About the program
The University of South Carolina SOM 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: "We educate and train highly competent, compassionate, and collaborative PAs to deliver patient-centered care as part of an interprofessional team."
Ultrasound Institute, High Fidelity Simulation Center, small class size, most supervised clinical rotations located nearby program, OSCE suites, located within a larger medical campus allowing interprofessional opportunities, and larger undergraduate institution
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: no. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine offers a 27-month MSPAS program that begins in January 2027, with an application deadline of August 1, 2026. Accreditation status is Continued through ARC-PA. The program does not offer distance learning, a part-time track, or admission to international applicants, though it does accept out-of-state students.
With a matriculant overall GPA and science GPA both sitting at 3.8 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.20, this program will draw competitive applicants who have prioritized strong academic performance across both general and science coursework. Healthcare experience is required for admission, though paid direct patient care is recommended rather than mandated - a meaningful distinction for applicants who have accumulated hours in volunteer or unpaid clinical settings. The GRE is required; the MCAT is explicitly not accepted.
The program's mission centers on producing competent, compassionate, and collaborative PAs prepared for patient-centered care within interprofessional teams, and the physical setting reinforces this. Located within a larger medical campus and affiliated with a major undergraduate institution, students have genuine access to interprofessional education alongside other health professions trainees. The infrastructure supporting clinical skill development is notable: an Ultrasound Institute, a High Fidelity Simulation Center, and dedicated OSCE suites give students repeated hands-on exposure before and during clinical rotations. Most supervised clinical rotations are located near the program itself, which reduces geographic disruption during the clinical phase. The incoming class size of approximately 30 students means learners get significant individual attention in a small-cohort environment.
Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last seven years and includes eight credits of general chemistry with lab, four credits each of human anatomy and human physiology both with lab, three credits of microbiology, and three credits of statistics. Three letters of reference are required.
The interview process uses both a traditional interview and a Multiple Mini Interview format, conducted onsite - candidates should prepare for both conversational and scenario-based assessment. A seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance, and separate tuition rates apply for in-state and out-of-state students, making it worth verifying current figures directly with the program.
Applicants best suited here will have strong GPAs, confirmed healthcare experience, competitive GRE scores, and an interest in a small, simulation-rich program embedded in a full medical campus environment where interprofessional collaboration is built into the daily fabric of training.