Description
The Physician Assistant is a licensed health professional qualified by specialized academic and clinical education to perform medical tasks traditionally undertaken by physicians, while practicing with the supervision and responsibility of a licensed physician. PAs provide essential diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative, and health maintenance services in both primary and specialty care settings.

Introduced into the American health care system in the mid 1960s, the physician assistant profession was developed to increase access to healthcare in areas that are medically underserved, such as rural and inner city areas. They are cost-effective, productive members of the healthcare team.

The purpose of the program leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is to provide the comprehensive didactic, laboratory, and clinical instruction necessary to produce superior physician assistants. Graduates will be prepared to practice with physician supervision and as members of the healthcare team in areas of primary care (i.e., family practice, pediatrics, ob/gyn, general internal medicine), and to increase access to health care for all people.

Requirements
Prerequisites for admission to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program include; a minimum of 90 (60 specified and 30 elective) transferable semester hours earned at an accredited college or university, competitive GRE scores, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point scale.

Applicants must have completed 16 or more semester hours of science/math prerequisites at the time of application. All applicants who are admitted will have completed at least 1 interview. The priority (early) admission interviews will be completed in November or early December. Those candidates not selected in the early decision group will automatically be considered during the regular decision process. Deadlines for receipt of a complete application and all credentials are October 1st for early decision and November 13 for regular decision periods. Interviews for the regular decision period are conducted in mid to late January.

Additional requirements can be found at http://www.musc.edu/chp/pa/MSPAS/index.htm or in the Bulletin at http://www.musc.edu/bulletin/chp/pa/index.html

Students applying to the Physician Assistant program need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2011 in order for the scores to be received by MUSC by the application deadlines. Visit the link for additional details http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/know. GRE code: 5407

Application Process
In addition to the application itself the applicant must complete supplemental reference materials specific to the program to which they are applying. These forms are provided via email once an application has been submitted. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from each post-secondary school attended and all materials must be received by the application deadlines listed below. These forms are available in PDF format within the application and are also sent through email once an application is submitted.

To proceed to the next step in the online application you may review filing fees here and then choose a term below:

You must create a CollegeNet account before you apply.

Term Status Campus Accepting Applications Available   Summer 2013 Priority     Full Time     Charleston     July 2, 2012 - Oct 1, 2012     closed     Summer 2013     Full Time     Charleston     Oct 2, 2012 - Nov 13, 2012     closed     Summer 2014     Full Time     Charleston     July 1, 2013 - Oct 1, 2013     not yet

Created: June 20, 2002 Modified: June 24, 2011