Business Taxation (MBT)

 

Understanding taxation is critical to every business decision and many personal decisions as well. Whether you are preparing for a career as a tax professional in public accounting, industry, government or the investment arena or are starting your own business, tax planning must be done. Because of the complexity of the tax law and its pervasive influence, people facing tax decisions routinely call on tax professionals for advice in planning and structuring their affairs in order to comply with the law and to ensure economic good sense.

The Master of Business Taxation (MBT) program is designed to develop the skills and expertise professionals need to assist individuals and firms trying to cope with myriad tax legislation and regulation at both the federal and local levels. The program offers students: 1) technical and conceptual knowledge; 2) professional development; 3) research and lifelong learning; 4) ethical and professional standards; and 5) globalization and diversity. For details on these student learning outcomes, see the program Website at marshall.usc.edu/mbt/academics.

Application

An undergraduate accounting or business major is not necessary, nor is work experience a requirement. The program enrolls students in the summer or fall based on their academic backgrounds. For application information visit marshall.usc.edu/mbt/admissions.

Program Requirements

The Master of Business Taxation degree requires 48 units, including fundamentals, core requirements and electives.

Academic Background Review and Waivers

The Leventhal School of Accounting Master’s Program Office evaluates the academic background of each admitted student to determine the courses required to complete the program.   

Students admitted for summer term start with ACCT 525x  Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices – an eight-week, 40 hours-per-week course for students who have not completed undergraduate degrees or other extensive course work in accounting.  This course must be completed successfully prior to beginning the core in the fall.

Students admitted for fall term generally hold a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and are waived from the 15 unit ACCT 525x  class reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 33.

USC BS in Accounting students may qualify for waiver of an additional 6 units reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 27. (USC BS in Accounting students should meet with a graduate adviser during their junior year to determine if they qualify.)

Any of the groups listed above who have taken an equivalent of GSBA 548  Corporate Finance may petition to waive out of the requirement, reducing the number of units required to complete the degree by 3 units.