Cardiology Majors

Cardiology is typically learned through a residency program after completing medical school, not in an undergraduate degree program. Read on to learn what applicable degree programs are available, online options, and the required further education to become a cardiologist.

<h3 id="section---CanIMajorInCardiology">Can I Major in Cardiology?</h3> <p>Cardiology is not a major that you would study at the bachelor's degree level. When considering a job as a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Cardiology_Become_a_Cardiologist_in_5_Steps.html">cardiologist</a>, you'll need to spend your undergraduate years preparing for medical school. Today, numerous majors are available for you to study in a pre-med fashion. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Cardiology Major Availability</b></td><td> No undergraduate degree exists in cardiology.</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Applicable Degree Programs</b></td><td> BS in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physical sciences</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> No degree programs are available online that will fulfill the requirements to enter medical school.</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Continuing Education</b></td><td> Medical school (4 year), residency in cardiology-centered health center.</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatBachelorSDegreesAreGoodToBecomeACardiologist">What Bachelor's Degrees Are Good to Become a Cardiologist?</h3> <p>While biology is quite popular, other science programs, such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and physical sciences are also valuable for pre-med education. Also, majoring in biomedical engineering or community and public health could help you learn many of the science concepts necessary for medical school studies. A degree in community and public health also prepares you to work in the health systems field in an administrative position. </p> <p>While some medical programs accept bachelor's degrees in nearly any major, it is best to stick to a science major. Medical school requires a certain number of credits in biology, chemistry and physics. If you were to take majors outside of science, you may need to take additional courses to meet these requirements. </p> <h3 id="section---CanTheseDegreesBeEarnedOnline">Can These Degrees be Earned Online?</h3> <p>Science courses are difficult to take over the Internet because of the need for lab work. Many biology programs available over the Internet aren't geared toward those looking to enter medical school but rather to those looking to become public school teachers. </p> <p>Community and public health majors are available online. Some online programs only cover the core courses for the major and expect you to find ways to fill in your state's requirements. At any rate, admission to medical school still requires lab-based courses in the natural sciences, so you'll need to complete these prerequisite courses before being admitted to medical school. </p> <h3 id="section---WhenWillIStudyCardiology">When Will I Study Cardiology?</h3> <p>You'll finally have the opportunity to study cardiology once you have completed medical degree. Medical school lasts four years past a bachelor's degree, and it combines lecture-based coursework with clinical rotations. After completing medical school, you'll pursue a residency in an area of specialization. It is during the residency that you'd get extensive training in cardiology. Through this training, you'll learn to recognize and treat heart diseases and you'll study cardio-pharmaceuticals, heart equipment, heart rehabilitation, stents, thrombectomy and valvuloplasty. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsTheJobOutlookAndPay">What Is the Job Outlook and Pay?</h3> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the employment rate for cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists is expected to grow 5% between 2019 and 2029, faster than average. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians earned a median annual salary of $59,100 as of May 2020, according to the BLS. On the other hand, surgeons have a mean wage of $251,650 as of May 2020 and physicians and surgeons, all other at $218,850 annually. Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, as fast as average.</p>