The certificate program is helpful for tax professionals seeking to stay relevant in their field or to expand their skills or previous degree. This certificate is available on ground. The tax certificate prepares students to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and also meets requirements for continuing professional education for CPA's.Pre-Master’s students must have a bachelor’s degree and have completed either ACC 201 or one semester of financial accounting. Post- Master’s students may enter the certificate program after obtaining a Master of Science in Taxation degree, an LL.M. in Taxation degree, or any similar advanced degree in taxation.




Pre-Master’s Certificate students must complete any three graduate-level tax courses including Tax 501 (except with written permission of the director) in a three-year period. Courses can be taken on a pass/fail basis (pass required) or at the student’s option on a letter grade basis (C or better in each course required).

TAX 593 (Tax and Business Taxation I) or its equivalent is a required foundation must be completed before the students begins the subsequent three course program of study (which must be approved in writing by the director).

Post-Master’s Certificate students can choose any three graduate-level tax courses not completed in the previous five year period. Courses are taken on a pass/fail basis (pass required).

Available courses include:

• TAX 599 Introduction to Tax Research
• TAX 500 Advanced Tax Research Methodology, Writing,  and Citation
• Tax 501 The Role of Legal Authorities in Taxation
• TAX 507 Tax Accounting
• TAX 509 Sales and Exchanges of Property
• TAX 510 Basic Concepts in Corporate Taxation
• Tax 511 Advance Concepts in Corporate Tax
• Tax 514 Consolidated Tax Returns
• Tax 522 Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates
• Tax 524 Valuation for Tax Purposes
• Tax 528 Estate and Financial Planning
• TAX 531 Partnership and LLC Taxation
• Tax 540 Tax Practice and Procedure
• TAX 545 Tax Ethics, Tax Penalties, and the Law of Tax Return Preparation
• Tax 550 International Taxation
• Tax 557 State and Local Taxation
• Tax 558 Qualified and Non-Qualified Fringe Benefits

Gainful Employment Disclosure Statement
Occupations in which graduates typically find employment after completing the Taxation Certificate include Tax Examiners and Collectors, Revenue Agents and Tax Preparers.  Further information on occupations may be found at http://online.onetcenter.org/crosswalk/ and entering the SOC code of 13-2080.   The normal time frame for completing the certificate is 4 semesters if a student takes the foundation and required courses. The normal time frame for completing the certificate is 3 semesters if a student takes only required courses.   Of the 5 students enrolled in the certificate program during the 2009-10 academic year, none completed the certificate in the normal time frame.  For students who had to complete the foundation course, we estimate that tuition and fees would total $7,424 and that books and supplies would total $732.  For students who had to complete only required course, we estimate that tuition and fees would total $5,668 and that books and supplies would total $549. The median loan amount for students in this certificate program was 0.