California State University-Fullerton Master of Science in Taxation in 2027

Cal State Fullerton's Master of Science in Taxation is an in-person program in Orange County for people from any undergraduate major, taught by tax professionals, many with decades of practice, and backed by a CPA exam review course.

This is a 30-unit master's degree at a public university in Fullerton, California, housed in a business college that holds dual accreditation from AACSB in both business and accounting. You attend classes in person, and the program takes 1.5 to 2 years depending on how many courses you carry each term.

The degree builds tax research, writing and ethical judgment, which the school calls the skills tax professionals rely on every day. You don't need an accounting or business background to enroll. The curriculum brings students from any discipline up to speed while strengthening communication and teamwork. Admission runs on a fall cycle, and you don't need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

The school lists a graduate charge of $420 per credit in the federal data it reports. Cal State Fullerton is a public university, and the college describes its tuition as competitive. On the earnings side, graduates of the taxation master's here earn a median of $117,922, according to the federal College Scorecard.

Beyond tuition, the college has signed agreements with Becker, a CPA exam preparation service, that provide a significantly discounted price to its students. The first 50 students in an unofficial CPA exam review class also receive a $500 scholarship toward their professional licensing.

A designated faculty member holds CPA exam information sessions each month.

Who It Fits

• If you're changing careers from any major, the program welcomes students from any undergraduate discipline.
• California CPA candidates: the program meets California's 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure.
• If you learn best from practitioners, the lead lecturer spent 32 years as a tax partner at EY, and tax faculty often have decades of applied experience.
• People who want hands-on practice: you can volunteer with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and take an internship for elective credit.
• Residents of Southern California who want a campus experience: classes meet in person, and the School of Accountancy hosts career fairs such as Meet the Firms.

The degree is 30 units. Of those, 9 are required units, 18 are elective units and 3 are a culminating experience. In Tax Research, Practice and Procedures, you learn the methodology of tax research through case studies, how a tax practice is managed, how tax controversies move through administration, and the rights and obligations of taxpayers and practitioners.

Seminar in Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders covers corporate organization, distributions, liquidations and reorganizations. Seminar in Taxation of Flow-Through Entities covers partnerships, estates, trusts and other special entities.

You'll choose electives with your program adviser, and the list is broad: tax planning, property and merger transactions, international business operations, estate and gift taxes, state and local taxation, employee compensation, income taxes under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740, S corporations, limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships, and tax accounting methods.

A maximum of 3 units can come from 400-level electives. In the capstone, Advances in Academic Research and Technologies, you'll apply analytic tools to real-world data while solving complex accounting problems with guidance from faculty and professionals. The school stresses technology and data analytics throughout.

Standout Features

• Dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting
• Lead lecturer is a former 32-year EY tax partner
• VITA volunteer tax preparation for Orange County residents

Plan on 1.5 to 2 years. The school says the length depends on the course load you carry each term, and most students complete the 30 required units over several semesters. Your pacing is shaped by whether you attend full time or part time. Admission runs on a fall cycle, so you begin in the autumn and move through the required seminars, your chosen electives and the capstone.

Classes meet in person, and the program page lists the format as In-Person Classes. That means you work face to face with the lead lecturer and your classmates in a business college on the Fullerton campus. The School of Accountancy hosts career fairs such as Meet the Firms along with guest speaker events, and the Executive in Residence program gives you a chance to connect with executives in the industry.

Each early autumn, a conference on current hot topics lets students and professionals hear from industry leaders. The Haskell & White Academic Conference gives you a forum to present your research.

The program meets California's 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure. If you're enrolled or an alum, a Becker-powered CPA exam review course is available to you, led by a faculty member who runs the course at an affordable cost. The school lists careers in public accounting and CPA firm tax practice, corporate tax departments, government tax agencies, law firm tax departments, and estate and financial planning.

It describes career areas ranging from Big Four firms to small businesses. The college also reports an alumni network of 80,000+ people. Faculty include the former EY partner who leads the program's lectures.

Where this degree can lead: Masters in Taxation Jobs.

Reddit users who know the school speak well of it. An alumnus of the business school posting on Reddit in 2024 said the school is known for its accounting program and that the master's will fulfill the CPA exam requirements.

A student on the same thread agreed that the degree fulfills the CPA requirements. On the national scene, the university shares a result highlighted in the October 2025 issue of Accounting Today that put Cal State Fullerton third in the nation among universities with the most candidates sitting for first-time core sections of the Uniform CPA Examination in 2024.

• Which electives will be offered in my first year, and how do I choose among them with my adviser?
• If I come from a non-accounting major, what extra preparation do you suggest before the first term?
• How do the VITA volunteer hours and the internship for elective credit fit around my class schedule?
• Which days of the week do the required seminars meet, so I can plan work around them?
• How do I join the Becker-powered CPA exam review course, and when does the $500 scholarship application open?

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