Format: Online Part-Time Program
Schedule: The Master of Studies in Law in Taxation is a 24-30 credit online degree for tax and financial professionals. Students earn their degree by successfully completing a curriculum of entirely online tax courses on a part-time basis over a period of up to five years. Students who already hold a master’s degree in a related field can complete the program in 24 credits.
Online courses are offered in high-resolution video. Professors may use a “smart tablet” that displays the professor’s presentation or handwriting electronically in a separate window in each course video. Students may take exams remotely using exam software.
Because our online programs are not available in all states, prospective Master of Studies in Law in Taxation applicants should review information regarding State Restrictions and Procedures prior to submitting an application.
Watch a brief video clip of a course excerpt.
Curriculum Content
NYU School of Law is the top-ranked school for tax law according to US News and World Report. Students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of online tax classes, carefully curated based on their professional goals and areas of interest.
Students must only take one required, one-credit course: “Survey of Tax Procedure.” For the remaining credits of the program, students can custom design the focus of their degree by selecting from NYU Law’s rigorous and diverse set of online tax courses. We do suggest that all students take corporate, international, and partnership tax coursework, as well as the course Taxation of Property Transactions. In most semesters, more than twenty different online courses are offered. Intensive modules of semester-long classes are also offered during the summer months.
Tailored Advice
The program director provides course advising each semester to help students take meaningful courses in an appropriate sequence. Below is an example of a sample course schedule for a student taking a broad curriculum focused on a transactional practice. It is possible to complete the degree in more or less time, depending on the pace a student feels comfortable with. We have other sample curricula for other areas of focus.
| Sample schedule (24 credits)*: | ||
| Fall semester, year 1 | Spring semester, year 1 | Summer semester, year 1 |
| Taxation of Property Transactions (3 credits) |
Corporate Tax I (2 credits) |
Survey of Tax Procedure (1 credit) |
| Year 1: 6 credits cumulative | ||
| Fall semester, year 2 | Spring semester, year 2 | Summer semester, year 2 |
| Corporate Tax II (2 credits) | International Tax II (2 credits) | Tax Policy (1 credit) |
| International Tax I (2 credits | Multistate Tax (2 credits) | |
| Year 2: 15 credits cumulative | ||
| Fall semester, year 3 | Spring semester, year 3 | Summer semester, year 3 |
| International Tax III (2 credits) | Partnership Tax (3 credits) | Timing Issues and the Income Tax (2 credits) Final Project |
| Year 3: 24 credits cumulative* |
*students without a Master’s degree need to complete 30 credits of coursework.
Program Final Project: An Opportunity to Apply Your Learning
Students have the opportunity to work on a final written project based on their area of interest from one of several different tax subject areas (e.g., business taxation, international taxation, and estate planning or tax controversy). This project offers students an opportunity to apply their learning in a practical context.
Academic Policies
Assessment: Master of Studies in Law in Taxation students are evaluated separately from LLM students and receive high pass/pass/fail grades rather than the traditional letter grades. Students must earn a Pass or High Pass in all courses. Upon request, we can supply employers with a letter stating a letter-grade equivalent for the purposes of tuition reimbursement.
We publish additional academic policies for the Master of Studies in Law in Taxation in our orientation documents, on course websites, and in other locations, depending on the context. Rules and policies on online class attendance are typically found posted as an announcement on each course website. Rules on examinations can be found on the academic services departmental website or in our LLM student guide, and are typically collected in online guides. Many rules for LLM and JD students also apply to Master of Studies in Law in Taxation students. If you have a question about whether a particular policy or rule applies to your situation, please contact John Stephens at john.stephens@nyu.edu or email law.taxprograms@nyu.edu