Prospective MST Students

Are you currently working in the area of tax and want to gain a greater understanding of the tax law, improve your research skills, become a better tax planner, or broaden your career opportunities? Or maybe you鈥檙e an accounting undergraduate or working professional in need of an additional 30 units to become a CPA.

Our Master of Science in Taxation(MST) degree is a unique and flexible program designed to serve both working tax professionals and those pursuing or starting a new career in tax. We are now offering an online option for California residents.* The online option is suitable for accounting grads at California universities that don鈥檛 offer an MST, as well as for busy tax accountants who don鈥檛 live near 91猎奇 or want to save commute time to campus.

For a quick overview of the advantage of earning an MST at 91猎奇, watch this short video.

Having 鈥淢ST鈥� after your name is a high distinction in the tax world. It indicates that you are well versed in the area of taxation, skilled at tax research and able to deal intelligently with the complexity of today鈥檚 tax rules. The 91猎奇 MST degree is a 30 unit program which allows you to enroll full-time and complete the degree in 12 months or part-time and be finished in 24颅鈥�36 months. Our classes are scheduled to work around the busiest of tax season times. Please see below for all of the essential information and refer to our MST FAQ for more detailed info.

Check out our videos about our MST program, the 150 hour requirement to become a CPA, and what it takes to have a successful career in taxation here. There is also available from the AICPA on CPA career paths. Attend an upcoming MS Taxation information session.

Interested in starting a career as a tax professional? Consider the Certificate in Tax Practice (9 unit program).

*If you reside outside of the United States and are interested in the online option to complete your MST degree, please contact us for more information.

Apply to LGSB

The MS in Taxation program offers admission twice a year, fall and spring. However, spring admission is only for individuals with at least one to two years of experience in the tax field where that work included finding and applying the IRC, regulations and cases. Spring admission is also open to applicants who have already taken , Tax Research, offered in fall semesters. BUS 223A can also be taken by eligible students not yet admitted to the MST program using 91猎奇's Open University process. Spring admission is also open to students who would like to take , Accounting for Income Taxes in late spring as this course does not require taking BUS 223A Tax Research first. This is the only course available in spring for someone without BUS 223A or sufficient work experience with tax research. Please use our step-by-step application process for domestic and international applicants.

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Admission Requirements

We operate on a rolling admissions basis, meaning that the sooner you submit your application, the sooner you'll receive updates about your application. As we have a competitive admissions process and limited space available, we strongly encourage you to apply early to ensure early consideration.

What are the admission requirements for the MS in Taxation?
- A 4-year bachelor's degree
  A preferred GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  Official transcripts from all colleges or Universities attended
  or WES (all applicants with a foreign degree)
  Personal Statement
  Resume
  GMAT or GRE scores
  
  Optional: Letter(s) of Recommendation
  
  English Language Proficiency exam may be required if you have earned your degree outside the United States. You may select one of these exams:
  
  TOEFL score of 80 or higher (IBT)
  IELTS score of 6.5 or higher
How to qualify for a GMAT waiver?
- To waive the GMAT, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
  
  91猎奇 student or alumni.
  
  Accounting majors (or equivalent) from any California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC).
  
  Earned a Master鈥檚 degree or Ph.D. from an accredited institution in the United States.
  
  Passed all parts of the CPA exam (in the United States).
  
  Passed the Enrolled Agent exam administered by the IRS.
  
  Scored 145 or higher on the LSAT exam.
  
  Have a GPA of at least 3.2 from an accredited U.S. university AND completed at least three years of full-time work experience in taxation. An interview with the MST Director may be required.
  
  A GPA of at least 3.75 from an accredited U.S. university. An interview with the MST Director may be required.
What is the process to apply for a waiver?
- For consideration of the waiver, you MUST complete the first and then the which requires you to attach documentation and your student ID number (which is provided within 10 days after completing the application). The waiver will not be accepted for a future semester.
What are the prerequisites for the MS in Taxation?
- Prospective students who did not graduate with an accounting major/concentration from a U.S. institution should contact the program director (annette.nellen@sjsu.edu) to schedule an advising session before completing the application.
  
