Taxation, MS
Program at a Glance
Program
Taxation, MS
Format
Online
Total Units
30
Requirements
No GMAT or
GRE Required
Summer ’25 Early Application Deadline
March 9
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Taxation stresses real-world skills that empower students to be exceptional tax professionals. Many of the “Big Four” firms hire Golden Gate University graduates and send their employees to GGU to update their tax education.
Our taxation courses are taught by tax practitioners and lawyers who are experts in their field — in an environment that promotes the development of analytic and communication skills. Our Master of Science in Taxation is one of the most prestigious tax programs in the country, having earned a reputation for providing the most comprehensive and practical education available. Our taxation program’s current rankings include Best Master’s in Taxation Degrees (College Choice), 2024 Best Taxation Master’s Degree Schools (College Factual), and Best Online Master’s in Taxation Programs of 2024 (Forbes Advisor).
The curriculum stresses real-world content that prepares students to be knowledgeable tax professionals. Courses cover general and specialized tax subjects, including: estate and gift tax; partnerships; C corporations; LLCs and S corporations; California and multi-state tax; international tax; retirement plans; tax issues for individuals; and tax research.
GGU provides the option for a self-paced online format or in-person as part of an accelerated MST cohort format.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution (outside the United State), and provide official transcripts.
- Master’s degree holders only need to submit transcripts from previous graduate programs. However, applicants are encouraged to submit all transcripts to maximize transfer credit.
- All applicants will need to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
- For applicants with a GPA under 3.0, the Statement of Purpose should address the circumstances that led to the applicant’s academic performance, what has changed, and why they think they’ll be more successful now.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements.
Day Cohort Admission Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements for the Master of Science in Taxation, the Day Cohort program also requires the following:
- A personal interview is required.
- Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose and a resume.
Check with the Enrollment Coordinator for application deadlines.
Proficiency Requirements
Writing Proficiency
Students are expected to possess proficiency in writing to ensure they can be successful in their course of study. Students may meet this requirement by satisfying one of the screening criteria listed under Graduate Writing Proficiency Requirement.
Curriculum
The Master of Science in Taxation program requires a total of 30 units, including 21 units of core courses and 9 units of elective courses.
Students may take TA 329 in lieu of TA 329A and TA 329B, with the permission of the dean.
Select 9 units of coursework with the TA prefix that are not a part of the program’s core course requirements. The elective courses cover topics in data analytics, state, international, and estate taxation. The following is a selection of the elective courses offered:
If eligible, students may take TA 398 Internship: Taxation (3-6). Up to 6 units of course credit may be obtained throughinternship experience. Eligibility is determined by the Bruce F. Braden School of Taxation.
As an alternative to taking only taxation electives, students have the option to select up to three of their elective units from the following list:
Alternatively, students can select up to three units of coursework from LLM Taxation or LLM Estate Planning programs. (Note: All course prerequisites must be satisfied and tuition will be assessed on the rate applicable to the school or program that offers the course. Students interested in registering for LLM program course should seek the assistance of their advisor.)
Students transferring credit from accredited law schools, colleges, and universities may be granted as many as 6 units of credit toward the Master of Science in Taxation requirements for graduate tax courses successfully completed at those institutions.
Students are encouraged to participate in an internship for experience and course credit. Visit our Taxation Internship FAQ page for more information.
Concentrations
The Master of Science in Taxation with Technology and Analytics Concentration requires completion of 36 units in the graduate program with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better in courses taken at Golden Gate University that are applicable to the program’s requirements. Courses listed carry three semester units of credit unless otherwise noted. For further information regarding graduation requirements, see Academic Requirements for Graduate Programs.
This concentration is designed for accounting and tax professionals who seek to use analytics to improve strategic planning and decision-making. Students will expand their knowledge of data analytics through the practical application of business tools increasingly used in the accounting profession. Building upon the topics covered in the introductory course on data analytics for accountants, students will gain key skills utilized in the analysis and communication of business accounting data. Topics covered in this concentration include statistical analysis through the utilization of programming languages Python and R; relational data bases, data-mining, and business intelligence systems; and effective communication through the use of visualization tools. This program is a STEM-designated degree program.
Concentration Courses — 15 UnitsComplete a minimum of 15 units from the following courses:
Path2CPA
The undergraduate Path2CPA option makes the journey to an advanced degree quicker and less expensive. Students can earn a Master of Science in Taxation (MST) in as little as one year after completing GGU’s BS in Accounting. The Path2CPA option can also satisfy the 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure. Pursuing this option eliminates the requirement to apply for the MST program and no GMAT/GRE test score is required.
The Path2CPA includes the following graduate-level courses: TA 318 Advanced Federal Income Taxation and TA 329A Tax Research and Writing. The graduate-level courses will be included in the unit totals and GPAs for both applicants’ undergraduate Accounting and graduate Taxation degree programs. Students whose average GPA in these two graduate courses falls below a 3.00 GPA will be conditionally admitted to the Master’s programs.
Program Format
Earn the MS Tax degree in-person and / or online — at your own pace or on a fixed schedule with a group of peers.
Non-Cohort Program
- Courses are offered online or hybrid
- The non-cohort program is self-paced and courses can be taken part- or full-time
- Students may enroll in the program during any term
- Completion time for non-cohort students is typically 2-4 years
Cohort Program
- Courses are primarily offered in-person in San Francisco and via web conference
- Cohort program students take courses full-time on a fixed schedule
- Students must enroll in the Summer C term
- Students in the cohort program will complete the degree in 12 months
CAREER DEVELOPMENT & PLACEMENT SUPPORT
Cohort (full-time) students earning this degree will attend many frequent workshops focusing on career search techniques, including resume writing and interview coaching. Multiple career options are presented by tax and accounting firms and industry leaders. Networking events and interactive sessions with accounting and tax professionals at all levels — from first year staff members to managing partners — are convened exclusively for cohort students. Technical panels and hands-on training sessions allow cohort students to immediately leverage their classroom knowledge so they are able to use what they have learned in real-life practice situations during their internship or employment position.
MS in Taxation Tuition
The tuition for the MS in Taxation degree program at Golden Gate University is $1,250 per unit, covering the cost of high-quality, career-focused education led by experienced faculty. This investment supports essential resources, including personalized academic advising, state-of-the-art technology, and student services designed to help adult learners succeed.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Science in Taxation program will:
- Demonstrate the ability to identify tax issues, determine the applicable relevant primary authority, analyze relevant primary authority and apply the authorities to reach well-reasoned oral or written conclusions.
- Demonstrate technical tax knowledge in the areas of individual, corporate and partnership taxation.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of IRS practice and procedure and be able to represent a client in a tax controversy.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the ethics and standards of professional responsibilities applicable to tax practitioners.
