Master of Taxation

Our Master of Taxation degree provides a thorough understanding of tax law to professionals with an accounting or financial background.
Students train alongside JD students in our LLM program to gain cross-disciplinary experience on aspects of tax. Our curriculum is nothing but tax, with courses taught using the Internal Revenue Code, treasury regulations and other related material.
Highlights:
- Complete the entire program online or on-site.
- Full-time students can earn a degree in just one year; part-time options are also available for working professionals.
- Excellent nationwide job placement through on-campus recruiting programs and extensive networking.
- Generous scholarships and other financial aid available.
“As a CPA, I really enjoyed taking classes with attorneys and other experienced classmates because they always contributed different perspectives to the class, stimulating me to think further.”
Xiaoyi Liu, ‘16
Learn More
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Earn Your Degree Online
Our entire program is offered online for students who are unable to travel to campus. As an online student, you will have access to the same courses, materials, and assignments. You will also receive the same level of attention from faculty as on-site students.
Course delivery includes:
- Rich-media recordings of each live classroom presentation, which can be accessed live or later on-demand.
- A robust online learning platform where students can access course media and materials, submit work and quizzes, and interact with professors and other students.
- Ability to participate in online discussions with students in Denver and around the globe.
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Program Highlights
- A highly sophisticated and relevant course of study in taxation grounded in the Internal Revenue Code, treasury regulations, and materials developed especially for our program to enhance your understanding of the complex subject matter.
- Outstanding faculty, including professionals from top local and national firms and the IRS.
- Complete the entire program online or on-site.
- Full-time students can earn a degree in just one year; part-time options are also available for working professionals.
- Excellent nationwide job placement opportunities through job postings, on-campus recruiting programs, alumni connections, and extensive networking.
- Generous scholarships and other financial aid available
- An enviable location in Denver, Colorado, one of the nation's most dynamic cities and just minutes from the recreational opportunities of the Rocky Mountains.
Curriculum Standards
The educational standards of the program are rigorous, but our students and graduates consistently comment on how they are the most prepared and knowledgeable of their colleagues. The environment, however, is one of cooperation rather than competition, and the teaching attitude is both helpful and challenging. The program is dedicated to the pursuit of superior professional competence, and students with similar aspirations find their studies in the graduate tax program entirely rewarding.
An added bonus for our students is that we create high-quality video recordings of all of our classes. All students have access to the recordings for the classes they are enrolled in. This is particularly helpful if you miss a class or just want to review the lecture again. If you have an employment offer outside of the Denver area, it is easy to switch to online student status to complete your degree.
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Application Information
Application Process
- Complete online application including a non-refundable $65 application fee
- Official transcripts of all college credits, sent to Graduate Tax Program directly from the college or university where the credit was earned. Previous University of Denver students are not exempt from this requirement.
- Our address for transcripts: Graduate Admissions, University of Denver Sturm College of Law 2255 East Evans Avenue, Suite 115, Denver, CO 80208-0631.
- For master of taxation applicants: GMAT scores are required for some students. Please read below regarding GMAT waivers. All GMAT scores must be sent electronically to the Graduate Tax Program directly from GMAC (GMAT code number MZR-6J-02). We also accept GRE scores.
- GMAT/GRE Waivers: We will consider you waived from the GMAT if you meet one of more of the following qualifications:
- You received a bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration degree with a major in accounting. Cumulative GPA must be greater than or equal to 3.0.
- You received a bachelor's degree in accounting or a business administration degree with a major in accounting and you have earned a graduate degree from an accredited school.
- You have passed all four parts of the CPA exam. Verification must be uploaded to your application or sent to the Graduate Admissions Office.
- GMAT/GRE Waivers: We will consider you waived from the GMAT if you meet one of more of the following qualifications:
- Personal statement essay
- Please provide a 1-2 page narrative describing your background and professional goals and why you are interested in pursuing the Graduate Tax Program.
- Current resume
- Letters of recommendation (minimum two, maximum three)
- Students whose native language is not English and who have not received a degree from a U.S. institution must either submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 587 (95 computer-based), an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 7.0.
