Executive Master of Science in Taxation

Our accelerated, one-year, weekend Executive Master of Science in Taxation, offers a leading-edge curriculum that is continuously updated to incorporate tax law changes like the recent revisions to the FASB, SEC, and PCAOB requirements related to tax accruals and the tax provisions for uncertain tax positions on financial statements.

Full-time professors and adjunct faculty include subject matter experts in specialties like international tax, state and local tax, and wealth transfers.

The curriculum includes:

Tax Research, Practice and Procedure 
Transactions in Property
Taxation of Corporations I 
Taxation of Corporations II 
Partnership Taxation 
Wealth Transfers 
Principles of International Taxation
Current Developments in Taxation
State and Local Taxation
Special Topics in Taxation 

The top-ranked College of Business Administration at Florida International University, Miami, Florida, offers a unique, one-year, weekend Executive Master of Science in Taxation program focused on preparing you to tackle those real-world tax issues most relevant to effective tax planning for both individuals and corporations. 

The college’s School of Accounting—separately accredited by AACSB International—and one of the largest in the country, developed this graduate tax program with guidance from top CFOs and tax professionals in Florida. You’ll be trained in how to identify, research, and resolve challenging tax issues in an innovative format combining lectures, demonstrations, individual work and group projects. 

Our high-tech classrooms enable our top-notch faculty to demonstrate tax research, spreadsheet calculations and other computations while lecturing. Our professors don’t just talk about topics like consolidated taxable income, deferred tax assets and liabilities—they show you how they function in organizations every day. The same technology resources and software that you’re likely to have on the job, including databases and methods that leading tax professionals use to succeed, are incorporated into your learning experience in the program.

The Chapman Graduate School of Business’ accelerated, one-year Executive Master of Science in Taxation is offered at Florida International University’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus (Southwest Miami, Florida) campus on Saturdays. Among this master’s in taxation programs key features:

• Fast-track schedule: Your time to completion is twelve months.
• Satisfies the requirement for 30 semester hours post-undergraduate education for CPA licensure purposes.
• Convenient schedule: You can begin in either the fall or spring term. Classes are held on “Saturdays only—no classes during tax season” schedule at Southwest Miami at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus.
• Curriculum is developed in partnership with Miami’s pre-eminent accounting firms.
• Highly Personalized: Small class size and individual attention prevail (class average 20-30 students) which means customized service tailored to your specific needs and a chance to expand your professional network.

Our Executive Master of Science in Taxation affords additional benefits.  Among them:

• You’ll have complete access during class and from home to our various databases, online tax research systems, and a complete periodical search capability for use in solving tax issues.
• We encourage group work, and most classes involve team projects and presentations.
• Exposure to diverse professionals: Since this is a cohort-based, lock-step program, you will build strong relationships with your classmates that will enrich your personal and professional lives during and long after the program. 

In addition, you will enjoy:

• Access to extensive library, software and database resources.
• Career planning services and tools to help you gain the knowledge and professional skills to be even more competitive in today’s challenging job market.
• Executive-style program includes “no-red-tape registration” with attentive support services like catered meals and more.

At the Chapman Graduate School we care very deeply about how well we are accomplishing our mission, how our programs contribute to our overarching goals and how we assure that the institution conforms to specified industry and academic norms.  Consequently, we are committed to measuring the effectiveness of our programs using a well-defined Assurance of Learning process that ensures “accountability and transparency.”

Student Learning Objectives

In recent times, there has been a preponderance of student learning-based models which emphasize that Faculty should model the learning process in consultation with all our stakeholders.  Student Learning Objectives detail what we aim for our students to know, what they can actually do, and what are their vocational attitudes.  These are:

• Objective 1: Identify the pertinent facts and the tax issues to be researched and resolved.
• Objective 2: Analyze complex tax problems using the appropriate tax authority.
• Objective 3: Use computer software to analyze complex tax transactions to comply with tax reporting requirements.
• Objective 4: Identify and resolve ethical conflicts between the needs and desires of taxpayers and the statutory requirements of complex and ever changing tax laws.
• Objective 5: Clearly communicate the results of tax research to the taxpayer and the appropriate taxing authority.

The Executive Master of Science in Taxation program provides you with a convenient schedule and an accelerated, high-caliber curriculum that enables you to maximize your graduate school experience and continue to meet your career and personal obligations. We provide:

• Saturday classes are held at Modesto A. Maidique Campus in Southwest Miami, Florida, with cohorts starting in both Fall and Spring (Fall, Spring).
• Embedded in the schedule are "mini-breaks" to accommodate the busy tax seasons occurring around March 15, April 15, September 15, and October 15.
• Time to degree completion is approximately one year or 12 months.

Q. Where should I send my application materials?              
A. Please send your application materials to: 
Florida International University 
Chapman Graduate School of Business
Attn: Accounting Programs
11200 SW 8th Street CBC 200
Miami, FL  33199-0001

Q. Do all application materials have to be submitted by the deadline? 
A. Yes, all materials have to be turned in by the deadline.  Only those applicants who have submitted complete packets will be considered for acceptance.  Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Q. Where can I obtain an application form for the MACC? 
A. The application form is available under Application Process and Requirements

Q. Do I include my certified transcripts with the application? 
A. Florida International University requires that official transcripts be sent in directly by the college(s) or university(ies) you attend(ed).You cannot send in copies of these transcripts yourself.
 
