PA · Charleston, South Carolina · public
Medical University of South Carolina Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What MUSC asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 10 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Biology, includes lab, 4" credits. One course, separate from anatomy, physiology and microbiology. Survey courses do not count.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"General Chemistry, includes lab, 8" credits, the full two-semester sequence.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
3 credits
"Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, 3" credits. Either satisfies the requirement, and "Combined Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry are not accepted. The course should solely be either Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry." No laboratory is stated. The biochemistry line carries the same either-or.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, 3" credits. Either satisfies the requirement; a combined organic and biochemistry course is not accepted. See the organic chemistry line, which carries the same either-or.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course is named.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics or Biostatistics, 3" credits.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Psychology can be met by Introduction to Psychology or a higher-level psychology course." 3 credits.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Listed as two lines: "Human Anatomy, includes lab, 4" and "Human Physiology, includes lab, 4." "Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses are accepted; however, you must take Anatomy and Physiology I and II to fulfill the separate Anatomy and Physiology requirements, including labs." All prerequisites must be within 10 years of application.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Microbiology, includes lab, 4" credits.
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Required, 1 credit, and for a grade: "Medical Terminology cannot be a continuing education course (e.g., certificate courses, Continuing Education Units (CEUs)). You must receive a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher on a 4.0 scale."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No minimum: "Patient care hours are not required but recommended. Competitive applicants have 1,000 hours or more." In the interview ranking, one point is awarded if "The applicant has over 1000 patient care hours: As self-reported in CASPA." The program does not define which roles count.
- Healthcare experiencenot required here
MUSC publishes no healthcare experience requirement; only patient care hours are mentioned, and those are recommended rather than required.
- PA shadowingnot required here
The admissions section does not mention shadowing at all.
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Preferred, not required: one of the three references should ideally be a "science professor."
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Three letters required; "Ideally, the references should come from a health care provider (PA, M.D., NP), science professor and/or someone who has seen the applicant interact with patients (e.g., manager)." A PA, MD or NP answers this line, and the wording is a preference. "No personal references will be accepted."
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Preferred, not required: "someone who has seen the applicant interact with patients (e.g., manager)." Three letters total, none from personal references.
Also on the school’s page
MUSC's residential MSPAS (Charleston SC, seven semesters from late May) requires "34 hours of prerequisite coursework at a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of 30 hours having been completed by the application deadline. The remaining four hours must be completed by the time of matriculation." The table: Biology with lab 4, General Chemistry with lab 8, Human Anatomy with lab 4, Human Physiology with lab 4, Medical Terminology 1, Microbiology with lab 4, Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry 3, Psychology 3, Statistics or Biostatistics 3. "All prerequisite coursework must be fulfilled by separate individual courses and be completed within 10 years of application submission," in person or online, with a grade of C or higher; a retaken prerequisite uses the highest grade for the prerequisite GPA but both grades count in the cumulative GPA. Dual enrollment counts if it appears on a college transcript. Not accepted: survey courses, pass/fail, CLEP, AP, advanced placement, transfer credit or experiential credit, and "There will be no waivers or exceptions to any admissions requirements or prerequisite courses." GPA gate: "a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for consideration," CASPA-calculated "without forgiveness," with every repeated course counted. Testing: "Standardized testing (GRE, PA-CAT or MCAT) is not required by the program. Scores should not be submitted to the program." Letters: "three letters of reference from individuals who know them and their abilities. Ideally, the references should come from a health care provider (PA, M.D., NP), science professor and/or someone who has seen the applicant interact with patients (e.g., manager). No personal references will be accepted. References that are 'Do Not Recommend' will have one point deducted." Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution by enrollment; U.S. citizens, permanent residents or holders of a visa allowing study, and no I-20 issuance. CASPA (opens April 25) plus an MUSC supplemental application (opens July 1), everything verified by September 1; personal statement ("AI-generated personal statements will not be accepted, whether in part or whole") and resume; in-person interviews September to November with decisions by early December. Interview ranking awards one point each for first-generation status, family public assistance, home in a HPSA or MUA, honorable-discharge veteran, an earned master's degree, English not the primary language, more than 1,000 patient care hours, each overall GPA step at 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8 and 4.0, the same steps for science GPA, and South Carolina residency, parents or high school.
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