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 late 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, emergency medicine, general internal medicine), and to increase access to health care for all people.

If you already hold a Bachelors degree as a Physician Assistant, you should consider applying to our other track.

Requirements
Prerequisites for admission to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program consist of a minimum of three years (90 semester hours) at an accredited college or university; competitive GRE scores; a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in all college work; is considered competitive, and completion of all prerequisite courses.

Applicants must have a minimum of 16 semester hours of the science/math prerequisites completed at the time they apply. An interview will be required. The priority admission selection process will be completed by December 1. Qualified applicants who are not selected during the priority admission process will be considered during the regular admission process.

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

Application Process
In addition to the application itself the applicant must complete supplemental reference materials specific to the program to which they are applying. For those applying online these will be provided in an email.

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

Term Status Campus Accepting Applications Available   Summer 2009 Priority     Full Time     Charleston     July 1, 2008 - Oct 1, 2008     click to apply     Summer 2009     Full Time     Charleston     Oct 2, 2008 - Nov 13, 2008     not yet

Created: June 20, 2002 Modified: June 30, 2008