Benedictine University

What you'll study

The Master's in Taxation covers the technical and practical aspects of modern tax practice. Core topics include federal income taxation of individuals, corporations and partnerships; state and local taxation (SALT); estate and gift taxation; and international tax concepts. The curriculum emphasises tax research and writing, tax planning strategies, accounting methods and IRS procedure.

Typical modules and learning experiences you can expect:

• Individual Federal Taxation – comprehensive treatment of income, deductions, credits and compliance issues for individuals.
• Business Taxation – corporate and partnership taxation, formation and distribution rules, and tax attributes.
• State and Local Tax (SALT) – nexus, apportionment, sales and use tax and tax policy matters affecting multistate operations.
• International Taxation – cross-border transactions, transfer pricing fundamentals and basic tax treaties concepts.
• Estate and Gift Tax – transfer taxation, planning techniques and trust taxation basics.
• Tax Research and Compliance – use of primary and secondary tax authorities, legal analysis and drafting memoranda.
• Tax Policy and Ethics – professional responsibility, ethics and the role of tax policy in practice.
• Practicum/Capstone – applied project or casework simulating real client engagements and tax problem solving.

The programme is commonly offered in formats that accommodate working professionals, including evening and online classes, and allows electives to tailor learning toward public accounting, corporate tax, estate planning or international tax practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor's degree. Candidates with an undergraduate degree in accounting or a related business discipline will find core prerequisites already met; applicants from other backgrounds may be required to complete foundational accounting and taxation courses before or during the programme.

Typical application components include:

• Official undergraduate transcripts
• A current résumé or CV showing relevant work experience
• A personal statement describing career goals and reasons for pursuing the degree
• Letters of recommendation (usually academic or professional)

Some applicants with substantial professional experience or appropriate prior coursework may be eligible for test waivers for standardised exams. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements and provide academic credential evaluations where required.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a variety of tax-focused roles in public accounting firms, corporate tax departments, government and advisory practices. Common career pathways include:

• Tax Staff and Senior in public accounting leading to Tax Manager and Partner
• Corporate Tax Analyst or Tax Manager within multinational corporations or mid-size companies
• State and Local Tax specialist roles addressing nexus, sales tax and apportionment
• Estate planning and trust services in private client practices
• Positions in tax agencies and government revenue departments
• Specialist consultant roles in transfer pricing, international tax structuring or tax controversy

The programme also supports professionals preparing for credentialing such as the CPA or Enrolled Agent examinations by providing advanced tax coursework and research experience valued by employers.

Why study at Benedictine University

Benedictine University provides a practitioner-focused taxation programme delivered by faculty with real-world tax, accounting and legal experience. Class sizes are typically small, enabling personalised instruction and direct interaction with instructors who bring recent practice perspectives into the classroom.

The university offers flexible delivery options suited to working professionals, including evening and online coursework, and maintains connections with regional accounting firms, corporate employers and alumni that can support internships, practicum placements and career networking. Students benefit from applied learning components that prepare them to handle complex tax research, compliance and planning challenges in professional settings.