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 A, Header (5/1/25-8/14/25)

PA644	Human Anatomy	4
PA631	Bioethics & Research Methodology	1
PA657	Introduction to Clinical Medicine	2
PA607	Introduction to the PA Profession	1
PA649	Human Physiology & Basic Pathophysiology	3
PA656	Public Health	1
Semester Total		12

Year 1, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

PA658	Hematologic System	2
PA617	Clinical Problem-Solving I	2
PA659	Cardiovascular System	6
PA664	Pulmonary System	3
PA666	Renal System	2
PA662	Pathophysiology I	3
PA700	Care of Underserved & Vulnerable Populations	2
PA668	Clinical Skills I	1
PA669	Evidence-based Medicine I	1
IP711	IP Foundations & Teamstepps	1
Semester Total		23

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

PA671	Gastrointestinal System	4
PA618	Clinical Problem-Solving II	2
PA673	Endocrine System	2
PA675	Neurologic System	3
PA681	Reproductive System	3
PA663	Pathophysiology II	3
PA677	Musculoskeletal System	3
PA686	Clinical Skills II	2
PA687	Evidence-based Medicine II	1
IP###	IP Concentration Course of Choice	1
Semester Total		24

Year 2, Summer A, Header (5/1/25-8/14/25)

PA 689	Genitourinary System	2
PA619	Clinical Problem-Solving III	1
PA693	Dermatologic System	2
PA694	Eyes, Ears, Nose, & Throat	2
PA697	Psychiatry & Behavioral Science	3
PA698	Clinical Skills III	1
PA699	Clinical Year Orientation	1
Semester Total		12

Year 2, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

PA670	Clinical Rotation I*	5
PA672	Clinical Rotation II*	5
PA674	Clinical Rotation III*	5
Semester Total		15

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

PA676	Clinical Rotation IV*	5
PA678	Clinical Rotation V*	5
PA679	Clinical Rotation VI*	5
PA680	Clinical Rotation VII*	5
Semester Total		20

Year 3, Summer A, Header (5/1/25-8/14/25)

PA682	Clinical Rotation VIII*	5
PA685	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)