Register By: September 12
Classes Start: September 14
Gain Expertise in Tax Rules & Practices with a Master’s in Taxation Online
Enhance your Master of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Taxation degree from Southern New Hampshire University. The focused taxation curriculum will introduce you to key concepts, rules and practices in income taxation for individuals, corporations and partnerships, as well as excise tax on estates and goods.
Taught by professional accountants, the interactive MS in taxation degree program is designed to prepare you to meet the growing demand in the workplace for highly skilled accountants. Through practical, interactive coursework, you'll:
- Understand tax law, auditing and financial reporting
- Gain the analytical and technical skills companies and municipal agencies require in their accounting professionals
- Build the foundation you need to launch your career in this high-demand accounting specialty
- Prepare for the Uniform CPA (certified public accountant) Exam
See Yourself Succeed in Taxation
SNHU’s master’s concentration in taxation online will prepare you to counsel the individuals, corporations or nonprofits you’ll work for by helping them to understand how to best manage their financial decisions in preparation for year-end taxes. The program aligns with the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs) set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your MS in Accounting online at SNHU include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
- Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your graduate degree in as few as 15 months, with two courses per 10-week term
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Minimal requirements. No GMAT or GRE required for admission
- Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for tips and career opportunities
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
Admission Requirements
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials. To apply, simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options. Your counselor can also walk you through the application process, which involves completing a graduate application ($40 fee) and providing undergraduate transcripts.
Career Outlook
Complex financial regulations have increased demand for accounting professionals. Career opportunities in this field are expected to grow 10% through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.*
Many in taxation work in federal government, litigation and valuation, investment funds, forensic tax and tax fraud. SNHU's master's in taxation online degree prepares you to succeed in middle and senior management roles such as tax director, analyst or auditor.
Please note: Students cannot earn CPA certification simply by earning a college degree. If you wish to follow the traditional CPA track upon graduation, you'll need to verify you meet all requirements to sit for the exam. Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state, so it's best to review your state-specific requirements. For state-by-state educational requirements, consult the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). For state-by-state CPA licensing requirements, consult the Accounting Licensing Library, powered by the NASBA. The content of our programs aligns with the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs) set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and fulfills the educational requirements for CPA certification in most states.
Curriculum
The online MS in Accounting curriculum is designed to provide you with practical knowledge in auditing, advanced financial reporting, business law, ethics, communication, corporate, partnership, private tax, research and more in a supportive and interactive environment. The content of this program aligns with the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs) set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
TAX
665
Estate and Gift Taxation
This course deals with the federal taxation of gratuitous transfers during a taxpayer's lifetime and property transfers at death. After gaining knowledge of the relevant statutes, regulations and case law, the student will develop estate and gift planning strategies to address estate and gift planning aspects of business and life events.
TAX
670
Tax Research Methodology
Explore the methods and techniques of federal tax research. Learn the rules and procedures for representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service.
TAX
700
Special Topics in Taxation
This course offers an in-depth study of special topics in federal taxation. Major, contemporary problem areas of taxation are explored.
ACC
645
Advanced Auditing
This course is designed to introduce the student who is familiar with financial auditing principles to advanced auditing topics including 1) beyond the financial audit, 2) when audits go wrong, and 3) behavioral and ethical concerns for auditors. The course utilizes a combination of case studies, student presentations, and reviews of current auditing research and professional materials to assist students in increasing their knowledge of auditing. This is a reading intensive course.
ACC
675
Control/Audit of Accounting Info System
New auditing and quality control standards adopted by the PCAOB and the AICPA require auditors to have adequate technical training and must understand the role information technologies play in the maintenance and effective internal control of financial information. Knowledge of EDP auditing and control is particularly important in complying with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), which requires auditors to attest to the standards of internal control and any material weaknesses disclosed by senior management. This course will give auditors the knowledge they need to comply with SOX Section 404 by allowing them to test the process rather than just the product of the financial information system. Select curricular standards set by ISACA will be addressed to assess and to improve auditing and internal control practices.
ACC
690
Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
Students will utilize acquired accounting skills through statement preparation and analysis of business planning for advanced topics. Relevant themes prepare learners for roles that manage U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting, corporations in financial difficulty, foreign currency transactions, and government and nonprofit accounting. Emphasis will be placed on reporting standards and requirements outlined by governing bodies.
ACC
696
Situational Ethics in Accounting
This course deals with the application of academic research related to ethical decision making, identifying evolving ethical issues in the accounting and business environment, and evaluating and applying theories of ethics and justice. Students will be exposed to ethical situations affecting the accounting and business environments to gain a solid foundation on which to address possible circumstances they may face as accounting professionals.
ACC
700
Accounting Capstone
This capstone course is the culminating experience for the M.S. in Accounting program. The aim of the capstone is to assess students' ability to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout their coursework, rather than introducing new concepts. This course is structured to support student success in fulfilling program requirements.
FIN
550
Corporate Financial Management
This course is a study of finance from a corporate perspective including investments, capital structure and re-structuring, budgeting, financial markets, policy, and portfolio management. Students will analyze a firm's opportunities and risk level within these categories to evaluate the impact on shareholder's value.
MBA
610
Business Law
This course provides a survey of the legal environment of business by looking at legal issues and regulations in a business context. The students assess the impact of business law on organizational decision making for informing strategic legal decisions. The course covers employment law, contracts, tort and product liability, internet law as well as other legal issues affecting the business environment. The students also assess the legal and ethical implications of US companies doing business abroad.
MGT
550
Managing Through Communication
Learn how to manage people and organizations effectively using communication as a tool. Enhance skills and techniques in motivating, leading change, developing relationships and team building through effective communication of core visions, active listening and providing feedback. Develop strategic management and communication skills that positively affect stakeholder behavior. Gain comprehensive, hands-on-experience in constructing documents and presentations that inform, persuade and influence the intended audience to achieve strategic goals.
TAX
655
Federal Income Tax of Corporations and Partnerships
This course studies the theories and practices of income taxation of corporations and partnerships and excise tax on estates and gifts.
Program Outcomes
- Evaluate and apply tax research methodologies, techniques, and principles in relation to contemporary problems and established tax rules and regulations
- Employ discipline-specific research strategies to appraise the effectiveness and limitations of financial accounting and reporting practices in a global economy
- Generate complex financial statements for internal and external users including effective compliance with full-disclosure and in accordance with applicable governing rules and regulations
- Apply IRS rules for tax planning to minimize the tax liability of individuals and organizations
- Analyze, interpret and communicate to all stakeholders the significance of accounting information as it relates to an organization’s strategic plans
- Prepare components of financial statements in accordance with both US GAAP and IFRS reporting requirements
- Assess an audit plan for compliance with PCAOB audit standards
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
|
Online Graduate Programs
|
Per Course
|
Per Credit Hour
|
Annual Cost for 15 credits |
|
Degree/Certificates
|
$1,881 |
$627 |
$9,405 |
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)
|
$1,410 |
$470 |
$7,050 |
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
Additional Costs:
$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
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*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm (viewed online December 6, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.