Howard University Top Questions

Guess we will find out in the Fall

I am in the School of Communications at Howard University. The classes are not too big and not too small, therefore, I am given an equal amount of time and attention with my professors. Howard as a whole is a very competitive school, with many of its students being at the top of their classes in high school. Howard also incorporates a lot of African/African-American studies in their curriculum, being a Historically Black University. I feel that I not only learn about my field of interest, but also my history and ancestors too. There are many teachers who take pride in what they do, which also makes me want to learn. I feel that while my classes may not always be easy, they are definitely interesting and worth taking.

Academics at Howard have bred a confidence in me that I would never have had without it. The teachers are caring, they know my name, they are interested in meeting with the students all the time, they're so accessible. The education at Howard is definitely geared towards getting a good job. I have learned so many skills that I would be otherwise ignorant to because of my university. I am receiving a one of a kind education that is not only preparing me for success in the classroom, but there real world, too.

Professors know your name for the most part, not so much in large lecture classes Favorite class, Anatomy. least favorite Organic Chemistry 1 studying depends on how many days you want to party, some people start on thursday students constantly have intellectual conversation, we are very opinionated students hustle for everything, we always compete My major is sports Medicine and I love it

Howard University has a lot of great professors. I've only had one bad professor in my two years at the school, but I got an A in the class (Political Science). A lot of my professors encourage class participation by starting excellent debates and discussions. Sometimes we wouldn't even have a lecture because the discussion got so good. I'm studying film production and so far all of my professors in the Communications department have been great. They're all very knowledgeable and passionate about the art. They are also very accessible.

No matter the class or subject, black history will some way be incorporated. The classes are usually 20-35 students and the professors know your name. Talk with other students and use online review websites to help you choose classes and professors. Try to stay away from TBA professors. All of my professors in the past have been accessible through e-mail or during their office hours for extra help in the class. Some professors really try to structure the class for "learning for its own sake" but many students make it about receiving the A.

The quality of academics depends on the department, but the requirements are usually manageable. In my major, Psychology, the classes are intensive (but not as bad as Biology or Chemistry or Business) and professors are usually willing to get to know you. Students here are very competitive - for grades, research experiences, internships, and scholarships. Everyone wants to make a name for themselves. There is no room for slackers here. The education here is geared to prepare you for life after graduation (either a job or graduate school). Most classes are lecture-based and class participation is low. Few classes are interactive and/or discussion based, but students usually appreciate those classes the most.

I feel like the quality of academics at Howard depends on your department. My departments, the School of Communications and the English department are wonderful, and provide the students with more than just classroom success, but also real life professional experience. General education requirements are probably the same as any other college or university, very crowded and broad, but once you get into your specific major, and minor, the classes become smaller, and very intimate. Classes within your major and minor at Howard are very hands on, the teachers get the students involved, and furthering outside knowledge is vital to succeeding in class. Just like any other school, the amount of studying and intellectual conversation that takes place depends on the students themselves. Most students at Howard are very intelligent, and are not afraid to show it, but there are students that a simply there to just get a piece of paper and move on. The students that do care about their education are very competitive, and pride themselves on being the best students and most qualified professionals they can be. Once you get to your major and minor, you will get to know your professors very well, and have them various times before you graduate, it is vital to form a positive relationship with you professors, because at Howard the professors will only respect you if you respect them and show them you are worth their time. If you form a good bond with your professors they will be more than happy to help you inside and outside of the classroom including, recommendations, and extra help. Overall I feel the education at Howard is what you make it. If you are open and willing to learn and expand your mind intellectually, then you will find the education at Howard to be very substantial.

Professors know your name and are involved in making you a better student and person. Class participation depends on how the professor engages students. Students do have intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are very competitive with grades and internship opportunities. I'm a marketing major and dance minor and it has been very interesting. Education is geared to success, in whatever endeavor one chooses.

Academics are pretty standard I would say compared to other universities. So far I haven't received any unique training in classes but the experience you have really depends on the professors you take. Please use ratemyprofessor.com. It will save you the trouble of having to drop a class midway through the semester. The best classes I've taken since Ive been here are Black Thought in the Diaspora with Dr. Gregory Carr, Priniciples of Speech with Professor Christopher Jackson, and Accounting Principles I with Professor Lesia Quamina (Accounting is my major). Don't leave Howard University without taking a class by Dr. Carr, it will change your life. Take the time to develop a relationship with your professors, it will make a difference.

The college of Engineering in particular has a very rigorous curriculum. Most Engineering students hardly find time to do anything besides school work.

