Real Estate Development, Master of Real Estate Development (M.R.E.D.)

Non-thesis only (capstone project required): 33 credits-42 credits

MRED is a 33-42 credit hour professional masters degree in real estate development. There are 3 core required courses in Development Law, Fundamentals of Finance and the Capstone final course. There are 5 cognate areas from which a course must be taken to fulfill degree requirements.

Electives may be selected in focus areas of: Advanced Finance, Sustainability, Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation and Urban Planning.  There are also  electives in  types of real estate  such as retail, hospitality,  and leadership and negotiation skills.   Electives may also be taken in any of the cognate areas of Construction, Valuation, and Asset Management.

Applicants without education or work experience in real estate, particularly real estate finance, accounting and valuation are admitted subject to adding 3 to 9 credits of additional RDEV course work in the first or second term of their MRED degree program. Students with no background can expect to be subject to the full 9 credits; most applicants have 3 - 6  additional credits to complete.

Admitted Students are required to attend a 2 1/2-day Bootcamp (Assessment and Orientation Program)  (Friday night through Sunday afternoon) prior to their first semester of taking RDEV courses.

Students may be required, based on the introductory Assessment sessions or subsequent classwork, to take additional evening or weekend coaching courses/sessions in Excel skills, business writing or oral presentation. Successful completion of all supplemental coaching sessions is required for graduation.

Graduates must achieve a 3.0 GPA in all coursework, including  the final capstone course  or research project and publicly present their capstone work to a jury in order to be awarded the MRED degree.

Students must meet minimum professional writing and presentation standards, and complete successfully all excel, business writing, and oral presentation and skills non-credit courses or coaching as are offered and required during the period of enrollment. These courses may incur an additional charge paid to the Colvin Institute.

International Students also must test out or successfully complete within two semesters the University English writing courses as determined by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

The MRED program is highly flexible which allows for tailoring the required core and cognate courses to a student's background and interest, such that a student with a strong background in architecture, law, planning, public policy or finance, could substitute out of the core/cognate course in their area of expertise and add a more advanced course or an unrelated RDEV elective with the advice and approval of the Director. The course work for the core courses is very intense, and off site visits are required in most courses anywhere from 1 to 3 times per semester some of which are scheduled for weekend hours, and some during working hours in limited instances.

Limited Courses are offered during Summer and Winter terms. Students may take no more than two courses over the Summer terms and one course in Winter term. The maximum number of credits toward the MRED degree that may be taken in Summer/Winter terms is twelve (12). One course ( no more than 3 credits) may be credited toward the MRED degree for program approved Study Abroad courses. See the Program Director for details before applying for any Study Abroad course. Certificate students are subject to the same requirements as above, but may not take elective or advanced courses or apply a Study Abroad course to the certificate.

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Up to 9 additional credits may be required if there is not adequate educational background. Students should check with their advisor.