In today’s society and for so many years in the past, being a doctor is one of the noblest and most respectable professions. If you plan to be one, you can expect to be highly regarded for taking away the pain and suffering of your patients through advanced treatment and medical care. If you’re starting to pave your way towards a medical degree, the best preparation is to be equipped with helpful educational courses to help you attain your academic goals.
This journey entails a lot of learning experiences, so you can expect it to take a couple of years. Before partaking in exhaustive internships, heavy workloads, and distressing board exams, you need to take pre-medical courses to work your way up. However, the best courses you need to have should be the same ones you would have taken even when pursuing a different field. It will give you the necessary skills and training to become successful in any profession.
Consider the following possible pre-med courses which might also become requirements when applying for medical school:
1. Biology
The study of biology is crucial in medicine, education, and the science industry. The branch of science helps you understand how humans and other living thing’s function, evolve, and interact with one another. It also impacts many sectors like agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, and research, to improve quality of life. There is a lot to learn about biology, from microscopic organisms to cloning. The level of study may range from the cellular level up to the ecosystem level.
You can choose from dozens of specializations within the biology major, such as Genetics, Neuroscience, and Ecology, which will help you prepare for a future career in medicine. Here, they learn about the basics of science, including the functions and structures of the human body. You can also expect to tackle laboratory tasks and activities, investigate case studies, and create reports.
2. Medical Humanities
There are many things to consider when applying for medical school, but you need to be equipped with the right pre-med course before worrying about them all. Majoring in the humanities is also a great option if you’re paving your way to a medical career. Although this may not be a popular pre-med major among students, you’ll acquire valuable skills and knowledge that will improve you professionally and personally. A student majoring in liberal arts, the humanities, language, or philosophy is likely to have excellent communication and critical thinking skills.
You can expect the same when you take in medical humanities. As a doctor, you will likely develop strong bonds with patients, which will help your success in the field. By studying medical humanities, you can understand human conditions, their perceptions, different illnesses, and sufferings. You learn to nurture your professional and interpersonal skills to empathize and communicate better with patients, fellow doctors, and colleagues.
A high-quality medical education somewhat relies on the teachings brought in by Medical Humanities. In fact, there’s a study stating that the academic performance of medical students with humanities backgrounds is comparable to that of pre-meds with science backgrounds. Still, they tend to be more patient-centered and have better communication skills.
3. Sociology
Studying social behavior is the study of sociology. It is another pre-med course to take if you plan to be a medical doctor. A sociology major gives you an understanding of how groups and societies function and how the patterns of social interaction affect individuals’ behavior.
The subject tackles gender, crime, violence, relationships, work, ethnicity, health, cultures, religions, social classes, and more. One of the skills you learn in this pre-med course is to embrace diversity, see the bigger picture, have an open mind, and make better connections with others. There are more other skills and training that will give you a strong foundation in Sociology, which will be helpful later on as you practice your profession.
4. Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical science is an excellent preparatory course for students who plan to enroll in medicine later. It’s an excellent course to take while preparing to be a medical doctor. Aside from the skills and knowledge you can gain, you can even earn a certificate or license of being a registered pharmacist in which you can practice solely before proceeding to medicine.
It’s the best combination with your medical license, so you open up your own clinic and pharmacy at the same time. It’s indeed hitting two birds with one stone, increasing your earning potential even more.
Several basic natural science courses are included in the Pharmaceutical Sciences curriculum. The curriculum also includes classes unique to this major in pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry. Aside from being an expert in human anatomy, doctors need to be equipped on how to personalize drug therapies and medical treatments, all of which you can gain insights into in this pre-med course.
These recent years, the healthcare industry has adopted personalization too. Personalized medicine will revolutionize medicine, and doctors who understand therapeutics, biological chemistry, and even drug delivery will be best suited to advance medicine. Pick a pharmaceutical studies program that prepares students for the future of medicine by applying pharmaceutical knowledge.
5. Psychology
It is another pre-med course to take in psychology. And as a psychology major, you’ll develop deduction skills, analytical thinking, and empathy. Clinical psychology considers theory, method, and research to understand the human mind and behavior more deeply. This pre-med course also opens another career opportunity for you to become a licensed psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
Students who are taking psychology and who wish to become medical doctors will be provided with a comprehensive background in psychology as well as the prerequisites for medical school. It can be a logical and practical pre-med course choice for you. As psychologists, doctors care for people and constantly contact them. You need to become familiar with different behavioral patterns of patients and understand the reasoning and tendencies behind their ailments.
In addition, patients often consult general practitioners when they have psychological concerns, so it is vital that physicians thoroughly understand psychological issues and when individuals should be referred to a psychologist. The student will apply to medical school after completing bachelor’s degree in psychology. Residents in psychiatry complete a four-year residency program.
Conclusion
You need to set your goals in becoming a medical doctor, and one of the requirements is to take up pre-med courses. If you’re trying to decide which major will lead you to become a doctor, you might consider the different majors suggested above. They will all contribute to you learning more knowledge and skills that are valuable and applicable in any profession and setting. Ensure to choose a pre-med course that you’re most interested in to have fun studying while maintaining an excellent academic record.
