Pre-Medicine 

 

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

 

The Associate of Science Degree in Pre-Medicine is intended to fulfill preadmission requirements on the freshman and sophomore levels for a school of medicine.  Students will transfer to a four-year school to continue working toward a bachelor’s degree.  The curriculum in the WSCC catalog is not designed for transfer to any specific school.  Students will need to talk with a faculty advisor about a particular college or university’s courses and transfer.  The link for the Natural Science Division at Walters State is: http://www.ws.edu/science/default.asp

 

 

Career and Major Information:

Physicians and surgeons serve a fundamental role in our society and have an effect upon all our lives. They diagnose illnesses and prescribe and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease. Physicians examine patients, obtain medical histories, and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare.

There are two types of physicians: M.D.—Doctor of Medicine—and D.O.—Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. M.D.s also are known as allopathic physicians. While both M.D.s and D.O.s may use all accepted methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, D.O.s place special emphasis on the body’s musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic patient care. D.O.s are more likely than M.D.s to be primary care specialists although they can be found in all specialties. About half of D.O.s practice general or family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics.

Physicians work in one or more of several specialties, including, but not limited to, anesthesiology, family and general medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and surgery (Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005).

 

Related Career Titles:

Chiropractors                                                  Dentists                                        Optometrists                                                          Veterinarians                                    Physician Assistants                                          Podiatrists                                                  Speech-Language Pathologists

 

Web Sites:

Association of American Medical Colleges, Section for Student Services, 2450 N St. NW., Washington, DC 20037-1126. Internet: http://www.aamc.org

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231. Internet: http://www.aacom.org

For general information on physicians, contact:

American Medical Association, Department of Communications and Public Relations, 515 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610. Internet: http://www.ama-assn.org

American Osteopathic Association, Division of Public Relations, 142 East Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611. Internet: http://www.aoa-net.org

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm#addinfo

 

Salary Information:

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures.  Local or regional salaries may be lower.

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Physicians and Surgeons, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm