Real Estate (M.S.)

You will participate in two, three day long in-person residencies throughout your program. Residencies will be held during the winter intersession term in January and the summer term in May or early June.

The residence will provide you with a much needed break from your online studies and allow you to build meaningful connections with your peers and faculty. These connections will sustain you throughout your studies and bring your online experience to life.

During this highly interactive and engaged learning experience you will participate in site visits, learn from guest speakers, participate in collaborative learning opportunities and attend networking events. 

Benefits of the Low Residency program format

• Build Your Network
  Connect with industry leaders, faculty, and peers during residencies to create valuable professional networks and foster community engagement.
• Hands-On Learning
  Experience immersive education with site visits, workshops, and mentorship in two top real estate markets—New York and Rhode Island.
• Stay Motivated & Accountable
  Benefit from structured in-person sessions that provide the motivation and accountability needed to stay focused on your academic and career goals.
• Best of Both Worlds: Online and In-Person Learning
  Enjoy the flexibility of online coursework, while breaking the isolation through dynamic 3-day residencies
• Access Exclusive Resources
  Take advantage of guest speakers, real estate site tours, and campus resources during your residencies for a comprehensive industry understanding.

Summer Residency 2025

• 3-day Rhode Island Based Residency (1.5 CH)
  • Friday-Sunday in (May 30, 2025 through June 1, 2025)
  • Technology and Fundamental Education Workshops during the weekend
  • Networking Event
  • Site visits 

Winter Residency 2025

• 3-day New York City Residency (1.5CH)
  • Friday-Sunday (January 16, 2026 through January 18, 2026)
  • Site Visits
  • Guest Speakers 

Sample Curriculum Map 

Full-time (1 year) Option 

Student can start in any semester Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter Intersession.  

Semester 1 (Summer) 7.5 Credits Hours

• 3-day Rhode Island Based Residency (1.5 CH)
• REAL 501 - Real Estate, Equity, and Environment (3CH)
• REAL 502 - Real Estate Economics, Capital Markets, and Investment (3CH)

Semester 2 (Fall) 9 Credit Hours

• REAL 544 - Real Estate Market Analysis and Decision Making (3CH)
• REAL 531 - Integrated Project Management and Technology (3CH)
• Open Elective (3CH)

Semester 3 (Winter Intersession) 4.5 Credit Hours

• 3-day New York City Residency (1.5CH)
• LAW 160 - Legal Principles in Real Estate (3CH)
• *Internship (can be fulfilled by related experience) (0 credits)

Semester 4 (Spring) 9 Credit Hours

• Elective (3CH)
• REAL 543 - Project Development and Finance (3CH)
• REAL 510 - Real Estate Case Studies and Project Proposal (3CH)

Part-Time (2 Year) Option 

Our flexible schedule empowers students to begin their studies in the semester that best suits their needs.

Semester 1 (Summer) 4.5 Credit Hours

• 3-day Bristol Rhode Island Based Residency (1.5 Credit)
  • Friday-Sunday (May 30, 2025 through June 1, 2025)
  • Technology and Fundamental Education Workshops during the weekend
  • Networking Event
  • Site visits
• REAL 501 - Real Estate, Equity, and Environment (3CH)

Semester 2 (Fall) 6 Credit Hours

• REAL 544 - Real Estate Market Analysis and Decision Making (3CH)
• REAL 502 - Real Estate Economics, Capital Markets, and Investment (3CH)

Semester 3 (Spring) 6 Credit Hours

• REAL 531 - Integrated Project Management and Technology (3CH)
• Elective (3CH)

Semester 4 (Fall) 6 Credit Hours

• REAL 543 - Project Development and Finance (3CH)
• Elective (3CH)
• *Internship (can be fulfilled by related experience) (0 credits)

Semester 5 (Winter Intersession) 4.5 Credit Hours

• 3-day New York City Residency (1.5CH)
  • Friday-Sunday (January 16, 2026 through January 18, 2026)
  • Site Visits
  • Pannel
  • Interactive
• LAW 160 - Legal Principles in Real Estate (3CH)

Semester 6 (Spring) 3 Credit Hours

• REAL 510 - Real Estate Case Studies and Project Proposal (3CH)

*Internship and Engaged Learning Options 

• The internship requirement will be waived for industry professionals with 6-9 months of related work experience. These students will be required to submit documentation related to their experience and present their learning to the Real Estate Club or to a REAL course.
• The internship requirement will be waived for students with 2 or more internship experiences during their undergraduate program. These students will be required to submit documentation related to their experience and present their learning to the Real Estate Club
• All other students should complete the internship either during their study in the program or in the summer after the program ends. They can still participate in the May graduation ceremony but will receive their degree after fulfilling their internship requirements.

MS in Real Estate Learning Outcomes

Outcomes may be applicable for Graduate and/or Undergraduate programs

The following student learning outcomes prepare students with the concepts and skills required to actively engage in the professional field of real estate. The learning outcomes provide students with multiple pathways to success that draw on related fields among the University’s variety of schools and programs including Architecture, Planning, Preservation, Law, Business, Engineering, Construction Management, Science, Humanities, Justice Studies, and University College. Students in the real estate program must demonstrate an understanding or ability for each learning outcome as defined below. Student work products, that demonstrate understanding or ability, are evidence that the students achieved the learning outcome. 

