About the program
The Medical University of South Carolina PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "To graduate highly competent physician assistants who are compassionate, demonstrate cultural humility and are attuned to the primary health care needs of the people of South Carolina and beyond. Graduates will be prepared to: Provide quality, evidence based, patient-centered health care as integral members of interdisciplinary health care teams Advocate for the physician assistant profession Help meet the health care needs of the larger community through education, research and service"
MUSC is an academic health sciences center, and the PAS program benefits from the vast resources available from the university including access to interprofessional experiences and simulation technology. Students in the PAS program may also support free clinics in the Charleston community. In addition to our outstanding resources and opportunities for student involvement outside the classroom, we have dedicated faculty who pride themselves in their students' success.
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: yes. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years
Program overview
This 27-month program at the Medical University of South Carolina awards a Master of Science degree and holds continued ARC-PA accreditation. It is a full-time, on-campus program with no part-time or distance learning options, and it accepts applications from out-of-state and international candidates. The incoming class is among the larger cohorts in the country, with an estimated 97 seats, which reflects the program's position within a well-resourced academic health sciences center in Charleston.
The mission is deliberately oriented toward South Carolina's primary care landscape, with an emphasis on cultural humility, community advocacy, and meeting regional health care needs. Graduates are expected to function as effective members of interdisciplinary teams, contribute to research and education, and serve broader community health interests. The program does not carry a single defined curricular focus, so applicants should expect a broad generalist medical education rather than a specialty track.
One notable feature of training here is the interprofessional environment that MUSC's academic health sciences structure provides, including access to simulation technology and the opportunity to support free clinics in the Charleston area. These elements suggest meaningful exposure to underserved patient populations alongside high-fidelity clinical training tools.
The admissions bar is straightforward: a minimum 3.00 overall GPA and a minimum 3.00 prerequisite GPA are required, with prerequisites completed within the last ten years. Required science coursework includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (4 credits), human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics with lab. Notably, paid direct patient care experience and healthcare experience more broadly are recommended but not required, which lowers the barrier for applicants still building their clinical hours compared to programs that mandate a specific threshold.
Three letters of reference are required, and all applicants must complete an onsite interview. The program uses a combination of traditional interviews, group interviews, and multiple mini interviews, so candidates should prepare for varied formats that assess communication, reasoning, and professionalism across different scenarios. The application deadline is September 1, 2026, for the May 2027 cohort, and applications are reviewed after the deadline passes under a regular admissions cycle rather than on a rolling basis.
Tuition rates differ for in-state and out-of-state students, and a $500 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. Prospective applicants should obtain current tuition figures directly from MUSC, as the cost differential between resident and non-resident rates can substantially affect total program cost.
An applicant is a strong fit here if they hold at least a 3.0 in science prerequisites, are drawn to a primary care and community-oriented mission within South Carolina, and are prepared for the breadth of an MMI-style interview process at a large academic health sciences institution.