What Majors Can Prepare Me to Become a Pediatrician?

<h3 id="section---WhatToMajorInToBecomeAPediatrician">What to Major in to Become a Pediatrician</h3> <p>There is no pediatrician college major at the undergraduate level. To <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Pediatric_Medicine_Become_a_Pediatrician_in_5_Steps.html">become a pediatrician</a> you must first complete a bachelor's degree, then attend <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Are_the_Best_Medical_Schools_for_Pediatrics.html">medical school</a>. Various undergraduate majors can help you prepare for medical school and for a future as a pediatrician. A common way to choose an undergraduate major is by considering the admission requirements of your chosen medical school. </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalSchoolAdmission">Medical School Admission</h3> <p>Your undergraduate education helps to prepare you for entry into medical school and is one factor used to decide if you'll be granted admission or not. Medical schools are known for being highly selective in the students they admit. Most schools have lengthy admission requirements with extensive prerequisites. </p> <p>Each school will have different admission requirements, but you can be sure that most schools will have a list of science prerequisites. You'll likely be required to have completed college-level courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. Within those courses, you may be expected to have studied genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, homeostasis, organic chemistry, biochemistry, kinetics, thermodynamics, and quantum theory. </p> <p>Some schools may also require laboratory experience in which you have completed experiments and practiced problem solving. Mathematics is another common requirement with courses in calculus, algebra, and trigonometry. Another subject that is typically part of medical school prerequisites is communications with work in analytical writing. Schools may also want or recommend that you have completed courses in a foreign language, the arts, social sciences, and humanities. </p> <h3 id="section---PossibleMajors">Possible Majors</h3> <p>Some schools do provide majors specifically in pre-medicine, but such majors aren't common. You may also find some medical schools that offer a combined undergraduate and pre-med program. In most cases, though, you'll have to choose your own undergraduate major. Medical schools often recommend choosing a major that interests you, but also one that will help you to satisfy prerequisite requirements. With that in mind, many students choose to major in biology or another science. Some schools design biology programs to fit the needs of pre-med students. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutPediatricians">Important Facts About Pediatricians</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Education_Is_Required_to_Be_a_Pediatrician.html">Required Education</a> </td><td> Four years at an accredited medical school plus three years in a pediatric residency program.</td></tr> <tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Patience, empathy, sympathy, intelligence and a strong work ethic</td></tr> <tr><td> Professional Certification </td><td> Must pass the official board certification administered by the American Board of Pediatrics; recertification through completion of the boards must occur every seven years</td></tr> <tr><td> Median Salary (2018) </td><td> $170,560 (<i>for all general pediatricians</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 15% (<i>for all general pediatricians</i>)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i></p>