The BSBA/MS in Taxation Joint Degree Program is designed for students with a serious commitment to careers in accounting and financial management or in taxation. By planning carefully during the freshman and sophomore years of the BSBA, students can complete courses that will prepare them for the CPA examinations in Massachusetts leading to a public accounting career. Students may wish to take coursework that prepares them for careers in corporate accounting and financial management, not-for-profit accounting and financial management, corporate taxation, or financial advising.

The BSBA/MST can be completed in five years of full-time study, including the summer between the fourth and fifth years. It can also be completed in four years of full-time study and two years of part-time study which offers an attractive combination of academic study supplemented by practical experience as additional career preparation.

Professional qualification

Graduating students from the BSBA/MST are expected to proceed to professional qualifications such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) or the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

Application

Students who qualify for entry into the joint programs are matriculated students in the Sawyer Business School BSBA degree program majoring in accounting. Typically, students must apply to the joint degree programs during the fall semester of the senior year to avoid taking courses that may not be required in the joint program. Exceptions may be made for admission if application is made prior to completion of the spring semester of the senior year.

Applicants must take the GMAT examination and satisfy the entry criteria based on GMAT score and cumulative grade point average through the end of their junior year (or, in the case of later application, the cumulative grade point average through the first semester of the senior year). If admitted to the joint program, students acquire graduate status at the start of the semester following acceptance AND upon completion of 124 credit hours.

Graduation requirements

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in the undergraduate accounting courses, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall in all undergraduate courses must be maintained. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the graduate accounting courses, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 overall in all graduate courses must be maintained to graduate with the joint degree. Students who withdraw from the joint degree program must complete all requirements for the BSBA, including the 150-hour practical experience requirement, before the BSBA degree will be awarded.

Faculty advisor

Students entering the joint programs are assigned a faculty advisor from the Accounting Department to assist them in planning their programs of study and advising them on academic and career matters. This advisor may be different from the advisor initially assigned to a student as an undergraduate accounting major.

BSBA/MST Curriculum

Accounting Major Requirements (18 credits)

• ACCT 331 Intermediate Accounting I
• ACCT 332 Intermediate Accounting II
• ACCT 331 Cost Accounting
• ACCT 421 Taxation
• ACCT 431 Auditing and Assurance Services
• ACCT 432 Advanced Accounting 

Graduate Required Courses (18 credits)

• TAX 861 Tax Research
• TAX 862 Corporate Taxation
• TAX 863 Taxation of Pass-Through Entities
• TAX 864 Tax Practice and Procedure
• TAX 867 Advanced Topics in Corporate Taxation
• TAX 871 Taxation of Estates, Trusts and Gifts

Graduate Electives (12 credits)