Do not let any of the rumors fool you about Howard being a party school. The same people you see in the club are the same people in the library and by the end of the year are walking out with a 4.0 GPA. We WORK hard for our grades and the professors rarely cut us any slack. Majority of these professors have their Ph.D and they treat us like we are getting ours. Be prepared!

There are 7,000 undergraduate students. Most classes are relatively small. The 15:1 student teacher ratio is very accurate. Your professors will know you by name & not your student number. Although every professor teaches differently, you can expect open dialogue in a lot of your classes. I took an Education in Black America class taught by Dr. Carr (probs one of the best professors on campus). We spent every class going over the works of WEB DuBois, Booker T. Washington and the founders of HBCUs. John Legend even provided a guest lecture.

There are 7,000 undergraduate students. Most classes are relatively small. The 15:1 student teacher ratio is very accurate. Your professors will know you by name & not your student number. Although every professor teaches differently, you can expect open dialogue in a lot of your classes. I took an Education in Black America class taught by Dr. Carr (probs one of the best professors on campus). We spent every class going over the works of WEB DuBois, Booker T. Washington and the founders of HBCUs. John Legend even provided a guest lecture.

It all depends on what your major is and what particular school you are in. From what I gather, School of Communications and School of Business Advisors are a little more hands on than some of the College of Arts and Sciences advisors. The classes themselves are, once again, touch and go. Some are more challenging than others. There are some excellent teachers here at Howard across the board, and some mediocre teachers. The education you get is wholistic. You get exposed to things that simply spark your interest, as well as to necessary skill sets for your chosen career paths. I would suggest that everyone take a class with Dr. Gregory Carr, and Professor Tony Medina if they have the chance. Both of these men have left lasting impressions on me academically, and are generally percieved to be amongst the most popular classes to take at HU.

One thing that I appreciate about Howard is their emphasis on understanding where you come from and African-American history. Some of the best classes that you take may not even be in your major, and I would encourage you to explore as many as you can. As with any school you get teachers who really care about your education and you as a student. These are the teachers that make a big deal about you coming to class on time, turning in your homework, offer extra sessions for you to understand the subject, etc. You also get those who appear not to be concerned about the value of your education. It's not unique to Howard. You will find that at any school.

Academics at Howard really depend on the major. Some are more intensive and personal due to small amounts of students, such as Art, while others are more like a traditional large university due to high numbers of students, like Political Science. Overall, professors are very helpful and willing to meet with students during office hours to help them succeed and give advice. My favorite class has been digital photography, because I was able to express myself through photos and learn about digital cameras in depth and programs such as Photoshop. The African-American course requirement broadens many students' view on the world and causes for intense debates inside and outside of the classroom. It is an academic environment for challenging beliefs and expressing one's opinions in a mature, healthy setting. Through Howard's different programs, such as the CEDAR center, students can get help in securing jobs and internships. This school prepares students for so much when it comes to the real world, and Howard students have a distinct aura about them that only this school can provide.

Howard is a good size school where you have a range from your standard lecture classes to your smaller concentrated classes. Howard is big on the fundamental skills of education; even though we may wish we had smartboards in all of our classes and the latest technology, you are at least given the basic skills that allow you to gain your competitive edge in society. As in life, you take from a class what you put in; some people may see classes as boring because a lot of them are text book oriented, however, if you are the type of student that is willing to speak up and start class discussion the world is yours. We have amazing professors who show that they love us and its a family at the end of the day. When it comes to the literal education, it truly depends on the individual to take away what they want from the experience.

For its size, I think Howard, does a good job of keeping its class sizes fairly low. My largest class was Spanish, which had maybe 40 people in it, while my smallest class had 5. I never had problems getting one on one attention from professors when I needed it. My anthropology professors were passionate and knowledgeable and knew all the majors by name. Intellectual discourse among students is common in and outside of the classrooms.

One thing that a professor always tells me is, "Howard offers a great education if you pick the right department." Two of the better departments are English and Classics. The English department regularly sends graduates to top law schools i.e, Yale and Georgetown, while the Classics department produced Howard's last Rhodes Scholar. From my experience, my professors have emailed me to ask why I've missed class and ask me to come to office hours to talk about anything from how I'm adjusting to Howard to the finer points of the Iliad. The math department gets a pretty bad rep because of its many foreign teachers. Howard has a lot of preprofessional majors such as actuarial science, communications, and sports medicine. The preprofessionalism spills over to the mindset of the students. You will find classmates asking "What can you do with your degree?" rather than "What are you reading?