The Graduate Program in Anatomy prepares students for careers in research and teaching in the anatomical and life sciences, with emphasis on an integrative understanding of biological systems at levels ranging from the molecular to the organismal. The goal is to generate anatomists who will be competitive in the academic, industrial, and/or government job markets of the coming decades.

Located in the Department of Anatomy in the College of Medicine, the Graduate Program offers training leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. A combined M.D./Ph.D.program also is available; applicants to this program must be admitted to both the College of Medicine and the Graduate Program in Anatomy.

Among the program's principal foci are:

  • Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary & Organismal Biology

In keeping with the diverse nature of current approaches included within the realm of Anatomy, the Graduate Program of Anatomy transcends traditional departmental boundaries. Students in the program complete a series of core Anatomy courses and other requirements, and pursue research in the laboratory of one of the department's Graduate Faculty members. In addition, opportunities are available for collaboration with scientists in other departments at Howard University and at other universities in the local area as well as with scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Naval Medical Center, the Smithsonian Institution, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The philosophy of the Graduate Program in Anatomy is to provide students with ample opportunities: to explore a broad range of topics within anatomy; to develop creative and critical thinking skills; to acquire technical expertise in the latest anatomical technologies; and to learn to become articulate communicators. Students have the flexibility to design programs that address individual strengths and weaknesses as they take advantage of these opportunities. They participate in teaching, in graduate seminars, and in the departmental colloquium series.

Financial aid, in the form of graduate traineeships and fellowships, is available for many of our students.

The Graduate Program in Anatomy is part of the Howard University Graduate School 's rich tradition of academic excellence and its current master's and Ph.D. program offerings in more than 30 disciplines and approximately 100 specializations. Washington, DC, one of the world's most powerful and dynamic cities, provides an added dimension to graduate education at Howard University.