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Taxation and Data Analytics, M.T.D.A.

Prepare for your career in the data age through hands-on experience in data analytics and a specialization in taxation.

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About the Master of Taxation and Data Analytics

Our Master of Taxation and Data Analyltics (MTDA) program, launched in 2018 through a partnership with KPMG, is one few programs in the nation that offer specialization in both taxation and data analytics. This program is STEM-designated.

MTDA students complete five required accountancy and taxation courses, a three-course data analytics specialization, a taxation elective, and an accountancy electives. You’ll want to take our CPA review course, which provides high-quality CPA exam preparation and a structured study environment, as one of your electives. During the course, you’ll take three of the four sections of the CPA exam. Many of our students complete the CPA exam by the time that they graduate.

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    Program Information

    Degree

    Master of Taxation and Data Analytics

    Required Credit Hours

    30

    Program Type

    Master's Program

    Program Location

    Oxford

    School

    Patterson School of Accountancy

    Duration

    10-12 months

    Admission Requirements

    Learn about GPA and GMAT requirements as well as undergraduate prerequisite courses that must be completed for admission to our Master of Taxation and Data Analytics program.

    • Minimum 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA (or minimum 3.0 resident undergraduate GPA for Bachelor of Accountancy students in the PSOA)
    • Completion of the required undergraduate courses, with minimum grades where applicable (can be in progress or planned for a future term when you apply)
    • Minimum 445 GMAT score or superscore if you do not qualify for a GMAT waiver
      • The GMAT requirement is waived for:
        • PSOA Bachelor of Accountancy students with an overall or resident GPA of 3.0 or higher
        • Undergraduate accounting majors with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher from other AACSB-accredited institutions.
    • International students: You are required to meet English language proficiency exam requirements as specified by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or a graduate of an institution of higher education in the U.S. or a country on that list.

    Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for full standing admission may be considered for admission in another category. Admission in a category other than full-standing requires fulfilling specified grade and/or course requirements and limits financial aid eligibility until full-standing admission is obtained.

    University of Mississippi accounting majors: minimum grades of C in ACCY 4010: Auditing and ACCY 4050: Income Taxes I

    Accounting majors from other institutions with separate accounting accreditation by AACSB International: minimum grades of C in undergraduate auditing and tax courses that are equivalent to ACCY 4010: Auditing and ACCY 4050: Income Taxes I

    Accounting majors in programs without separate accounting accreditation by AACSB and applicants who majored in a field of study other than accounting:

    If a required course is not available at your undergraduate institution, you may be able to take it at the University of Mississippi before starting master's classes.

    The GMAT is waived for admission for students who meet GPA requirements (see admission requirements above) but is required for all students who want to be considered for a PSOA graduate assistantship.

    We accept valid GMAT scores and superscores for admission and graduate assistantship consideration. 

    We do not accept GRE scores or scores from any other admission exam.

    We ask students who are not eligible for a GMAT waiver for admission to make up to three attempts if needed and send us all GMAT scores received.

    When to Take the GMAT

    The best time to take the GMAT is over winter break or in the summer prior to the year in which you want to begin your master's program. 

    We strongly encourage PSOA juniors to take it over winter break during junior year or in the summer between junior year and senior year. 

    Be sure to consider application deadlines and the timeframe for receiving your score (up to 20 business days) when scheduling the GMAT. 

    Application Information

    Find application deadlines, including priority dates for PSOA graduate assistantship, fellowship, and scholarship consideration. View details on how our master's programs are structured, selecting the right starting term for your master’s program, and the application process.

    2026-27 Priority Deadlines

    • December 15, 2026 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for Summer Term 2027, Fall Semester 2027, Winter Intersession 2028, or Spring Semester 2028 and be considered for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships
      • Within approximately two weeks of this date: 
        • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above [admission score = (200 x overall GPA) + GMAT score or superscore, whichever is higher]
        • Fellowships and scholarships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
    • February 15, 2027 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for Summer Term 2027, Fall Semester 2027, Winter Intersession 2028, or Spring Semester 2028 and be considered for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships
      • Within approximately two weeks of this date:
        • Remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
        • Remaining PSOA fellowships and scholarships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

    General Deadlines

    • August 1, 2026– Deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2026
    • November 15, 2026 – Deadline to apply for Winter Intersession and Spring Semester 2027
    • April 15, 2027 - Deadline to apply for Summer Term 2027
    • July 15, 2027 - Deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2027
    • November 15, 2027 - Deadline to apply for Winter Intersession and Spring Semester 2028

    You may apply for master’s program admission up to a year in advance of the time that you’d like to begin your master’s program.

    Your graduate school application must be submitted and any required documentation for your application must be received by one of the priority deadlines or the general deadline for the term in which you'd like to begin the master's program.

    All PSOA master's programs require 30 total hours (10 three-hour courses).

    Degree requirements as well as the starting term and electives that you choose will inform how classes are placed in your degree plan. You can complete your master’s degree in 10-12 months (NOT two semesters).

    Full-time for master's students in fall and spring semesters is 9-12 hours; the same amount of tuition is charged for 9 and 12 hours. Generally, 2-3 classes are taken outside of fall and spring semesters, usually in the summer. Taking a class in winter intersession is an option for some students (determined by electives chosen). 

    Students with graduate assistantships in other offices on campus that require 20 hours of service each week take 9 hours in fall and spring semesters and 4 classes outside of fall and spring semesters. 

    Below are some common degree plan structures for our master’s programs. We strongly recommend the CPA review course (ACCY 6150) for all master’s students. During the course, which is an elective option in all four of our master’s programs, students prepare for and actually take the three core sections of the CPA exam. Because of the time commitment required by the CPA review course and taking the core sections, students who choose to take the course in spring semester should take only two other courses in that semester, remaining at the minimum of nine hours required for full-time graduate enrollment.

    Starting in May Intersession

    • May Intersession: 3 hours
    • First Summer Term: 3 hours
    • Second Summer Term: 3 hours
    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam over winter break
    • Spring Semester: 9 hours including the CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • Graduate in May

     

    Starting in First Summer Term

    • First Summer Term: 3 hours
    • Second Summer Term: 3 hours
    • August Intersession: 3 hours
    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam over winter break
    • Spring Semester: 9 hours including the CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • Graduate in May

     

    Starting in Second Summer Term

    • Second Summer Term: 3 hours
    • August Intersession: 3 hours
    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Winter Intersession: 3 hours (ACCY 6503: Speaker’s Edge)
    • Spring Semester: 9 hours including the CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • Graduate in May
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam in the summer after graduation and before starting post-master’s employment

     

    Starting in August Intersession

    • August Intersession: 3 hours
    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam over winter break
    • Spring Semester: 12 hours
    • Full Summer Term: 3 hours - CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • Graduate in August (participate in May commencement ceremony)

     

    Starting in Fall Semester

    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam over winter break
    • Spring Semester: 12 hours
    • Full Summer Term: 3 hours - CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • August Intersession: 3 hours
    • Graduate in August (participate in May commencement ceremony)

     

    Starting in Spring Semester

    • Spring Semester: 12 hours
    • Full Summer Term: 3 hours - CPA review course (take the three core sections of the CPA exam during the course)
    • August Intersession: 3 hours
    • Fall Semester: 12 hours
    • Graduate in December (participate in May commencement ceremony the following year)
    • Take chosen discipline section of the CPA exam over winter break after graduation and before starting post-master’s employment

    Dates for all terms are listed on the academic calendars.

    You may apply for admission for one of the following terms: Summer Term, Fall Semester, Winter Intersession, or Spring Semester. 

    The majority of our master’s students begin courses in the summer after finishing undergraduate courses. Students who are admitted for Summer may begin classes in May Intersession, Full Summer Term, First Summer Term, Second Summer Term, or August Intersession.

    Admitted students may register for and begin master's courses after the below are completed. 

    • Master’s program advising
    • All required undergraduate prerequisite courses for master’s admission (with minimum grades where applicable)
    • Undergraduate degree (with the degree certified)
      • Current Ole Miss Students:
        • Allow up to two weeks after completing your last undergraduate class(es) for your undergraduate degree to be certified. (Degree certifications for students starting a master’s class immediately will be prioritized.)
      • Students From Other Institutions:
        • Your final official transcript with the degree earned must be received by our graduate school. Contact your registrar if needed to find out when your completed undergraduate degree will be listed on your transcript and when an official copy can be sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu). Choose a starting term that begins after the graduate school will receive your official transcript.

    Master of Taxation and Data Analytics students are required to take ACCY 6280: Accountancy Data Modeling & Visualization in May intersession or August intersession; we recommend applying for Summer Term and taking that class at the beginning rather than the end of your master’s studies.

    Have the Required Documentation for Your Application Sent to Us

    • If you are attending or have graduated from another institution:
      • Have all official transcripts sent from the registrar's office(s) of the institution(s) you've attended to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu).
      • If your transcript is not in English and/or does not include your grades and GPA on a four-point scale, an official WES evaluation of your education is required.
    • If the GMAT is required for your admission:
      • Have your official score sent to the Patterson School of Accountancy via your GMAC account.
    • If you’re an international student:
      • Have your English language proficiency exam scores sent to the university unless you are a citizen of a country on the exemption list or a graduate of an institution of higher education in the U.S. or a country on that list.

    We do not require or consider statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, or resumes in the application process. 

    If the GMAT is waived for your admission but you plan to take it for PSOA graduate assistantship consideration, you can have your score sent when you apply or have it sent so that we receive it by one of the priority application deadlines.

