What do pediatricians major in college

Becoming a pediatrician is a long process that can take over a decade to complete. Unlike many other careers, there is a specific route that aspiring pediatricians need to follow in order to become licensed to work in their field. While there can be some variations, pediatricians have to go through each of these steps in order to get to their goal. To start, an aspiring pediatrician must obtain a four-year degree.

Typically, medical school prerequisites encompass studies in biology, organic chemistry, anatomy, and other subjects. After graduating, students will need to apply to medical school.

This graduate program usually takes four years to complete, starting with two years of classroom and laboratory studies and culminating in two years of clinical rotations. Upon completing their clinical rotations and graduating from medical school, new doctors who want to practice pediatric medicine will complete an internship and residency in this specialty at a teaching hospital or large clinic. The postgraduate training for pediatricians takes three years, but new doctors pursuing more specialized branches of medicine like pediatric emergency medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry and adolescent medicine will spend another two to four years completing a fellowship.

Like other types of physicians, pediatricians must attain a license to practice medicine, which requires passing an exam such as the U. The American Board of Pediatrics awards voluntary — but valuable — board certification in this specialty. Pediatricians need a minimum of two degrees, one at the undergraduate level and one at the doctoral level.

The doctoral degree must be granted by an accredited medical school and be considered a medical degree, as opposed to other health-related degrees that may be awarded by the institution. The MD and DO degrees are equally acceptable courses of career preparation for pediatricians, but they approach the practice of medicine from different perspectives and may encompass somewhat different coursework. More important than the precise major you choose is whether you take the courses needed to meet medical school prerequisites, as well as the strength of your overall combination of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism and experience working in or observing the health care field.

However, liberal arts-based BA programs of study can also prepare you for medical school, as long as you take enough science courses to meet the prerequisites.

What this means is open to interpretation. While some prospective pediatricians may focus mainly on majors that will allow them to meet medical school prerequisites without taking extra science courses, others may prefer programs that help them develop the soft skills needed to be a good doctor, including communication and interpersonal skills.

When students apply to medical school, they first need to take the MCAT Medical College Admissions Test first and send their scores and application to the school. A student generally takes the exam during his or her third year of undergraduate studies.

Medical school generally takes four years to complete. During this time, students are exposed to specialties such as internal medicine, family practice, cardiology, gynecology, psychiatry, and surgery. The first two years of medical school include anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, and medical ethics. Many high school and college students are eager to learn more about what is involved in becoming a pediatrician. Of all of the inquiries we get at YourPediatrician.

Below is an outline of educational requirements, our personal recommendations, and personal characteristics required to become a pediatrician. After high school, you need 4 years of undergraduate courses at a college or university which will get you a BS, BA, or other Bachelor's degree. After this, you are a "general" doctor. Most of the time, these new doctors go on to learn a specialty in medicine, such as pediatrics. This entails at least 3 more years of "Residency" training the first year of residency was formerly called an "Internship".

In the case of pediatrics, the training of residency is 3 years. After completing these 3 years, you are now a pediatrician and are "eligible" to become "certified" in pediatrics by passing a rigorous test that deals with medical conditions related to infants and children. This is the ultimate goal of a pediatrician's training. Return to Top High School - this is where it really begins. Classes: Basic Sciences biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, geometry, calculus if possible.

These programs typically combine a Bachelor of Science degree with an M. This type of program can decrease the time it takes to get an M. Penn State, for example, offers such a program. It lets students choose between either a 6-year program including summer courses and a 7-year program, both of which include four years of medical school.

For admission to one such program offered at Penn State, you must have strong high school academic scores and participate in a three-part interview process. Getting accepted into medical school typically isn't an easy task. It involves more than just having a degree, excellent grades and passing the MCAT. Medical schools also look for women who are well-rounded with a variety of interests. Volunteering is generally a big plus on your application.