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Scholarships & Financial Aid
The Graduate Tax Program prides itself on being able to offer various merit scholarships to qualified applicants. All students are considered for these merit scholarships upon an initial application review by the admissions committee. We recommend submitting all application materials as soon as possible to be considered for the best scholarship opportunities. Students will be notified of any awards with their acceptance letters.
Additional scholarship possibilities are also available through the DU Financial Aid Office.
“I received a scholarship from the graduate tax program, which I wasn’t even expecting to get! The professors here are amazing, every one of them is so good, and knowing I have the help of the scholarship has really allowed me to relax and focus on finishing my education. The scholarships you can get here really make a difference.”
— Vincent Luparell, '18
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Careers & Employment
Postgraduate employment is a vital concern of both students and faculty. Because the graduate tax program is the only program of its kind in the Rocky Mountain Region, and has an excellent national reputation, it is well situated to offer its students a variety of job opportunities in this region as well as across the U.S.
“The on campus recruitment process was a great experience because it narrowed down choices of firms that were specifically interested in my skill set. The interview experience was so valuable and ultimately helped me get an internship. Having an internship lined up so early on in the program gave me peace of mind, as I did not have to worry about it moving forward.”
— Jessica Scherrer, ‘18
The Big Four accounting firms and many other national, regional, and local firms interview applicants each year during our fall and spring recruiting seasons and our on-campus interview process. The busy fall recruiting season begins in September and lasts through October. The recruitment process is an integral part of our program. Many of our alumni are currently employed by the top regional and national firms. They are enthusiastic supporters of our current students and often return as part of the recruitment team to assist in encouraging employment connections and advocate for our students in the hiring process.
Many students who are seeking new positions receive offers through this process. Firms that have historically recruited our students and alumni include:- Anton Collins Mitchell
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Armanino LLP
- BKD
- CBIZ
- Crowe LLP
- Deloitte
- Eide Bailly
- Ernst & Young
- Grant Thornton
- KPMG
- Moss Adams
- Plante Moran
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- RSM
- Rubin Brown
- Stone Pine Accounting
- Tax Ops
Additional job listings come in throughout the year and are posted on the law school’s Symplicity job board. Students with specialized interests and expertise have access to our network of alumni who work in a variety of industries and settings throughout the country.
The Office of Career Development at Denver Law and the Suitts Graduate Career Center of the College of Business maintain detailed job listings through their respective job board databases, available only to University of Denver students and alumni. -
Hands-on Learning: Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) is one of largest and well-established tax clinics in the country. The clinic is highly regarded in the community and is the preferred referral source for the U.S. Tax Court in Denver.
The LITC represents low income taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service in audit, appeals, collections and Tax Court litigation. Students participating in the clinic gain valuable experience handling client matters, researching individual income tax issues and working directly with the Internal Revenue Service and Colorado Department of Revenue. Our clinic represents nearly 250 clients annually.
The United States Tax Court comes to Denver approximately four times each year. While the Tax Court is in town, students have an opportunity to attend a calendar call and trials, interact with IRS Office of Chief Counsel attorneys and Tax Court judges, and advise pro se taxpayers about the Tax Court process and their rights.
Additionally, the LITC hosts and participates in a variety of outreach presentations and events with taxpayers and community organizations throughout the year.
If you are enrolled in the Graduate Tax Program (as an M.T. or LL.M. student) or the Sturm College of Law you can participate in the LITC for credit or as a volunteer. Please contact Professors Erin Stearns (Director) or Samantha Galvin (Assistant Director) for additional information.
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Resources for Online Students
Canvas helpdesk: 24/7 Canvas Support Hotline (Students) 1-855-712-9770
Isaac Lodico, Professor of the Practice of Taxation, ilodico@law.du.edu
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Course Descriptions
Click below to find more information about the courses offered.
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Course Schedules
Click below to find more information about course schedules.
Course Schedules
The Graduate Tax Program has been a leader in the education of tax professionals for over 40 years. The demand for our graduates continues to increase, and our curriculum combines both the law and accounting aspects of tax practice, giving our graduates the ability to provide thoughtful, practical advice to their clients.