What do pediatricians major in

But first, you might find it helpful to learn more about what these providers do on a daily basis. According to the pediatrician definition offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP , these physicians address the mental, physical, and social health of children from birth through adolescence. In addition to providing guidance related to healthy growth and development, pediatricians also diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses. 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.

The last two years are spent learning how to care for patients in a hospital or clinic , under the supervision of experienced physicians. 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. To show that you're passionate about working with children, you might volunteer at a children's hospital or a children's home.

Working in the medical field in some manner will also increase your chances of acceptance. In addition to medical school, you will also need to complete a residency and obtain the appropriate licenses and certificates to become a pediatrician. With features published by media such as Business Week and Fox News, Stephanie Dube Dwilson is an accomplished writer with a law degree and a master's in science and technology journalism. She has written for law firms, public relations and marketing agencies, science and technology websites, and business magazines.

Empathy and compassion are particularly important traits for pediatricians, who need to reassure both anxious children, some of whom may be too young to communicate their concerns, and parents who may be equally anxious. Less science-focused than social sciences are the humanities and the liberal arts.

However, these broader areas of study that emphasize the development of skills in thinking, learning and communication also tend to give students plenty of electives that they can use to follow a pre-medical track. In a liberal arts major, the focus is less on memorizing facts and more on learning how to think critically, express ideas and take in new information.

Another option that is starting to become more popular is to pick a degree in a field that makes the student immediately employable in the healthcare industry. For example, you might choose to major in medical administration, nursing or health sciences more generally.

Majoring in health administration will likely mean taking classes in diseases of the human body, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, healthcare delivery systems, epidemiology and health services research, health policy and medical law and ethics. All of these courses can be valuable for future pediatricians.

Other coursework in this major includes business studies and specialized classes pertaining to administration in the healthcare field, such as strategic health planning, healthcare financial management and medical group practice management. A Bachelor of Nursing Science BSN degree program encompasses coursework in anatomy and physiology, human biology, professional nursing and healthcare, health concepts across the lifespan and science and technology in nursing practice.

Nurses gain real-world work experience through clinical practicum courses. General degree programs in the health sciences combine studies in basic science like biology, chemistry and anatomy and physiology with coursework in medical terminology, developmental and abnormal psychology and applied statistics for health sciences. Elective coursework within the major can help students tailor their undergraduate studies toward areas like health services management, biomedical research, public health and global health.

Although these are the most popular majors for getting into medical school, the second-largest group of matriculated medical school students is the one that encompasses all other majors. If you choose not to major in one of these common medical school majors — such as biomedical engineering, for example — you will still be in good company. AD Degreequery.

Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.