Program Overview

MS in Real Estate Development Program

The MS in Real Estate Development Program is a STEM designated program (CIP Code 04.0902) offered by the College of Architecture & the Built Environment at Thomas Jefferson University.

Program Overview

The mission of the program is to prepare students to be leaders in the real estate profession and to address the significant built environment challenges of the 21st century, including sustainability, gentrification, poverty, and shifts in demographics. Students will learn to address economic, social, and ecological issues when developing commercial, industrial, institutional, mixed-use, and residential real estate development projects.

Program Highlights

• The program is offered in two flexible formats: in-person on campus or online.
• Focus on projects of various scales, from single buildings to entire districts or neighborhoods.
• Apply "green" planning principles, as outlined by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Using Philadelphia and its surroundings, students address real estate development projects and learn to invigorate communities and shape healthy places to live, work, and play.

Degree Options

Students have the option to take classes in person at the East Falls Campus or participate as synchronous online students. The online option is designed to be convenient for busy professionals and students, minimizing travel and promoting group work efficiently.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes a focus on the quadruple bottom line of real estate development, combining environmental sustainability, social consciousness, design excellence, financial feasibility, and economic viability. Students gain firsthand experience in how real estate development can invigorate communities and shape healthy places to live, work, and play.

Faculty and Advisory Board

A faculty of industry experts and practitioners provides real-world insight into sustainable and equitable practices, legal aspects of land-use, city and regional planning, and construction science and management. The program is supported by an advisory board composed of professionals in the real estate development field.

Alumni Profiles

Notable alumni include Temi Akanji, MS, who works to increase housing in Nigeria through her company, and John Churchville, MS, who chose the program for its Quadruple Bottom Line real estate development concept and the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals.

Related Programs

Related programs include:

• 5+1 Bachelor of Architecture + MS in Real Estate Development
• 1+1 MS in Real Estate Development + MS in Construction Management
• Real Estate Development Certificate
• MBA - Real Estate Development Concentration

Program Details

• College: College of Architecture & the Built Environment
• Degree: Master of Science
• Campus: East Falls
• Format: Online, On Campus
• Credits: 37
• Duration: 1.5 - 2.5 Years
• Starting Term: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Enrollment Options: Full Time, Part Time

At a Glance

The program prepares students to be leaders in the real estate profession, addressing economic, social, and ecological issues in real estate development. With a focus on sustainability, social consciousness, and design excellence, graduates are equipped to invigorate communities and shape healthy places to live, work, and play.