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*	5
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)