, written statements made by the candidate, and face-to-face interviews when possible.

Degree Requirements (How to Complete the Program)

 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.00 for graduate (Consult graduate department for exception to this requirement)

Minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree

At least four semesters of residence and full-time study (9 credit hours per semesters) in the Graduate School

Passage of a comprehensive examination (not applicable to all departments)

Submission of a dissertation in partial fulfilment of requirement for the degree

Passage of the final oral examination   

 

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree require a minimum total of 72 graduate credit hours of which 18 credit hours must be in the specialty area and 6 credit hours in research. In addition, the student must demonstrate proficiency in expository writing, and preliminary written and oral examinations. The Ph.D. degree candidate must pass a qualifying examination and complete and defend a dissertation. The dissertation must advance knowledge in its research area and must be of publishable quality.

 

Residence Requirements

Students in the Ph.D. program are required to spend at least three semesters in full-time residence, two of which must be consecutive.

 

Diversity and Inclusion

 

Howard University strives to be a diverse community of people, and has the core value that a diversity of views, genders, races, ethnic backgrounds, and experiences of its faculty, staff and students is vital to allow the institution to execute its mission of developing leaders who have a positive impact on human health worldwide.

 

Howard University Graduate School

The Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions

2400 Sixth Street NW

Washington, DC 20059