collageGetting a medical degree involves more than simply achieving one level of education. Your time at Windsor University School of Medicine (WUSOM) might comprise pre-medical sciences, as well as basic sciences and clinical sciences.
Once you earn your Caribbean medical degree from WUSOM, you may decide that you want to specialize in a certain branch of medicine. This will involve graduate work. No matter what you choose to do with your medical degree, we are here to support you while you earn it at our distinguished learning institution.
What is a medical degree?
A medical degree is an educational designation that demonstrates the completion of an accredited program in medicine. Earning a medical degree shows a prospective employer that you understand the technical and practical knowledge associated with a medical career path. Completing the required education and training can qualify you for various positions in the health care industry.
5 types of medical degrees
Here are five common types of medical degrees that you can consider:
1. Doctor of medicine
After completing medical school, you can earn a doctor of medicine (MD) degree. Before a student can enter into an MD program, they typically need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Another entry requirement is a satisfactory score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:
- Degree requirements: Four years of medical school
- Other training: Three to eight years of clinical training post-degree
- Potential career paths: Physician, medical researcher or consultant
2. Bachelor of science in nursing
If you get a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), you can work as a registered nurse. Registered nurses, or RNs, provide basic patient care, such as taking and recording vitals and administering medications. They work alongside other medical professionals, including physicians, in hospitals, health care clinics, care facilities and other locations.
Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:
- Degree requirements: Four years on average
- Other training: On-the-job training after graduation or specialized certifications
- Potential career paths: Psychiatric nurse, triage nurse, staff nurse, pediatric nurse or nurse midwife
Related: What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
3. Master of Science in physician assistant studies
If you’re interested in working as a physician assistant, you can pursue a master of science in physician assistant studies degree. A physician assistant, or PA, directly assists a physician by providing patient care and handling other clinical and administrative duties. This master’s program requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Working as a PA may also require the passing of the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:
- Degree requirements: Three years on average
- Other training: Specialty training in the chosen medical specialty
- Potential career paths: Physician assistant, medical researcher or clinical adviser
Related: Learn About Being a Physician Assistant
4. Doctor of osteopathic medicine
A doctor of osteopathic medicine, or DO, is similar to an MD degree and allows you to work as a physician. Doctors of osteopathic medicine typically focus on a more holistic treatment approach when working with patients. The requirements for a DO program are similar to those of an MD program and include a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a satisfactory score on the MCAT.
Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:
- Degree requirements: Four years of medical school
- Other training: Three to eight years of clinical residency training
- Potential career paths: Physician, clinical educator or medical researcher
Related: 19 Doctor Careers To Pursue
5. Doctor of dental medicine
A doctor of dental medicine, or DDM, allows you to become a practicing dentist. A DDM program is similar to an MD or DO program, requiring at least a bachelor’s degree and a satisfactory score on an admission test called the Dental Aptitude Test.
Below is a summary of the requirements to earn this degree and potential career options:
- Degree requirements: Four years on average
- Other training: Three to eight years of clinical training
- Potential career paths: Dentist, endodontist, orthodontist or dental health specialist
Medical Degrees You Might Pursue
The medical degree you choose to attain may open numerous doors for you. An associate’s degree in medicine could enable you to perform various administrative duties, perform medical assisting, or work in health information management.
You will first need to achieve a primary medical degree in order to practice medicine. This could be a Bachelor of Medicine, for example. A bachelor’s degree might be used to pursue a career in such fields as nursing, medical sonography, and medical technology.
You might also pursue a higher medical degree. These are graduate medical degrees that you would need to specialize in certain areas. When you achieve one of these degrees, you might work as a physician or doctor in clinical care, education, or research:
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) – This degree is the most conventional kind of medical degree. It is regarded as one of the highest levels of degrees that a medical student might pursue. You might achieve this degree while working toward another graduate level medical degree. This would help you to narrow your field of specialization. Before becoming a physician, you would require three to eight years of clinical training after earning your medical degree.