The learning outcomes encompass two levels of accomplishment^[1]:

• Understanding – The capacity to classify, compare, summarize, explain, and/or interpret information.

• Ability – Proficiency in using specific information to accomplish a task, correctly selecting the appropriate information, and accurately applying it to the solution of a specific problem, while also distinguishing the effects of its implementation. 

REALM A: Fundamental Knowledge

Foundational knowledge in the subject matter, systems, and processes that are central to the field of real estate.

REALM B: Specialized Skills and Knowledge 

Goal: Skills and knowledge for professional practice in real estate. 

REALM C: Integrated Practice

Goal: Knowledge of multidisciplinary subject matter and perspectives of real estate using research skills and implementing integrated solutions in practice. 

REALM D: Professional Development

Goal: Developing professional skills for real estate practice. 

REALM A: Fundamental Knowledge

Foundational knowledge in the subject matter, systems, and processes that are central to the field of real estate.

A.1 Environment and Climate

• A.1.1 Understanding of the environmental indicators of climate change related to the built environment and their mutual impacts.

• A.1.2 Ability to evaluate environmental risk to buildings and land and develop solutions. 

A.2 People and Community

• A.2.1 Understanding of the economic and social factors that contribute to healthy and safe communities with vibrant economies. 

• A.2.2 Understanding of the various stakeholders in a development process for private and public real estate projects.

• A.2.3 Understanding of the theories of community participation and engagement that can be used to create equitable planning outcomes for a real estate project.

• A.2.4 Ability to distinguish the economic and social implications of real estate investment and development decisions for multiple stakeholders.

A.3 History and Theory 

• A.3.1 Understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of real estate and how the field contributes to broader economic, environmental, regulatory, and social systems. 

• A.3.2 Understanding of the development and land use patterns of communities, cities, and regions and their social, economic, and regulatory determinates.

• A.3.3 Understanding of the history of government policies, programs, and institutions that have contributed to or alleviated inequitable patterns of development.

• A.3.4 Understanding of regional building traditions and architectural history.

A.4 Regulatory and Legal Issues

• A.4.1 Understanding of federal, state, and local policies and programs that shape decision-making in real estate development processes. 

• A.4.2 Understanding of the legal concepts and contract principles in buying, selling, and leasing buildings, land, and infrastructure.

• A.4.3 Understanding of legal concepts of property development including zoning, entitlements, and condemnation. 

A.5 Economics

• A.5.1 Understanding of the role of the real estate sector in the national and global economies and how real estate impacts individual wealth and opportunity.

• A.5.2 Understanding of the practical and theoretical perspectives on real estate markets and their micro- and macro-economic dynamics.

• A.5.3 Understanding of market analysis techniques for evaluating residential and/or commercial real estate. 

• A.5.4 Ability to conduct market analysis with relevant data to measure the supply and demand for residential or commercial real estate. 

REALM B: Specialized Skills and Knowledge 

Goal: Skills and knowledge for professional practice in real estate. 

B.1 Finance

• B.1.1 Understanding of real estate investment and finance practices.

• B.1.2 Understanding of property valuation techniques including comparison of market value, cost, and income approaches. 

• B.1.3 Understanding of the financial feasibility of a real estate project.

• B.1.4 Understanding of negotiation strategies regarding the financial elements of a real estate transaction. 

• B.1.5 Understanding of development, finance, and operating proforma statements.

• B.1.6 Ability to prepare development, finance, and operating proforma statements.

B.2 Design

• B.2.1 Understanding of factors that support design decisions in projects. 

• B.2.2 Understanding of the processes that architects use to develop a project including schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration. 

• B.2.3 Understanding of sustainable and resilient building and site design principles.

• B.2.4 Understanding of preservation principles and the processes of adaptive reuse in the built and natural environment. 

• B.2.5 Understanding of urban design principles and the role of the public realm in real estate development projects.

B.3 Construction

• B.3.1 Understanding of how to plan the completion of a construction project using new technologies and emerging approaches.

• B.3.2 Ability to evaluate construction documents for planning and management of the development process. 

• B.3.3 Understanding of construction project cost proposals. 

REALM C: Integrated Practice

Goal: Knowledge of multidisciplinary subject matter and perspectives of real estate using research skills and implementing integrated solutions in practice. 

• C.1 Understanding of the social and political issues and contemporary challenges in the real estate development process.

• C.2 Understanding of the phases a project including pre-development, construction, operations, and sale. 

• C.3 Ability to apply tools and techniques to manage and coordinate a real estate project. 

• C.4 Ability to effectively articulate idea, information, and proposals.

• C.5 Ability to conduct a real estate feasibility analysis for a client based on the application of tools and techniques from economic, financial, regulatory, environmental, and community impact research and data.

REALM D: Professional Development

Goal: Developing professional skills for real estate practice. 

• D.1 Understanding of the multiple professional opportunities in real estate and their required qualifications. 

• D.2 Understanding of social equity and diversity in real estate practice.

• D.3 Understanding of the ethical issues involved in professional practices.

• D.4 Ability to effectively provide leadership and interpersonal communication skills in collaborative professional settings. 

• D.5 Ability to work with professionals engaged in real estate, as demonstrated through practical experience.