Howard University

Campus, schools, and research

Howard's campus sits near the neighborhoods of Shaw and LeDroit Park and includes academic buildings, libraries and health facilities. The university encompasses multiple schools and colleges that award bachelor’s, master’s and professional degrees. Examples include:

• Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering
• Schools of Medicine, Law, Business, and Pharmacy
• Graduate programs and professional training linked to an on-campus hospital

Howard also houses major research collections and archives that focus on African American history and the African diaspora, most notably the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.

History and mission

The university was named for Oliver Otis Howard, a Union general and federal official who supported its founding. Its early mission emphasized educating freed people and preparing leaders for civic, religious and professional life. Over time Howard expanded into graduate education, doctoral research and a range of professional schools while remaining a central institution in Black intellectual and cultural life.

Role and notable aspects

Howard has played a visible role in civil rights, public service and the arts. Alumni have included prominent jurists, writers, scholars and public servants; the university's graduates and faculty have contributed to law, literature, education and government. Howard's athletic teams, known as the Bison, compete at the intercollegiate level and the campus maintains active community engagement programs in the nation's capital.

For visitors and researchers, Washington, D.C. offers context and resources surrounding the university's work; local information is available through civic and cultural portals: Washington, D.C. resources.

Notable facts: Howard remains one of the most influential historically Black institutions in the United States, balancing undergraduate education with advanced research and professional training.