Hyperspecialize Your Graduate Tax Degree with a Certificate

Tax is a broad and wide-ranging industry that encompasses all areas of business and government. Master’s in taxation degree programs, including both the Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM) and the Master of Taxation (MT), prepare students to advance their tax careers by providing them with a comprehensive foundation that examines taxation from multiple perspectives and touches on all areas of tax.

However, as the complex tax landscape continues to evolve, tax professionals may want to take their degree one step further by deepening their knowledge in a niche area of tax. Adding a specialized graduate tax certificate to your master in tax degree provides an additional credential that can distinguish you from your peers and make you an indispensable expert to clients and your employers.

“A huge percentage of tax industry professionals are hyperspecialized,” said Stephen Olsen ’07 JD, ’09 LLM, associate professor of practice and faculty director of the Villanova University Graduate Tax Program. “They are no longer working across multiple areas of tax. Instead, they're becoming the expert on one area of tax law. For someone who wants that level of specialization, a certificate can hyperfocus your graduate tax studies and elective classes into the one area of tax you want to specialize in.”

Olsen added, “Also, for someone who is working in one area of tax and wants to shift their career to a new tax specialty, getting that expertise through a certificate will help you make that transition.”

The tax certificate is a valued continuing education credential for tax professionals that opens doors to specialized tax careers. The certificate curriculum combines practical experience with technical knowledge to deliver concentrated, targeted coursework that builds true subject-matter expertise. 

The Villanova Graduate Tax program offers four comprehensive and specialized tax certificates—the Estate Planning Certificate, Employee Benefits Certificate, State and Local Taxation Certificate (SALT) and the International Tax Certificate. 

Tax certificates typically require nine to 12 credits and can oftentimes be completed within the existing requirements of the graduate tax degree. By selecting electives in a specific area of your choice, students can specialize their master’s degree and stay on track for graduation within the same timeframe. For certain students who do not want the full master’s in tax degree, certificates can also be completed as a stand-alone credential. 

At Villanova, like the master’s in tax courses, both in-person and online tax certificate programs are available. Courses follow a flexible schedule designed for working professionals, including both lawyers and non-lawyers, and are taught by real-world experts in their field. 

International Tax 

Villanova’s comprehensive International Tax Certificate provides students with a complete understanding of global taxation from concept to practice. Designed to equip professionals with a broad understanding of the fundamental principles and evolving regulations surrounding global tax dynamics, this certificate program digs into the multifaceted world of international tax, emphasizing topics such as transfer pricing methodologies, intangible asset valuation, meticulous documentation requirements, as well as the U.S. penalty system. The International Tax Certificate provides individuals with the nuanced expertise they need to navigate complex tax landscapes that affect the global market. Throughout the program, students gain an understanding of difficult concepts and strategies, shedding light onto today’s complex global tax landscape and addressing various challenges.

Employee Benefits

With a wide range of topics covered, the Employee Benefits certificate program provides a solid foundation for further studies in the tax implications that surround compensation and employee benefits. Several topics are covered, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), pension and welfare benefits, qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, retirement plan tax advantages, eligibility and vesting rules, distribution rules, COBRA continuation coverage, HIPAA health privacy, Affordable Care Act provisions, and ERISA litigation. Through the completion of this certificate, students gain a fundamental understanding of employee benefit law. 

Estate Planning

This Estate Planning Certificate offers students an introduction to the foundational principles and regulations governing estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer taxes within the federal wealth transfer tax system. It dives into the complex interplay of legal sources surrounding the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, administrative rulings and case law. By employing a rigorous problem-solving approach, the certificate program explores essential tax concepts for practitioners. This program provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand and clarify key concepts of federal estate and gift taxation, establish a fundamental grasp of wealth tax law principles, enhance their ability to interpret primary legal materials such as statutes, regulations, cases and administrative guidance, as well as develop the skills necessary to apply tax authorities in real-world situations.

State and Local Taxation (SALT)

The State and Local Taxation (SALT) Certificate offers a comprehensive exploration of state and local taxes, encompassing a wide spectrum of subjects such as business planning, litigation, constitutional law and public finance, providing an in-depth analysis of tax laws across all 50 states and numerous localities. With a focus on the foundational elements of SALT imposition, the certificate examines corporate income and sales/use taxes as crucial sources of SALT revenue. Upon completion, students will be adept at recognizing pivotal dimensions within SALT issues, as well as grasping the implications of significant SALT expenditures for businesses. The purpose of this certificate is to be able to provide an evaluation of the essential constitutional prerequisites for imposing SALT, a comparison of various state approaches to taxing multistate operations, and the establishment of a firm foundation for pursuing advanced studies in the realm of SALT.