If you are an alumnus(ae) of the university, there is no need to have transcripts sent.  If you attended a university outside the U.S. and the transcripts are not in English, they must be translated by a certified translator.  The translation and an official copy of the transcripts must be submitted.

Q. When do I pay for courses?
A. You pay for courses each semester, according to the number of courses you take during any given term. See Master of Accounting Tuition.

Q. What kind of undergraduate degree must I have to qualify for this program? 
A. We require that you have an undergraduate degree in accounting or equivalent degree from an accredited university.  Prospective students without undergraduate accounting degrees are required to complete a number of pre-requisite courses.  Students not meeting the upper-level accounting course pre-requisites can satisfy those requirements by completing the graduate Certificate in Foundations of Accounting and Auditing (CFAA cfaa.fiu.edu)
Please contact gradadv@fiu.edu or call 305-348-3501, for answer to any questions about these requirements.

Q. What are the required scores for the GMAT/GRE? 
A. GMAT: minimum score of 500 
     GRE:   minimum score of 1000 (combination of verbal and quantitative)

Q. For how many years are my test scores valid?                                               
A. GMAT scores - 5 years
     GRE scores    - 5 years 
     TOEFL scores - 2 years 
     Institutional TOEFL scores (FIU) - 1 year

Q. Are there any special requirements for international students? 
A. International students need to take the TOEFL test.  They will need to score at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based test, or 6.5 on the IELTS test.  Please visit www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org for more information.
International applicants are required to submit the following documents: Declaration of Certification of Finances (DCF), a bank letter, a sponsor letter, if applicable, and an F-1 transfer if they already have an F-1 Visa.  
Q. Can I start the program in any semester? 
A. You may start in the fall or spring terms. 

Q. Where, when, and at what time are classes held? 
A. Classes are held at the Pembroke Pines, Florida, campus (Fall, Saturdays) or the University Park campus in Miami, Florida (Spring, Saturdays or Fall weeknights) Saturday classes are held from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Weeknight classes are held twice a week from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Q. Are the courses held in a certain sequence? 
A. The Master of Accounting's curriculum provides one desired sequence. This sequence may be changed at the discretion of the program’s administrators.  However, certain prerequisites will be built into any sequence. Course content is dependent on changing demands from the job market and is subject to change.

Q. How many students are there in the classes? 
A. On average, we may have 30 to 40 students in each class. 

Q. Is a thesis required in the program? 
A. No, there is no required thesis.

Q. Can I pursue two graduate degrees at the same time? 
A. No. Unfortunately, you cannot pursue two degrees at the same time. Please contact the FIU Graduate Admissions Office at 305-348-7442 for further information.

Q. Can I apply for financial aid?
A. Yes, you can apply for financial aid by visiting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (ß make this a link to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ ) page on this site for other options.
For specific information about financial aid, visit Florida International University’s Financial Aid Office. It is advisable that you begin the process as soon as possible.

The Chapman Graduate School of Business in Florida International University’s College of Business Administration admits students in the fall and spring terms.

Mailing Address:

Submit all materials to
Florida International University 
Chapman Graduate School of Business
Attn: Accounting Programs
11200 SW 8th Street CBC 200 
Miami, FL  33199-0001

Application Deadlines

The program admits students every fall and spring terms.

Candidates applying to our Master of Accounting Program must adhere to the following deadlines:

Fall Classes

April 1: Last day for international students to submit a graduate application.

May 1: Last day for international students to submit all supporting Academic credentials, appropriate test scores, and Declaration of Finances.

June 1: Last day for U.S. applicants to submit a graduate application and supporting credentials.

Spring Classes

September 1: Last day for international students to submit a graduate application.

October 1: Last day for U.S. applicants to submit a graduate application and supporting credentials.  Last day for international students to submit all supporting academic credentials, appropriate test scores, and Declaration of Finances.

