Best Undergraduate Majors for Future OBGYNs

<p>A career in obstetrics and gynecology centers around women's health. Obstetrics focuses specifically on childbirth and the care thereafter, while gynecology concentrates on women's overall reproductive health, including the diseases specific to women and girls. In this article, you will learn about how to become a doctor in obstetrics/gynecology, more commonly known as an ob/gyn physician. You will learn about the education requirements needed for this career as well as salary and career information. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree required before entering medical school</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Major in science, physics, chemistry, biology or any related field preferable; other courses include math and humanities or electives in microbiology, anatomy or physiology</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Training Required</b></td><td>One-year internship and four-year residency training</td></tr> <tr><td><b>License and/or Certification</b></td><td>Physician license and specialty certification required</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities</b></td><td>Deliver babies and provide care for both mother and newborn; offer general and preventative care for women and girls regarding women's health</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td>3%*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Mean Salary (2022)</b></td><td>$234,373 annually**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale.com</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatUndergraduateMajorDoINeedToComplete">What Undergraduate Major Do I Need to Complete?</h3> <p>A bachelor's degree is required before enrolling in medical school. A degree in a science such as biology, chemistry or physics is preferable for any medical career; however, other degrees are acceptable as long as you have gained enough scientific knowledge through elective courses. Microbiology, physiology and anatomy are beneficial elective courses for a career as an ob/gyn physician. </p> <h3 id="section---HowLongIsTheTraining">How Long Is the Training?</h3> <p>It will take another four years to study in medical school. The first two years involve mostly classroom and laboratory training whereas the last two years will be spent working in different facilities and rotating through various medical fields, such as family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry and ob/gyn. After graduating from medical school, you will then undergo a one-year internship and a four-year residency in the ob/gyn program. </p> <h3 id="section---HowDoIGetCertified">How Do I Get Certified?</h3> <p>After training, all physicians including ob/gyns are required to obtain a physician's license in the state where they practice. Ob/gyn physicians are also required to get certified by the American Board of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology (ABOG). To get certified, you must pass both the written qualifying exam and a certifying exam where you provide your own patients' cases for review. Aside from specialty certification, ABOG also offers different sub-specialty certifications and maintenance of certification. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheKeyResponsibilities">What Are the Key Responsibilities?</h3> <p>Ob/gyn physicians deliver babies and offer prenatal, natal and postpartum care of both the mother and the newborn. They examine the overall health of women and girls, specifically of the reproductive system, and diagnose any illnesses and provide treatment. They also provide information to women and girls regarding general care and preventative care for women. </p> <h3 id="section---WhereCanIWorkAndHowMuchIsTheSalary">Where Can I Work and How Much Is the Salary?</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) many physicians and surgeons work as solo practitioners and work in their own offices or clinics. Some also work together in hospitals, healthcare organizations or in group practices. According to Payscale.com, the mean salary for ob/gyns in 2022 was $234,373 per year.</p>