Courses & Curriculum

Coursework for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies will be completed in twenty-seven months over seven semesters. Students will have a predetermined schedule with a range from 10-23 credit hours each semester, for a total of 116 credit hours.

Course Descriptions

Full course descriptions can be found in the MUSC Bulletin. All course descriptions for the program begin with the prefix "PA*."

 

Curriculum

Year 1, Summer

PA 644 Human Anatomy 4
PA 631 Bioethics and Research Methodology
1
PA 657 Introduction to Clinical Medicine 2
PA 607 Introduction to the PA Profession 1
PA 649 Human Physiology and Basic Pathophysiology 3
PA 656  Public Health     1 
Semester Total 12

Year 1, Fall

PA 658 Hematologic System 2
PA 617 Clinical Problem-Solving I 2
PA 659
Cardiovascular System 6
PA 664 Pulmonary System 3
PA 666 Renal System 2
PA 662 Pathophysiology I 3
PA 700 Care of Underserved and Vulnerable Populations 2
PA 668 Clinical Skills I 1
PA 669
Evidence-Based Medicine I   1
IP 711  IP Foundations & Teamstepps   1 
Semester Total 23

Year 1, Spring

PA 671 Gastrointestinal System 4
PA 618 Clinical Problem-Solving II 2
PA 673 Endocrine System 2
PA 675 Neurologic System 3
PA 681 Reproductive System 3
PA 663 Pathophysiology II 3
PA 677 Musculoskeletal System 3
PA 686
Clinical Skills II   2
PA 687
Evidence-Based Medicine II   1
IP XXX IP Concentration Course of Choice 1
Semester Total 24

Year 2, Summer

PA 689 Genitourinary System 2
PA 619 Clinical Problem-Solving III 1
PA 693 Dermatologic System 2
PA 694 Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
2
PA 697 Psychiatry and Behavioral Science 3
PA 698 Clinical Skills III 1
PA 699 Clinical Year Orientation
1
Semester Total 12

Year 2, Fall

PA 670 Clinical Rotation I* 5
PA 672 Clinical Rotation II* 5
PA 674 Clinical Rotation III* 5
Semester Total 15

Year 2, Spring

PA 676 Clinical Rotation IV* 5
PA 678 Clinical Rotation V* 5
PA 679 Clinical Rotation VI* 5
PA 680 Clinical Rotation VII*
Semester Total 20

Year 3, Summer

PA 682 Clinical Rotation VIII* 5
PA 685 Clinical Rotation Elective* 5
Semester Total 10
Curriculum Total 116

* Students are scheduled in the following disciplines for clinical rotations 1-8; Emergency medicine, Family medicine, Internal medicine, Mental health, Pediatrics, Surgery, Women's Health, and Adjunct Clinical Experience (ACE). In addition the students are required to complete an elective in a specialty of their choice.

A Summative Evaluation is required by the Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistant Education (ARC-PA) within the last 4 months of the program. Each student must successfully pass all components of the Summative Evaluation to be eligible for completion of the program and graduation. The components of the Summative Evaluation include the following:

  1. PAEA End of Curriculum Exam
  2. Summative Professionalism Evaluation
  3. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)