    Submit the Graduate School Application

    To complete the graduate school application, you'll enter basic information, select your master’s program, select your starting term for the program, and pay the $60 nonrefundable application fee (required for all applicants).

    You must upload your unofficial transcript in the application process, even if you are a current Ole Miss student or graduate.

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    What courses will you take to get a Master's of Taxation and Data Analytics Degree?

    Here are some of the courses you’ll take to earn your Master's of Taxation and Data Analytics Degree.

    See the Course Catalog

    GR

    ACCY 6090: Current Topics in Systems and Analytics

    3 credits

    nvestigates advanced topics in accounting technology and data analytics. Students will take a hands-on, case-based approach to learning and working in the following areas: advanced spreadsheet concepts, basic macro development, and data visualization. In addition, students will discuss and/or work with current tools and techniques appropriate for use in the following areas: big data, data mining, text mining, cognitive computing, and other developing technologies.

    GR-UG

    ACCY 6530: Accounting Info. Processes/Analytics

    3 credits

    Information technologies and data analytics methods used for auditing organizations and their technology platforms and processes. Includes reviews of relevant control frameworks and audit programs for key technologies. Utilizes a hands-on, case-based approach to reinforce current concepts.

    GR

    ACCY 6280: Accy Data Modeling and Visualization

    3 credits

    An introduction to data mining and cleaning, data analysis and modeling, and data presentation and visualization. Cases will be used to analyze real-world accounting and tax data to enhance decision-making and data presentation skills.

    Financial Aid

    Financial aid for master's students includes graduate assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and graduate student loans.

    Students who apply by one of the priority deadlines, are eligible for admission, and who have completed the Future PSOA Master's Student Information Form (completed after admission) are considered for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.

    When selecting students for those awards, we use information from the form, transcript(s), admission application, and the Office of Financial Aid (need information determined from the FAFSA). An official GMAT score is required for graduate assistantship consideration.

    Current GPAs as of the time of selection are used in the selection process. Students from other institutions who have completed undergraduate classes since admission must have a new official transcript sent to the graduate school (gschool@olemiss.edu) by one of the priority deadlines to be considered for PSOA awards.

    • December 15, 2026 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for Summer Term 2027, Fall Semester 2027, Winter Intersession 2028, or Spring Semester 2028 and be considered for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships
      • Within approximately two weeks of this date: 
        • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above [admission score = (200 x overall GPA) + GMAT score or superscore, whichever is higher]
        • Fellowships and scholarships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria
    • February 15, 2027 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply for Summer Term 2027, Fall Semester 2027, Winter Intersession 2028, or Spring Semester 2028 and be considered for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships
      • Within approximately two weeks of this date:
        • Remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
        • Remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to selected applicants who meet specified award criteria

    Students in the concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Accountancy and Juris Doctor/Master of Taxation programs are not eligible for PSOA graduate assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships. 

    PSOA Graduate Assistantship

    The PSOA awards over 60 graduate assistantships each year for fall and spring semesters.

    Graduate assistantships are positions of high honor, offered to students with the top admission scores (see formula above). 

    Graduate assistants perform 10 hours of service to the PSOA per week, with responsibilities that may include assisting faculty, tutoring, proctoring exams, and/or assisting in the PSOA office.

    In exchange for their service, graduate assistants receive a partial tuition scholarship (approximately 60-65% of resident tuition), a 100% non-resident fee scholarship, and a $7,500 stipend. For the 2026-27 academic year, the partial tuition scholarship is $3,854.25.

    Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

    Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship

    With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTDA) programs.

    Mississippi residents who are admitted to the MADA or MTDA program and plan to work in Mississippi upon graduation from the master’s program are eligible for consideration.

    Selected students receive a scholarship of $8,750 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $17,500, and fulfill a minimal service obligation, which generally consists of proctoring exams periodically during the semester. 

    PSOA Scholarship

    We offer a limited number of small scholarships as funding allows to students with strong academic backgrounds who do not receive a graduate assistantship, Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship, or KPMG MADA Scholarship. 

    Graduate assistantships are available in other units on campus. Application processes and eligibility requirements vary by position.

    Graduate assistantships that require 10 hours of service are recommended for PSOA master's students. 

    Students with graduate assistantships in other offices on campus that require 20 hours of service each week take 9 hours in fall and spring semesters and 4 classes outside of fall and spring semesters. 

    PSOA graduate assistants are not permitted to serve in an additional graduate assistantship.

    Connect With Us

    Jennifer McClure

    Director of Master's Programs

    I'd love to hear from you if you're interested in pursuing a master's degree in the PSOA. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions about our MTDA program. 

    Jennifer McClure

    Director of Masters Programs Accountancy

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