Endocrinology Schools and Degrees
Endocrinology is a field that focuses on the hormone-producing glands of the human body. Learn about training requirements, how to pick a school that will fit your needs and what you'll be able to do with your degree.
What You Need to Know
Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in treating hormone-producing glands such as the pancreas, thyroid, reproductive glands and gonads. They frequently treat patients with diabetes, hypoglycemia and other endocrine imbalances. This field is typically pursued by aspiring physicians, though some academic degree programs in endocrinology are also available.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Schools</b></td><td>Consider schools with access to a major hospital or diverse population, depending on your career goals</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Training</b></td><td>M.D. degree, residency program, fellowship; master's and doctoral programs for those not pursuing careers as physicians</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2021)*</b></td><td>$95,310 (for medical scientists)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---HowWillITrainToBecomeAnEndocrinologist">How Will I Train to Become an Endocrinologist?</h3><p>To become an endocrinologist, you must complete eight years of college and medical school followed by a specialized residency from two to six years. You may focus on internal medicine or pediatrics during your residency.
</p><p>As an undergraduate, you can major in pre-med or another field, as long as you fulfill the pre-med course requirements before applying to medical school. You may have courses in the following areas:
</p><ul><li>Organic chemistry
</li><li>Biology
</li><li>Calculus
</li><li>Physics
</li><li>Quantitative analysis
</li><li>Organismal physiology
</li><li>Molecular endocrinology
</li><li>Cellular biology
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatResidenciesAndFellowshipsAreAvailable">What Residencies and Fellowships are Available?</h3><p>Medical school entrance is extremely competitive, and you will need a high score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in addition to showing excellent academic aptitude as an undergraduate and then again in medical school.
</p><p>After finishing medical school and becoming a medical doctor (M.D.), you'll enter a residency program to gain hands-on experience with patients while under the supervision of physicians. Endocrinology can fall under the umbrella of internal medicine, but reproductive endocrinology or pediatric endocrinology are two other possible sub-specialties. Residencies and fellowships will vary depending on your specific goal. If you want to become a pediatric endocrinologist, for example, you'll complete medical school, a three-year pediatric residency and a three-year pediatric endocrinologist fellowship. To become board certified, you must finish your residency and then pass the American Board of Internal Medicine exam.
</p><h3 id="section---CanIStudyEndocrinologyWithoutBecomingADoctor">Can I Study Endocrinology without Becoming a Doctor?</h3><p>In addition to medical school training, graduate degree programs in endocrinology are also available. Program options include a Master of Arts or a Doctor of Philosophy in Endocrinology. These programs are intended for students who plan to pursue careers in research, teaching, consulting or even a related business rather than in practicing medicine. These programs can be found at traditional 4-year universities, not necessarily within a medical school.
</p><h3 id="section---HowShouldISelectASchool">How Should I Select a School?</h3><p>Medicine is an academically rigorous field, and in choosing both a pre-med program and a medical school, you will want to make sure the school you choose is a place where you feel comfortable and free to excel. Consider class size, laboratory facilities and internship options. If possible, visit the school and assess the atmosphere among students. In order to do your best in challenging courses, you need your environment to work for you.
</p><p>You may want to select a medical school in an area with access to a major hospital or a large metropolitan population so that you can experience diverse medical situations during your training years. This depends somewhat on your ultimate career goals, however; if you plan to work in a rural setting, you may prefer to train in one. Speak to practitioners working in the area where you would like to live and ask what kind of training environment they feel would be most beneficial for someone hoping to end up with a similar job.
</p><p>Residencies are matched with medical school graduates following the application and interview process that takes place in the fourth year of medical school. Once you are in a residency, the paths and options for fellowships geared toward endocrinology will unfold.
</p><p>The following are a few schools with options for studying endocrinology:
</p><ul><li>The University of Chicago (IL): medical school
</li><li>Northwestern University (Chicago, IL): medical school
</li><li>University of Maryland (Baltimore): medical school
</li><li>University of California, Berkeley: master's and Ph.D. programs
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatAreMyCareerProspects">What Are My Career Prospects?</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all health-related industries are expected to grow 13% in the 2021-2031 decade. Medical scientists, including endocrinologists, were expected to have a 17% job growth rate during that same ten-year period.</p>