There is no specific undergraduate degree to complete to be admitted to medical school. However, you have to take certain courses to be admitted, and certain degree programs are more suited to helping students meet these requirements. For example, students who wish to attend Harvard Medical School must have completed one year of biology, two years of chemistry, a year of physics, a year of calculus, and language classes. At the University of Michigan, students must have completed one year of inorganic chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one semester of biochemistry, one year of biology, one year of physics, two semesters of intensive writing courses, and six semesters of additional non-science courses. Traditional undergraduate degrees for those intending to pursue a medical degree include biology, chemistry and related fields. For those who wish to become geriatricians, additional undergraduate degrees that might be useful include psychology and social sciences. Students should ensure that they meet the requirements for both their degree program and the medical school to which they wish to be admitted.
All doctors must receive an M.D., or doctor of medicine degree, which takes four years to complete. Specialization doesn't happen until after medical school, but students who know they want to become geriatricians can start focusing their course work and research interests on topics relevant to the field. Geriatricians deal with internal medicine, as well as the psychological impact of diseases and aging. Wherever possible, medical students can take additional course work in these fields or pursue research on them for course papers.
Graduating from medical school is not enough to begin practice as a doctor. Graduates must complete residency in their field of specialization, and residency can last another three to seven years. Geriatricians must complete residency in the field of elder care, internal medicine, or psychology. They can complete this residency in hospice centers, hospitals, medical centers, and other health care establishments. The American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Family Practice both offer additional training in the form of a certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. Residents and those already practicing family medicine can obtain this certification by passing an exam dealing with geriatric care issues.
According to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, geriatricians must complete an additional one or two-year fellowship after they complete residency. The fellowship provides training in the medical, social and psychological issues faced by older adults. Doctors can complete this fellowship in the same location that they completed their residency or another hospital or medical facility.