USC Leventhal School of Accounting
Graduate Degrees
Master of Business Taxation
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 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. Typically, a student with an undergraduate degree in accounting will complete the 30 unit program. A student with an undergraduate degree in any other subject usually needs preparatory course work totaling 15–18 additional units.
Prerequisite Course Work
Each summer the Leventhal School of Accounting offers an eight-week, 40 hours-per-week course to students who have not completed undergraduate degrees or other extensive course work in accounting. ACCT 525x Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (15 units) must be completed successfully prior to beginning the core program.
If students have not taken a finance course as part of their undergraduate degree, they will also be required to take GSBA 548 Corporate Finance (3 units) prior to or during the program.
Degree Requirements
| CORE PROGRAM (18 units) | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 530 | Ethics for Professional Accountants | 3 |
| ACCT 550T | Tax Research and Professional Responsibilities | 3 |
| ACCT 551T | Taxation of Partnerships and S-Corps | 3 |
| ACCT 560T | Tax Theory and Ethics | 3 |
| ACCT 561T | Income Tax of Corporations and Their Shareholders | 3 |
| At least one from the following (to be determined by previous course work) | ||
| GSBA 523T | Communication for Accounting and Tax Professionals, or | |
| BUCO 503 | Advanced Managerial Communication, or | |
| BUCO 533 | Managing Communication in Organizations | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSE WORK (12 units) | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least 9 units from the following list. Three additional units may be selected from this list or any Marshall (BAEP, BUCO, FBE, GSBA, DSO, MKT, MOR) 500-level elective. | ||
| ACCT 563T | Federal Estate and Gift Taxes | 3 |
| ACCT 567T | Taxation of Transactions in Property | 3 |
| ACCT 568T | Taxation of Foreign Business Operations | 3 |
| ACCT 569T | Advanced Partnership Taxation | 3 |
| ACCT 570T | State and Local Tax Concepts | 3 |
| ACCT 571T | Taxation of Individuals | 3 |
| ACCT 573T | Federal Tax Procedure | 3 |
| ACCT 576T | Tax Consolidations | 3 |
| ACCT 578T | Advanced Corporate Taxation | 3 |
| ACCT 580T | Tax Accounting Methods | 3 |
| ACCT 582 | Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions | 3 |
| ACCT 583 | Income Tax Accounting and Auditing | 3 |
| ACCT 584 | Family Wealth Preservation | 3 |
| ACCT 586 | Financial Reporting Topics and Analysis for Tax Professionals | 3 |