MST - Open University

You don’t have to be enrolled in an SJSU program to take a class. Open University allows any qualified students to participate, as long as space is available.

Under this system, if you are approved through our pre-screening process, you can then submit your registration form. You then pay your fees and take the class for a grade. Some students find this approach beneficial if they want to get a better sense of the time commitment or want to start taking classes while their application to the program is being evaluated.

This program is perfect if you want to take just one MST course for CPA continuing education requirements, for example; or if you are working on the Advanced Certificate in Taxation; or if you would like to start with an introductory MST class to determine if you want to enroll in the MST program.

If you do decide to apply for the MST, you can apply nine Open University units toward your degree.  Open University grades likely will not count towards your MST GPA,  but the units will count towards the degree. To learn more about the program, please view our informational slides here. 

Please note: The capstone class, BUS 223H, may not be taken through Open University unless you are enrolled in the Advanced Certificate Program.

If you have been denied admission to any SJSU graduate program, you are not eligible to take graduate courses at SJSU via Open University.

MS Taxation courses cost $731 per unit, or $2,193 per three-unit course.  

To sign up for an MST course through Open University, please follow the steps below.  Students must start the Open University process at least 3 weeks before classes begin.

• Eligibility

  • In order to take MST classes through Open University, you must:

    have a U.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university

    have completed an intermediate accounting I and II and an US introductory tax course

    have satisfied the appropriate prerequisites for the class you wish to take.

    You may not take classes in the M.S. Taxation program through Open University if you have previously been denied admission to an SJSU graduate program. To register for an MST Open University course you must complete the following steps.

    You must be in compliance with CSU COVID-19 vaccination policy to enroll in hybrid or in-person courses. More information at: https://www.sjsu.edu/medical/covid19/covid-vaccine.php

• Pre-Enrollment Instructions

  • 1. View the upcoming schedule

    2. Submit the pre-screening form at least one month before the class you wish to take starts. The pre-screening form can be found here: Pre-Screening Form

    3. Once your Pre-Screening form has been evaluated, you will be notified of the results. If you are notified that you are eligible, please continue to Registration Instructions.

    If you have an MST degree from SJSU, you do not need to complete the Pre-Screening process; however, please contact either Catherine Dougherty or Annette Nellen to let us know which course you are interested in taking and we will notify the instructor that you meet the qualifications.

• Registration Instructions

  • Once approved, the Program Coordinator will reach out to you with the next steps for registration.

    You will be notified by email when you are officially registered for the course. We will provide your SJSU ID number, as well as the due date for the tuition fee.  Fees will be due a week after the term of Regular session starts.  If registering after that date, fees will be due within three days.  View methods of payment.

• Contact Information

  • Catherine Dougherty
    Program Coordinator 
    Phone: (408) 924-3424  
    Email: catherine.dougherty@sjsu.edu 

    Professor Annette Nellen
    Program Director/Faculty Advisor 
    Phone: (408) 924-3508 
    Email: annette.nellen@sjsu.edu