Golden Gate University

ProGRAM Highlights

GGU has earned a reputation for providing the most comprehensive and applicable tax education available today. Our tax program is the largest and one of the most respected graduate tax programs in the country, with many of the Big Four firms hiring Golden Gate University graduates and regularly sending their employees to the university to update their tax education.

Our programs stress a real-world education. They are highly focused and prepare students to be a knowledgeable tax professional. The programs are designed to provide our students with the opportunity to gain a thorough and current knowledge of tax law concepts and practices, as well as trends of the discipline in an environment that promotes the development of analytic and communication skills.

For those interested in gaining a graduate education without having to physically attend classes, the School of Taxation offers the master of science in taxation degree and the graduate certificate in taxation in asynchronous, interactive web-based classes. Students learn through study of prepared web modules and extensive online classroom interaction.

Career Development & Placement Support

Cohort students earning their MST degree will attend many frequent workshops focusing on career search techniques, including resume writing and interview coaching. Multiple career options are presented by tax and accounting firms and industry leaders. Networking events and interactive sessions with accounting and tax professionals at all levels - from first year staff members to managing partners - are convened exclusively for cohort students. Technical panels and hands-on traning sessions allow cohort students to immediately leverage their classroom knowledge so they are able to use what they have learned in real-life practice situations during their internship or employment position.

Please note that any applicant who has not taken accounting courses is strongly encouraged to enroll in the intensive, 8-week accounting bootcamp program (early June through late July). The courses covered in this session are ACCTG 200 (Financial Accounting for Accounting Majors), ACCTG 200A (Intermediate Accounting) and ACCTG 200B (Intermediate Accounting II).

Internship Eligibility

Students eligible for internship credit must have no tax experience, have taken at least 6 courses in the tax program and maintained a 3.0 GPA.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Graduates of the MS in Taxation Program will:

• Be able to identify tax issues, research and effectively communicate the results.
• Have a defined body of knowledge of essential tax principles and doctrines, including but not limited to the following, and be able to critically apply these principles to practical situations:
  • Substance over form
  • Common law
  • Business purpose
  • Step transactions tax avoidance
  • Claim of right
  • Assignment of income
  • Realization
  • Constructive receipt
  • Related party transactions
  • Gross income
  • Tax benefit rule
• Have the knowledge to select and structure a business entity that will provide a client with maximum after-tax profits.
• Have the basic knowledge and understanding of IRS practice and procedure and be able to represent a client in a tax audit.
• Have a basic knowledge of professional ethical responsibilities.
• Be able to provide an individual with an integrated current and future tax benefits plan.
• Have a general recognition of tax forms.
• Have the skills necessary to work in a high-level tax practice.
• Be able to engage in tax planning in an integrated manner.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The master of science degree in taxation requires completion of 30 semester units. Please refer to p. 123 for the Required Academic Progress and Grade Requirements for Graduation for Graduate Students.

All applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with at least a 3.00 grade-point average (GPA). Individuals with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 are welcome to apply and will be considered for admission based on employment history, professional accomplishments, recommendations, etc. Certificate and open enrollment students must meet the same standards and prerequisites that apply to degree candidates.

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION

All application materials, enrollment service petition materials, or student documentation (including transcripts and letters of recommendation) should be sent to:

Mailing Address:
Golden Gate University
Office of Admissions
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-442-7200

Office Location:
40 Jessie St., 2nd Floor
Customer Service Reception

Applying to the Cohort Program

Admission to the full time 9 month cohort program is selective and limited.

Each application is carefully reviewed by the School of Taxation Admission Committee which considers the following:

• Academic achievement
• A written statement of purpose that explains your interests, a sense of career direction, and how the MS Tax degree will benefit you
• A letter of recommendation. Letters submitted for recommendation should:
  • Be on business or school letterhead with business or school address.
  • Be sent in a business or school envelope directly from the recommender.
  • Include the signature and contact information of the recommender.
  • An e-mail recommendation is acceptable IF, it is sent on a professional business template, electronically signed, and includes the full professional address and phone number of the recommender. The recommendation must be sent from a business or school e-mail address. Please send to: applications@ggu.edu
• A detailed resume reflecting education, any work experience, interests and awards
• A personal interview with the committee may be required

Please Note: Admission to the MS Taxation Cohort Program is only for the Fall term; (foundation courses begin in May).

TUITION

Taxation Courses: $2,775 per 3-unit course

Tuition varies for other courses. See Tuition & Fees for details.

Locations

This program is offered at the following locations: San Francisco , Online , Seattle , Los Angeles .

Student Success rates

Day Tax Students

The day tax cohort is a full-time 9-month accelerated program which commences August of each year. The program is designed for students to complete 18 units in the first 5 months followed by an additional 12 units in the next 4 months. The program is also designed to support and encourage earlier entry into the profession with a goal of part-time or full-time job placement for the students as early as January. Many of the students entering this program are either career changers or recent graduates from undergraduate institutions. The retention rate after 4 terms for this program has averaged 95% for the past 6 years.

Factors contributing to the high rate of retention are:

• accelerated nature of the program
• high job placement rate
• small class size
• close student-teacher relationships
• personalized academic and career advising
• active engagement of tax and accounting professionals as instructors and guest speakers

Since 2003, an average of 62% of full time students successfully graduated within the first 4 terms. Graduation rates increased to averages as high as 88% at the end of 7 terms. To support professional success students are discouraged from enrolling in academic courses when employed in professional internships during the tax/accounting busy season (January-April). In many cases this is a contributing factor extending graduation beyond 4 terms. Once a student is employed, various business obligations may impact timing of degree completion.

Evening & Online Students

The evening and online students primarily matriculate on a part time basis. A majority of these students are working professionals -- both those already in the tax or accounting industry and those seeking career changes. These part-time students typically register for 2 courses per year avoiding taking a course during busy season (spring trimester), graduating in 5 years (or 15 academic terms).

In addition, International students (who are required to enroll in 3 courses a term), and a small group of evening and online students, who by choice enroll in 2-3 courses a term, complete their degree in 2-3 years (6-9 terms).

The average retention rate since 2003 in the first 4 terms for the evening or online student is 82%. The average graduation rate in the first 4 terms is 3% increasing to an average of 42% after 13 terms and an average of 66% after 15 terms.

Advanced Program — 30 Units*

Core Courses — 21 Units

Electives — 9 Units

Students in the part-time program will take nine additional units with the TA prefix. It is highly recommended that students take TA 356 Limited Liabilities Companies and S Corporations: A Choice of Entity (3 units). Students in the full-time program will take, if eligible, three additional units with the TA prefix and six units of Tax Internship (TA 398).

Evening/part-time students may have an option of taking units for a Tax Internship (TA 398) if they are eligible by 1) completing 6 courses 2) having a minimum 3.0 GPA 3) having no experience in the field (eligibility is confirmed by the academic advisors).

*Students transferring credit from accredited law schools, colleges and universities may be granted as many as six units of credit toward the MS (tax) requirements for graduate tax courses successfully completed at those institutions.

SCHEDULES

• MS Tax Path to Completion Flow Chart
• MS Tax Cohort Schedule
• MS Tax Cohort Sample Schedule