Microbiology (Ph.D.)

Tuition costs 37,334 USD per year; the program admits students on a rolling basis.

This doctoral program focuses on researching the root causes of diseases, mechanisms of microbial and parasitic pathogenicity, immunological phenomena associated with infection, and developing new therapies. Students engage in grant-funded research in facilities like Howard University’s Cancer Center, collaborating with faculty.

Focus areas include cellular and molecular biology, immunology, pathogenic microbiology, virology.

The program requires 72 credit hours.

Graduates pursue postdoctoral fellowships, faculty positions at research institutions and universities, and senior-level research roles in industry and government.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, a statement of purpose (500-1,000 words), an autobiographical statement (500-750 words), three letters of recommendation, and a resume or CV; GRE scores are not required. Prerequisite courses include General Biology (6 credits), General Chemistry (8 credits), Organic Chemistry (8 credits), General Physics (8 credits), College Algebra/Mathematics (6 credits), and English (6 credits).

The programme totals about 72 credit hours. Full-time, on-campus format. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 35% of applicants.

Howard University’s legacy is shaped by academic study, research, and service. Its community includes scholars, student researchers, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs. The university carries the identity of an HBCU while preparing students for study and careers across a broad range of disciplines. Alumni stories include physicians, astrophysicists, educators, lawyers, public officials, and advocates whose work has reached beyond the campus.

Students can apply to more than 130 areas of study across 14 schools and colleges. Howard offers undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral programs, with fields ranging from the humanities to scientific disciplines. Research and centers address health and medical issues, economic disparities, cybersecurity, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, drug abuse, energy systems, accounting and finance, women’s leadership, and journalism and democracy. The university has also launched an AI certificate program for undergraduate students.

Located in Washington, DC, Howard connects academic life with a city central to American government, public service, journalism, and cultural life. International students should review the university’s range of schools and degree levels carefully, since programs differ across undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral study. Howard’s guiding phrase, “Excellence in Truth and Service,” reflects the university’s emphasis on student success and service to local and global communities.