What majors should I take in college if I want to be a anesthesiologist?

Majors for Aspiring Anesthesiologists
Because an anesthesiologist is a physician, prospective students must receive the formal medical education required of all doctors and physicians. At the undergraduate level, there is no one major required for a career in anesthesiology, but it is recommended that students choose to major in a natural science or enroll in a pre-medical program to prepare for medical school. Biology is the most popular major for candidates interested in medicine, but majors in microbiology, chemistry, or health sciences can also prepare students to become anesthesiologists.

Curriculum
Within a biology major, students take classes in anatomy, physiology, comparative anatomy, developmental biology, ecology, and biodiversity. Undergraduate pre-medical programs allow students to major in chemistry, psychology and other sciences, but also include electives that specifically prepare students for medical school. These courses may include chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics and calculus.

Once in medical school, students spend the first two years in a classroom setting, studying biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, medical ethics and many other topics. Anesthesiology is a medical specialty in which students may gain clinical experience during their second two years. After finishing medical school, students may apply for anesthesiology residency programs, which provide the bulk of professional training and prepare students to become licensed anesthesiologists.

Anesthesiologist Job Description
Anesthesiologists are responsible for dispensing pain relief drugs before, during and after surgery. They calculate proper drug dosages for patients, administer anesthesia and monitor patients' vital signs throughout surgical procedures. These physicians work with other doctors in order to monitor and assess a patient's body temperature, heart rate and breathing before, during and after surgery.

Salary and Career Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the majority of physicians and surgeons in May 2014 were employed by private physician's offices, followed by specialty hospitals and outpatient care facilities. The BLS also reported that anesthesiologists' annual earnings vary by employer and state, but the mean annual salary in May 2014 was $246,320.