The Master of Science in Taxation (MST) is a 30.0 credit hour degree program designed to (1) to prepare graduates for entry level positions in public and private accounting in taxation and (2) provide graduate-level education for tax professionals who desire to enhance their specialized tax knowledge. The MST is a specialized degree program aimed to equip students with the highly technical and demanding skills required to provide tax and business advice in the private sector as well as administer the tax laws in the public sector of the economy.
The MST is designed to meet the needs of students with diverse backgrounds, but all of whom have a specific interest in the tax area. These target audience includes:
- Those who have completed an undergraduate degree with a major in accounting and who wish to meet the 150 hour requirement to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. Many of these students have taken positions with public accounting firms in the tax area and have little interest in additional courses in other areas. Employers have indicated that they would be more inclined to pay for a specialized degree for these students.
- CPAs who wish to develop a specialization in taxation or personal financial planning. Many accountants enter public practice and subsequently recognize they want to specialize in tax or need to improve their tax expertise.
- Attorneys who need basic tax training or want additional tax expertise.
- Professionals, primarily CPAs, needing continuing education
- Individuals who are interested in studying tax but are not yet interested in a graduate program such as the Kelley MSA program because of the accounting program requirements (e.g., attorneys, financial planners).
- Those who may have non-accounting backgrounds but who want to transition to public accounting in the tax area.
