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Northern Illinois University

College of Business - NIU

Master of Science in Taxation

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

These words are as true today as they were when Benjamin Franklin wrote them in 1789. This certainty, along with the enormity and complexity of all the tax laws in this country, causes American taxpayers to devote considerable resources both to tax compliance efforts and financial planning that takes taxes into consideration. More and more, taxpayers are relying on well-trained, experienced professionals to help them with their tax compliance and planning needs.

The NIU Master of Science in Taxation (M.S.T.) program provides advanced study in taxation to prepare students for the challenges of the professional practice of taxation. This preparation is demonstrated by the student's ability to:

  • apply knowledge of technical tax authority with respect to:
    • the federal income taxation of corporations, partnerships, and property transactions.
    • the federal estate and gift taxes.
    • other specialized areas of taxation that complement each student's career.
  • identify tax issues and use technology to search for, identify, evaluate, and apply relevant primary sources of tax authority in developing appropriate tax planning solutions,
  • communicate tax solutions in a professional manner,
  • report tax transactions appropriately, and
  • identify ethical issues, decision alternatives, and consequences, incorporating appropriate professional codes of conduct.

Approximately 70 percent of all the courses taught in the M.S.T. program are taught by full-time faculty, many of whom are nationally known for their excellence in teaching, research and professional service. The remaining classes are taught by adjunct faculty who successfully practice in the areas in which they teach, enlivening their classes with first-hand experiences related to the topics being covered.

Contact us for more information on the Master of Science in Taxation degree.

Kate Mantzke is the M.S.T. Director and can be reached via email at kmantzke@niu.edu or at (815) 753-6209.

Suzanne Youngberg is the M.S.T. Advisor and can be reached via email at youngberg@niu.edu or at (815) 753-6099.