  If you have earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from an institution in the US, then you have completed all the prerequisites. If you have earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from an institution outside of the US, you will still need to complete a course in tax (comparable to Taxation of Individuals and Flow-Through Entities) at an institution located in the United States.
  
  If you have not earned an accounting undergraduate degree, you will need to complete the following undergraduate courses (or equivalent) prior to admission. Required accounting courses should be based on US GAAP.
  
  Financial Accounting (BUS1 020)
  Managerial Accounting (BUS1 021)
  Intermediate Accounting I (BUS1 121A)
  Intermediate Accounting II (BUS1 121B)
  Tax Factors of Business and Investment Decisions (BUS1 123A)
  
  We recommend you take these courses prior to beginning our program:
  
  Business Law (BUS3 080)
  Computer Tools for Business (BUS4 091L)
  Fundamentals of Finance (BUS1 170)
  
  You can fulfill these requirements at any college or university. Our acceptable courses [pdf] list shows comparable courses at local community colleges that will fulfill the above requirements.
What are the application deadlines?
- The MS in Taxation program admits twice per year.
  
  (Fall & Spring admission)
  
  *Spring admission requires at least one to two years of experience in the tax field where that work included finding and applying the IRC, regulations and cases or prior completion of BUS 223A, Tax Research, offered in fall semesters.
  
  Domestic applicants (not requiring a visa)
  
  Fall applications open October 1 - May 1
  Application deadline: May 1
  Document deadline: May 20
  
  *Spring applications open August 1 - November 1
  Application deadline: November 1
  Document deadline: November 20
  
  International applicants
  
  Fall applications open October 1 - May 1
  Application deadline: May 1
  Document deadline: May 20
  
  *Spring applications open August 1 - November 1
  Application deadline: October 1
  Document deadline: October 20
Are there scholarships available?
- MST Scholarship:
  Eligibility: U.S. citizen, full-time or part-time student status, minimum 3.25 admissions GPA, minimum 550 GMAT or for GRE 151 verbal and 152 quantitative (or have passed the CPA exam). Students receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer are not eligible for an 91猎奇 MST scholarship.
  
  Amount: Depending on financial need* and availability, eligible students may receive a scholarship that covers the tuition for up to 9 units.
  
  *Financial need is assessed based on the applicant completing a FAFSA form, need explained on the application and possible interview.
  
  Process- submit the following:
  1. Complete FAFSA form. Go to the to learn about the FAFSA process and complete the application on-line.
  2. Letter of application stating your contact information, how the partial scholarship would benefit you, your career goals, and why you are pursuing an MST degree.
  3. One letter of reference, ideally from a former professor or employer who can comment on your abilities and commitment to achieving your goals.
  Documentation of GPA and GMAT score (or passage of the CPA exam).
  
  Submit completed package to:
  Professor Annette Nellen
  College of Business
  San Jose State University
  One Washington Square
  San Jose, CA 95192-0066
  
  Questions?
  Please contact Professor Annette Nellen at annette.nellen@sjsu.edu
  Additional information on Financial Resources from 91猎奇[BROKEN LINK]
  
  Other Scholarships:
  
  The offers scholarship programs ranging in value from $2,500 to $5,000 and given to 100 full-time accounting students.

Program Overview

What is the pace of the MST program?
- Students can pursue the MST as a part-time or full-time student. The MST may be completed in 12 - 36 months.
  The curriculum consists of 10 courses (30 units)
  Course length: 8 - 10 weeks
  Course schedule: evening, some weekend and online
How much does the MST cost?
- MST courses are $731 per unit (program is 30 units).
What will I learn in the MST?
- View our Learning Objectives
Do I have to apply to take a course?
- Most students can begin taking courses in the taxation program as an Open University student.
  
  Students can enroll in Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Is the MST open to international students?
- Yes. Prospective international students should contact the 91猎奇 International Student and Scholar Services
Who are the MST Faculty?
- View our MST Faculty list
Who can I contact to learn more?
- To contact the Lucas Graduate School of Business with general questions, to learn more about our programs, or admission requirements, email: lucas-school@sjsu.edu or complete this .

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