Master’s Degree in Medical Sciences – This type of degree is most commonly utilized to prepare for a doctoral degree program. Earning this degree could also enable you to work in a field with a focus on research.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) – A D.O. maintains a focus on the whole individual, instead of simply treating various areas and certain diseases. The general curriculum to earn this degree would be centered on the renal, endocrine, reproductive, cardiopulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems. Other courses would focus on neuroscience, as well as the musculoskeletal system. This degree would enable you to work in such branches of medicine as general internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics.
Master’s Degree in Medical Informatics – When you earn this degree, your primary focus would be on information technology and business as they relate to health care. This could be a wise choice if you are interested in medicine, but you are not necessarily interested in the “hands on” aspect of practicing.
Getting Started: Earn Your Medical Degree in the Caribbean
The first step toward your career in medicine is earning your medical degree at Windsor University School of Medicine. We welcome students from a broad range of locations, from Chicago to Los Angeles to Toronto. Apply to our program in St. Kitts today. Your future in the health care industry awaits, and it promises to be exciting!
Medical Careers Overview
As discussed, there are diverse medical degree programs that lead students to a wide range of medical careers. In the table below you can explore a small sample of the different medical-related careers available, their required education, and median salaries.
| JOB TITLE | DEGREE REQUIRED | ANNUAL MEDIAN SALARY (2018)* |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | $33,610 |
| EMTs and Paramedics | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | $34,320 |
| Respiratory Therapists | Associate’s | $60,280 |
| Radiation Therapists | Associate’s | $82,330 |
| Registered Nurses | Postsecondary Nondegree Award, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s | $71,730 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor’s | $99,730 |
| Physician Assistants | Master’s | $108,610 |
| Dentists | Doctoral or Professional Degree | $156,240 |
| Physicians and Surgeons | Doctoral or Professional Degree | Equal to or Greater than $208,000 |
5 jobs for people with medical degrees
With a medical degree, there are many job options available to you. Here are five appealing jobs in the medical field to consider. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click the salary link.
1. Physical therapist
National average salary: $73,489 per year
Primary duties: Physical therapists help patients recovering from injuries or operations to regain physical movement and coordination. They create recovery plans for patients and communicate needs to families and the patient’s primary care physician. Physical therapists typically work full time in private health care practices, short- and long-term recovery facilities and hospitals.
Read more: Learn About Being a Physical Therapist
2. Surgical technician
National average salary: $80,315 per year
Primary duties: Surgical technicians help prepare surgical rooms for operations by sanitizing equipment and surfaces, setting up equipment and monitors, testing equipment, replacing parts or changing malfunctioning equipment and assisting the surgeon during procedures. Surgical technicians typically work full time in a hospital or outpatient surgical facility setting.
Read more: Learn About Being a Surgical Technician
3. Registered nurse
National average salary: $89,377 per year
Primary duties: Registered nurses provide care to patients in long-term care facilities, hospitals, health care clinics, mental health centers and nursing homes. Registered nurses collect and record vital signs, administer medications, provide emotional support to patients and communicate with families and other medical professionals about patients’ needs.
Read more: Learn About Being a Registered Nurse (RN)
4. Cardiac nurse
National average salary: $98,049 per year
Primary duties: Cardiac nurses assist patients receiving care for their heart and lungs. They care for them during and after operations, which may include taking and monitoring vital signs, advising patients and families and providing medication. Cardiac nurses typically work full time in hospitals or outpatient recovery facilities.
5. Physician
National average salary: $195,251 per year
Primary duties: Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, prescribe medications and counsel patients on treatment options and preventive care. A physician can choose an area of specialty to focus on, such as cardiology, general surgery, pathology or sports medicine. Some physicians focus on a particular part of the body, while others focus on a patient population. Physicians typically work full time in hospitals, long-term care facilities or private health care practices.
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