Boston University Master in the Study of Tax Law in 2027

Boston University's Master in the Study of Tax Law (MSL-Tax) teaches accountants, auditors and other business professionals how tax law works, without requiring a law degree, in 24 credits you can complete online or on campus.

This degree sits at Boston University (BU) School of Law, home to a Graduate Tax Program that has run since 1959. It's designed for non-lawyers who want advanced training in the complexities of tax law, and the school describes it as foundational tax law training for aspiring and current accountants, auditors and other business professionals.

You don't need a law degree to apply. Before your first semester you complete a short, non-credit online module on the U.S. legal system, the sources of tax law, legal research, case analysis and legal writing, so you start with the same footing as everyone else. From there you build tax knowledge through courses taught by tax practitioners, and you finish with a substantial written project.

Graduates look toward public accounting and tax advisory firms, corporate tax and finance departments, government and regulatory agencies, and consulting and advisory roles. The program hosts employer engagement opportunities with Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, along with access to proprietary job postings and career resources.

BU Law reports that within nine months of graduation, 95.5% of students from the past five years secured employment in professional services firms, law firms, government agencies and financial services companies. BU Law has a dedicated LLM professional development office for career support, and the Graduate Tax Program's professional network includes more than 3,000 alumni.

Where this degree can lead: Masters in Taxation Jobs.

Who It Fits

• Accountants and auditors: the program is designed for current and aspiring accountants, auditors and business professionals who want a stronger grounding in tax law.
• Aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs): one student quoted by the school said that a lot of their classes counted toward their accounting CPA credit.
• Working professionals: part-time students have up to four years to finish, and you may mix online and on-campus courses.
• International students who want more time in U.S. law: a Two-Year option gives deeper grounding in U.S. legal systems and foundational U.S. tax coursework, plus networking and career advising.
• Career changers into corporate tax and finance: the degree points toward public accounting and tax advisory firms, corporate tax and finance departments, government and regulatory agencies, and consulting.

The degree requires 24 credits, with five required courses and two additional courses focused on legal research and writing. Your courses come from the same Graduate Tax Program list that Master of Laws (LLM) students draw on, taught in the same classrooms. Federal Income Tax 1 (TX 901) introduces gross income, deductions and timing. Federal Income Tax 2 (TX 902) covers property, including realization, basis, debt, depreciation and capital gains.

Introduction to Corporate Tax (TX 933) walks through transfers of assets to a corporation, distributions, redemptions and liquidations. Partnership Tax (TX 930) explains subchapter K and the treatment of partnerships and limited liability companies. Estate and Gift Tax (TX 904) deals with taxable gifts, the taxable estate and lifetime transfers. Tax Research (TX 985) shows you how statutes, regulations and agency issuances stack into layers of precedent.

Writing for Tax Practice (TX 992) teaches client letters, memoranda and responses to the Internal Revenue Service. The writing requirement is concrete. You complete at least 4 credits in research and writing courses, such as Tax Seminar (TX 982) or Tax Law Research (TX 985). You also produce a written project of at least 7,500 words, not counting footnotes.

That paper gives you a writing sample you can show an employer.

Courses the School Names

• Federal Income Tax I (TX 901)
• Federal Income Tax II (TX 902)
• Tax Research (TX 985)
• Writing for Tax Practice (TX 992)

Full-time students complete the degree in two consecutive semesters, and it's an accelerated route to the credential. Working professionals can study part time at a flexible pace, with up to four years to finish. The program asks for a minimum of two semesters, 12 courses and 24 credits.

You need a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.3, and the school doesn't allow more than one grade of D. If you want a longer runway, the Two-Year Master in the Study of Tax Law adds a year at BU Law for international students, with foundational U.S. tax coursework.

You may choose from online and on-campus courses, so you can match your schedule to your semester.

For federal reporting, Boston University lists a graduate charge of $2,083 per credit, and it's a 24-credit degree. Because part-time students have up to four years, you can spread the cost over a long stretch while you keep working.

If you need extra credits for a CPA license, check how many of these law courses your state board will accept, since a student quoted by the school found that a lot of them counted.

You can complete coursework online. The school says online students are fully included and often visit campus during their studies. Students may choose from online and on-campus courses, which makes it easy to blend formats.

You've also got Boston as a base: for its graduate tax students, the law school points to its tax faculty, strong local practitioner and alumni networks, and the city's concentration of law firms, accounting firms, government tax offices and innovative industries.

Students may observe proceedings in the U.S. Tax Court, take part in workshops on tax research databases and Excel, attend a tax careers luncheon and a lecture series, and join advising events with alumni.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Students quoted by the school are enthusiastic. An MSL-Tax student said they chose BU because the professors are fantastic and are experts in their field, and that many classes counted toward their CPA credit. A student profiled in the BU Law Record in 2026 said they built very good friendships with people from all over the world during the two-year program.

The same student said the school set up a visit to Ernst & Young in Boston, where they could connect and network with tax professionals.

• Which of the five required courses should I take first, and how are they offered online?
• How does the non-credit introductory module before matriculation work, and what's the time commitment?
• Which research and writing course fits the 7,500-word project I want to write?
• If I want the Two-Year option, how does the first year differ from the standard path?
• How many of my classes can count toward the CPA education requirements in my state?

A private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Its School of Law has run a Graduate Tax Program since 1959.

• Best Master's in Taxation Rank 63 of 78, master's
• Online Master's in Taxation Rank 35 of 41, master's
• Best 100% Online Programs Rank 34 of 40, master's
• Part-Time Programs Rank 33 of 39, master's
• Best for Working Professionals Rank 38 of 46, master's
• Best for Parents Rank 38 of 46, master's
• Private University Programs Rank 33 of 43, master's
• Best Programs in Massachusetts Rank 2 of 4, master's

• LLM in Taxation

  LL.M., Master's

  Fully Online Score 57.2

• Franklin University

  M.S. in Accounting, Taxation Specialization

  Ohio $690 per credit Score 42.3

• The University of Alabama

  Master of Tax Accounting

  Alabama Score 44.8

• Indiana University-Indianapolis

  Master of Science in Taxation

  Indiana Score 42.1

• University of Denver

  Master of Taxation

  Colorado Score 45.0