A great return on your investment
Breadcrumb
Credit hours: 30+ (possible prerequisite)
Full-time, part-time
Online and evening class options
7:1 student-faculty ratio
Start terms: fall, spring, summer
Taught by experts in both law and accountancy
Our master’s program in taxation is taught by a mix of professors who are researchers and practitioners. Every course has a tax focus, so you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeply into areas of tax that other programs can’t offer. Less than 2% of programs worldwide have CU Denver’s AACSB accounting accreditation.
Two in-depth taxation tracks
Network with top Denver accounting firms
Taught by practicing lawyers and accountants
Separately accredited for accounting by AACSB
- Corporate
- Partnerships and other pass-through entities
Our MS Taxation program gives accountants, lawyers, and enrolled agents looking to work within taxation an edge over other professionals. With careful planning, the degree can be completed in a year, but most of our students work full-time and graduate in two years.
Through our flexible evening classes in our downtown location, you’ll enhance your education while continuing your career. This program also prepares you to pass the CPA exam by helping you meet minimum academic requirements and coursework designed with the CPA in mind.
You'll have full access to our Business Career Connections team for life. With over 10 years of recruiting and advising experience, they'll help you navigate your way through the corporate recruiting process. Our connections to over 300 business partners provide exclusive opportunities to network with industry leaders. Their services include:
- Career workshops – perfect your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job search process
- Individual appointments – explore what your personal career path looks like, review your resume, or schedule a mock interview
- Career events – hone your networking skills and meet hiring managers from top companies
- Job announcements – monthly emails with the latest job and internship opportunities specific to your degree
The tax curriculum consists of 30 credit hours with a possible additional 3 hours as a prerequisite that can be waived for those with formal business education. The flexibility built into the program ensures you take the classes that are most relevant to your career interests.
Tax prerequisite coursework (12 hours)
The 12 hours of prerequisite coursework ensure you have a strong foundation. This coursework can be waived based on acadmic performance in equivalent coursework previously completed.
Tax core courses (24 hours)
Course topics include:
- Auditing Theory
- Accounting information systems
- Taxation of business entities
- Accounting ethics
- Taxation of C corporations and shareholders
- Advanced tax for individuals
- Tax research
- Partnership taxation
Tax electives (6 hours)
Electives allow you to dive deeper into the areas of taxation that are most relevant for your future career. Course topics include:
- Advanced financial accounting
- Accounting for governments and nonprofits
- Accounting for finance and sustainability
- Fraud auditing
MS Taxation
Value 1: Analyze Critically
Outcome: Apply fundamental tax principles and techniques to analyze and integrate complex tax issues in order to make informed decisions.
Value 2: Research Effectively
Outcome: Research tax problems effectively and efficiently utilizing primary and secondary research materials and sources and online tax research tools.
Value 3: Behave Ethically
Outcome: Conduct their respective tax practices according to professional standards and ethical decision-making.
Value 4: Communicate Effectively
Outcome: Communicate tax concepts in a clear, concise and effective manner in both written and oral form.
These objectives are assessed in relevant courses across the curriculum using written assignments and exam questions.
Tuition
The cost of tuition for the MS Taxation degree is different for in-state and out-of-state students.
Residents of western states may qualify for in-state tuition. The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) requires that students maintain current residency of WRGP state until degree completion.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for students. As a current student, you can apply for scholarships every semester. Some awards are based on program and course enrollment.
Dual degree options for Master of Science programs include all of our MBA programs and all Business School Master of Science programs. We design a specific degree plan so you get through both programs as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. The amount of credits in each dual degree depends on the amount of overlap between degree programs. Eligible Master of Science programs include:
- MS Accounting
- MS Business Analytics
- MS Finance and Risk Management
- MS Global Energy Management
- MS Health Administration
- MS Information Systems
- MS International Business
- MS Management
- MS Marketing
- MS Taxation
If you are applying for both degrees, you will only need to submit one online application and pay one application fee. Be aware that you must meet specific admission standards for each degree. For more information about dual degree options and the application process, please contact BSchool.Admissions@ucdenver.edu.
Application Checklist
$50 domestic, $75 international application fee
Online application
GMAT/GRE score
Official transcripts from each college or university attended
Essay responses
Resume
English language proficiency—international applicants only
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit all application materials. Interviews are not a part of the admission process. To receive priority admission, we must have received your online application and all other required materials including transcripts and GMAT/GRE scores by the deadline.
You can check your admission status online through the account you created for the online application. You will receive a final decision by email within two to three weeks from submission of all materials.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited United States college or its equivalent in another country.
- The GMAT is required for admission, however, the GRE may be substituted. GMAT waivers are available on a case-by-case basis and can be requested while completing the online application.
- No work experience or formal business education is required for admission.
How Decisions Are Made
The admissions committee considers each candidate’s entire record of achievement. This is demonstrated through:
- Academic transcripts
- GMAT/GRE scores
- Essay responses
- Letters of recommendation if applicable
- Work experience
- Extracurricular and community activities
No work experience or formal business education is required for admission. However, professional experience strengthens your application. Candidates with less work experience can show potential through academic and experiential success.
For any questions, please contact our admissions team at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-8200.
International Students
To meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) criteria, you must either showcase your proficiency through past education in English instruction or an English Language Proficiency test. If you are a citizen of a country whose official language is English, you do not have to prove proficiency. See below for a listing of accepted countries.
To claim proficiency, you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note that test scores are valid for two years.
- Submit a TOEFL score that meets the minimum requirements of 75 (IBT) or 537 (PBT). The minimum IBT sub scores for each section are: Reading: 15, Listening: 15, Speaking: 18, Writing: 17.
- Submit an IELTS score of at least 6.5 The minimum IELTS sub scores for the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections are 5.5.
- Submit a copy of completion from the CU Denver ESL Academy.
- Earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the United States or has successfully completed a minimum of two semesters of full-time study in a master’s program at an accredited institution in the United States.
- Have graduated from a US/UK accredited school abroad with English as the medium of instruction.
- Earned an associate's or bachelor's degree in the US or have successfully completed a minimum of two semesters of full-time study in a master's program at an accredited institution in the US.
- Be a citizen of a country whose official language is English. These countries include Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full.
Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full. Course offerings are limited for summer.
Fall
Domestic Applications
- Priority: April 15
- Final: July 15
International Applications
- Priority: March 15
- Final: May 15
Spring
Domestic Applications
- Priority: October 15
- Final: December 15
International Applications
- Priority: September 15
- Final: October 15
Summer
Domestic Applications
- Priority: February 15
- Final: April 15
International Applications
- Priority: January 15
- Final: March 15
Beta Alpha Psi - CU Denver’s active chapter of the premier national fraternity hosts several networking events every semester. You’ll connect with your peers and network with top Denver firms looking to hire.
Accomplished graduate student reflects on CU Denver’s new MS in taxation program and talks life post grad
Every year, the Big Four accounting firms directly recruit our students every fall for internship and full-time jobs.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
- Ernst & Young
- KPMG
Start the conversation.
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Attend a graduate open house, online or in-person information session, or a GMAT test prep workshop. Visit our events page for all upcoming events.