For all applicants

• Complete the online application for admission(http://gradschool.fiu.edu/admissions.html). Scroll down, under “Quick Links” click “Apply online”.
  • To begin the online application you will need to click on the icon that says “Create Account” in the User Login section.  After you create the PIN, you will use the PIN to enter the system and complete the online application.
  • You may complete the online application and submit it, even without having taken the GMAT, GRE or TOEFL.  We prefer that you mail supporting materials (essay, letters of recommendation, etc…) to us rather than uploading them onto the online application. 
• Pay a $30 nonrefundable application fee.  Most major credit cards are accepted.  Checks or money orders are also accepted and should be made payable to Florida International University.
• Send official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and/or universities, in a sealed envelope.
  • A four year bachelor’s in an accounting business degree or related area from a US regionally accredited institution, as well as a minimum upper division grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 are required.  If you are an alumnus (ae) of the university, there is no need to have transcripts sent.
  •  The original transcripts must be submitted in an envelope sealed by the degree-granting institution.
  • Students whose official transcripts are not in English will be required to submit translated transcripts.  If this applies to you, please ask your university to provide two original transcripts.  The first set of transcripts must remain in the sealed envelope.  The second set of transcripts should be sent to an official translation agency for translation.
  • Official proof of degree: a copy of the original diploma is required if the degree is not posted on the official transcript.
• Be in good standing with all previously-attended colleges and universities.
• Submit official GMAT.  Earn a score of at least 500 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) (www.mba.com) or 1000 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (www.ets.org) and achieve a minimum of 25 in the verbal and quantitative percentile sections.  Scores are considered official when sent by the testing center directly to our school.  FIU’s university code is 5206.
  • Students with above average grades from an AACSB accredited university may qualify for a waiver to the GMAT/GRE Test requirements.  To meet this waiver, the student must have a GPA of 3.25 or better on upper-level coursework AND have a GPA of 3.0 or better in the aggregate of Intermediate Financial Accounting I, Intermediate Financial Accounting II, Management Accounting, and Income Taxes. (FIU courses ACG4101, ACG4111, ACG4341, and TAX4001)

The Chapman Graduate School of Business offers special GMAT preparation coursesthroughout the year. 

• If you earned your Bachelor Degree in a country whose official language is not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency by taking either the TOEFL or IELTS.  Minimum scores for the TOEFL are:  550 paper-based, 213 computer-based and 80 internet-based.  Minimum score for the IELTS is 6.5.  To obtain information about the TOEFL exam, please contact the English Language Institute at 305-348-2222, or visit www.toefl.org.   To obtain more information on the IELTS, visit www.ielts.org.   When requesting the official scores, please refer to the Florida International University Institution code 5206.  
• Submit a current resume of professional experience. Resumes may be sent togradadv@fiu.edu.
• Submit 2 letters of recommendation.
• Participate in a personal interview once your complete application is received.

For international students

International students applying for the F-1 student visa will be required to submit financial documentation. Financial documents must be recent (6 months or less from the program start date).

• Request a letter from your bank or the bank of your sponsor (a parent, for example) stating that you or your sponsor have sufficient funds of at least$46,000 for tuition and living expenses.  The types of accounts from which these bank letters are accepted are:  savings, checking or money market accounts.
• If the bank account and aforementioned letter are in the name of a sponsor, the sponsor will need to submit a signed sponsor letter stating that he or she will fund your education and expenses while you are enrolled in the MS in Finance program.  Click here to see a sample sponsor letter.
• Submit a completed and signed Declaration of Finance (DCF) form. Please note that the minimum amount in the DCF must be at least $46,000 for the academic year 2009-2010.

If you fail to meet one or more of the above criteria, or feel your earned GPA or standardized test scores are not indicative of your ability to be successful in a graduate degree program, please submit additional documentation to augment your application portfolio.  The Admissions Committee will consider, for example, a master’s or a law degree, a professional certification such as the CPA, CFA, SHRM or other comparable certification, specialized leadership experience or training, or other similar evidence of special qualities as additional factors in evaluating your application. 

Under exceptional circumstances, applicants may be admitted conditionally, provided they have a GPA of 2.75 or higher in all of their upper division course work as undergraduates and demonstrate extraordinary credentials in all other aspects of the admissions criteria.  In such cases, students must complete their first 12 graduate credit hours with a GPA of 3.25 or higher in order to qualify for full admission to the program.

Keep in mind, that for this competitive program, students with the best combination of GPA and test scores will have the first opportunity to enter the program.  Only those applicants who have submitted complete application packets will be considered. Meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.

Apply now.

Tuition for a Florida resident is approximately $27,515 and, for non-Florida residents and international students is $30,515. This does not include textbooks or housing. All fees are subject to change.

Tuition per semester breakdown is as follows:

Executive Master of Science in Taxation Tuition

Florida Resident
Semester 1: $8,254.47
Semester 2: $8,254.47
Semester 3: $11,005.96

Out-of-State
Semester 1: $9,154.47
Semester 2: $9,154.47
Semester 3: $12205.96

The Chapman Graduate School of Business offers annually a number of academic scholarships to entering students based on merit and depending on the resources available to each program. In addition, there are a number of named scholarships, funded by individuals, companies and financial institutions, some of which have special requirements but offer the added incentive of internship possibilities in addition to tuition funding.

Graduate scholarships are designated for qualified students seeking their MBA and Master's Degrees in the College of Business Administration. Scholarship applications will be available to download during application period, beginning January 25, 2010 through April 30, 2010.  Specific selection criteria and award amounts vary per scholarship.

Visit scholarship sources outside the College of Business Administration for more scholarship opportunities.

For more information, or to apply, please contact the Program Manager for the program in question. The Chapman School’s Scholarship Committee will meet regularly during the year to consider all applications.

We recommend that you begin thinking about your financial aid needs and options during the initial admissions process to the Chapman Graduate School of Business.  Please contact our Chapman Graduate School Financial Aid Coordinator for more information.

The college also offers scholarships and tuition waivers for graduate students. For additional information about financial aid, you also may wish to visit the university's financial aid officeweb site.