Whether you’re an experienced tax professional, a recent graduate in accounting or finance, or working in a related field, you know you can expand your job opportunities tenfold with a master’s degree in taxation.
But, like most prospective master’s degree candidates, you may still be weighing your options. You can certainly see the advantages, but the commitment looms large. While there are a number of challenges to consider when making such a decision, attending classes doesn’t have to be one of them. Bentley’s hybrid program enables you to earn a master’s in taxation online while reaping the very same benefits you get from attending in person.
What’s a hybrid master’s in taxation program?
Traditionally, most online master’s programs look something like this: You complete the classes on your own time. Courses consist of a combination of readings, weekly assignments, chat room discussions, and occasional electronic group work. Web-based resources and self-study are the backbone of the program, and students get out of it what they put into it.
Our hybrid program is different.
The Bentley MS in taxation online program isn’t based on self-study — it is the actual classroom experience.
Here’s how it works: For every class, you have a choice — you can either watch it in real time or watch a recorded version of the class at your leisure. From any computer, you’ll log on to our virtual classroom using Saba. Once you’re logged in, you’ll immediately have access to all the materials the professor is using in class that day, whether it’s a PowerPoint slideshow, a Word document, a website, or anything else he or she is planning to share.
If you’re joining the class in real time, the professor will communicate with you just as with any other member of the class. You can “raise your hand” electronically to participate. You’ll be able to listen to lectures, answer questions, and even participate in group activities simultaneously with the rest of the class by connecting with other online students to work together on the appointed task.
Essentially, the hybrid program allows you to earn your master’s degree in a way that’s convenient for you, without sacrificing the energy and connectedness that naturally occur in a classroom situation.
While most students take advantage of the online option on an as-needed basis, a small percentage of students rely on it entirely. If you live in another state, for example, online courses are a necessity. But most online students don’t miss a beat — they get the same classroom experience as those attending class on campus. They also have complete access to all the school’s research tools on the website and can easily connect with professors and the career center electronically or via telephone.
The Unique Appeal Of Hybrid
According to Professor Scott Thomas, this version of online learning is fantastic. Not only is the delivery of the content unique, it’s also flexible, which is a boon for busy professionals. For instance, Thomas brings up the fact that tax professionals have a busy season — springtime — which might be a strike against taking master’s degree courses entirely. “With this program, they don’t need to worry about busy seasons,” he says, “it fits into their schedule.” During those times, the number of in-class participants goes down and the number of online participants goes up.
The flexibility also works for those in other industries. Thomas has had a number of students who live and work out of state as chief financial officers or lawyers and attend the Bentley program entirely online. “We try to encourage people to participate in real time,” he says, “but we also understand that sometimes professional people can’t make it to [the online] class for one reason or another.”
If someone is working late or traveling, for example, attending in person is simply an impossibility. Thomas recalls one instance where a student in the military was deployed mid-semester and wouldn’t be able to attend class for two weeks, “but he said he’d be back. Sure enough, he watched the archived classes when he could and returned to class in a couple of weeks. He was motivated to prepare for his career after the military.”
Unlike other programs, there’s no need to commit to either online or in-person participation ahead of time; you can pick and choose on the fly as it works with your schedule. If you’re stuck at work, simply join the class from the convenience of your office, then go back to work when it’s done. Thomas estimates that around 50 percent of students take advantage of the online study option, but that number goes up and down throughout the course of the year.
The flexibility of the program offers another distinct advantage for students: It attracts a large number of seasoned professionals with real-world insights — people who might not be able to participate in the program if not for its flexibility. “Many of our online students tend to be the more experienced people, who are helpful to have in the classroom because they ask questions that spring from practical experience (i.e., ‘What would you do in this situation?’),” says Thomas “That enables me as the professor to apply classroom theories to everyday work. Students of all backgrounds appreciate those contributions, too.”
A Growing Field
Our hybrid program has opened the door to a better career for many people who might have been otherwise unable to get their master’s degree in taxation. At Bentley, placement rate for program participants consistently averages 90 percent, and salaries average more than $79,000.
And the number of job opportunities continues to grow. Thomas notes that, in recent years, many corporate tax departments have been able to free up budget money for hiring. Also, the “Big Four” international accounting firms, which are critical to Bentley’s success, have started to hire more tax graduates. Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers consistently hire a large number of our students every year. Because of their vested interest, representatives from each of these companies get involved with campus events and work closely with faculty members to strengthen and update the program.
Not Just For Tax Professionals
Currently, the master’s in taxation program is made up of a mix of people who have work experience and are recent graduates. Some are taking courses to prepare for the CPA exam, which requires 150 hours of college credit.
Many people come to the master’s in taxation program after working for several years, but accounting firms like the Big Four are trying to attract a greater number of people to the field earlier in their educational careers. Bentley alumni find excellent career opportunities beyond the Big Four as well, including a well-established group of mid-tier accounting firms and some distinguished regional and smaller accounting firms. In addition, larger corporations in almost every industry have tax departments. Employees working in that capacity are generally responsible for preparing tax returns, tax planning, handling audits, and preparing the tax portion of financial statements.
But an interest in tax isn’t just limited to tax professionals. Thomas notes that people from a variety of backgrounds feel compelled to understand more about tax-related issues, including general counsels of corporations, attorneys, CFOs, and controllers. In these cases, the knowledge they gain through the tax program enhances their performance at their current job. For instance, one student currently in the program is an audit partner at a local firm who wants to learn more about tax concepts and practices. As a result, he’ll feel more confident performing the due diligence work that he does on a daily basis.
Master’s Of Science In Taxation Program
Bentley’s master’s in taxation program is the largest of its kind in New England and one of the best-rated in the country. The school itself has a long and reputable history in business education, and the tax program has earned equal acclaim. Our instructors are working professionals who practice what they teach; their experience runs broad and deep. Some have been part of our faculty for 30 years. The expertise and the outside connections they bring to the program are invaluable.
In addition, students can choose from a wide range of electives according to their interests (we call it “cross-training”). One popular cross-training combination is taxation and financial planning. Many students in the taxation program develop an interest in individual taxation issues along the way and take electives from the Financial Planning program, such as Financial Planning for Non-Traditional Families or Elder-Planning Techniques. This strategy prepares you for work at either a financial advising firm or an accounting firm. Another common cross-train involves accounting and taxation, where students routinely dip into electives from both disciplines. The possibilities are endless — and entirely up to you.