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2014-2015 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Master of Science in Taxation

The M.S.T. program serves individuals who are interested in expanding or continuing their education in taxation. It is specialized, practical, and intensely client focused. Students examine substantive tax law and enhance their analytical and research skills, thus enabling them to analyze tax problems, identify the relevant issues, and arrive at the appropriate conclusions or courses of action.

Admission to the Master of Science in Taxation Program

Candidates are admitted to the M.S.T. program based on criteria that have been shown to predict success. Applicants must submit official documentation of all previous college course work, including a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent international credential). An undergraduate degree in accounting is not required, although those with limited undergraduate exposure to taxation are required to complete appropriate courses to provide a foundation for advanced study in taxation. Additionally, applicants must submit:

  • GMAT score
  • Personal Statement
  • TOEFL score (if English is not the applicant's first language)

Admission requirements are provided in detail in the Seidman College of Business section of this catalog, including conditions that qualify applicants for a GMAT waiver.

Transfer Credit
A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit will be given for appropriate graduate courses completed with a grade of B or better from another AACSB-accredited college. These credits may be substituted for required courses or elective courses as determined by the program director. University policy on transfer of credit also governs such courses.

Academic Review
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required in all graduate-level courses. Additionally, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all 600-level courses that fulfill graduation requirements for the M.S.T A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all graduate courses that fulfill graduation requirements for the M.S.T.

Requirements for the M.S.T.

The M.S.T. program consists of 33 semester hours of 600-level coursework.

Core Courses

The following five core courses are required of all M.S.T. students. Each course is three credits:

Elective Courses

In addition, all M.S.T. students must complete at least two of the following tax elective courses. Each course is three credits:

The remaining four electives may be selected from among Seidman M.S.T. courses or, with faculty advisor approval, other Seidman graduate offerings or graduate program offerings outside the Seidman College of Business.

Cognates

Certain cognates must be completed before graduation. They may be completed as part of the student's undergraduate program prior to admission to the M.S.T. program or completed anytime between admission and program completion. These cognates include accounting and economics and at least four of the following areas: business law, computer science and information systems, finance, marketing, and statistics.

Cognate Area
Cognate Course
GVSU Undergraduate Course(s)

Accounting

ACC 511 Financial and Managerial Accounting Concepts (3 credits)

ACC 212 & 213 (6 credits)

Statistics and Finance

FIN 520 Statistics and Mathematics of Finance (3 credits)

STA 215 (3 credits) and

FIN 320 (3 credits)

Legal Environment

BUS 531 Legal Environment of Business (2 credits)

BUS 201 (3 credits)

Economics

ECO 542 Economic Reasoning (3 credits)

ECO 210 & 211 (6 credits)

Students who have completed GVSU undergraduate courses listed above with a grade of "B" or better or the equivalent at another college or university are not required to complete additional 500-level coursework in the respective areas. A background assessment showing the status of the student's cognate requirements is provided to each student at the time of admission.

Capstone

The M.S.T. is a program designed for working professionals. Classes are offered in the evenings, and most students attend part-time. Students who have completed the cognate requirements and enroll for six credits each semester graduate in two years. The M.S.T. can be completed in four semesters of full-time study, including two fall semesters, if the student has completed all cognate requirements and attends full-time.

Students must complete a program plan with their faculty advisor prior to beginning course work.

Taxation Program Description

Click here for the program description.



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