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Business & Economics

Real Estate

The business, finance, and law behind property and development.

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Content last reviewed: August 2026

Real estate programs study the financial, legal, and market dynamics of property, covering valuation, finance, development, and investment. It's typically housed within a business school and combines finance fundamentals with real-estate-specific analysis.

Coursework often includes market analysis projects and case studies of actual development or investment decisions, along with the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape how property can be used and financed.

Typical courses you might take

  • Principles of Real Estate
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Property Valuation & Appraisal
  • Real Estate Law
  • Real Estate Development
  • Real Estate Investment Analysis
  • Urban Land Economics
  • Real Estate Capstone Project

Sample four-year plan

Illustrative, not a registration plan

One possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.

Year 1 · Fall
  • Principles of Real Estate
  • +General education requirement
Year 1 · Spring
  • Real Estate Finance
  • +General education requirement
Year 2 · Fall
  • Property Valuation & Appraisal
  • +General education requirement
Year 2 · Spring
  • Real Estate Law
  • +Free elective
Year 3 · Fall
  • Real Estate Development
  • +Free elective
Year 3 · Spring
  • Real Estate Investment Analysis
  • +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
Year 4 · Fall
  • Urban Land Economics
  • +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
Year 4 · Spring
  • Real Estate Capstone Project
  • +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)

Skills you'll build

Property valuation and financial analysisUnderstanding real estate law and contractsMarket research and trend analysisInvestment analysis and risk assessmentNegotiationUnderstanding zoning and land-use regulationFinancial modeling
Explore more majors that build these skills →

This major might be a good fit if you...

  • Interested in property, development, or urban growth
  • Comfortable with financial analysis and numbers
  • Practical, detail-oriented, and interested in legal frameworks
  • Curious about how cities and neighborhoods change

Common minors & double-major pairings

Finance · Urban Planning · Business Law

Roles this major could lead to

Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Real Estate major?

The business, finance, and law behind property and development.

What courses do Real Estate majors take?

Typical coursework includes classes like Principles of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Property Valuation & Appraisal, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.

What skills do you build in a Real Estate program?

Real Estate coursework typically builds skills like Property valuation and financial analysis, Understanding real estate law and contracts, Market research and trend analysis, Investment analysis and risk assessment.

Is Real Estate a good major for me?

It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in property, development, or urban growth" or "Comfortable with financial analysis and numbers" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.

What can you do with a Real Estate degree?

Majors in this field often go on to roles like Real Estate Agent. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.

What other majors pair well with Real Estate?

Common minor or double-major pairings include Finance, Urban Planning, Business Law.

How is Real Estate different from Finance?

They're related but distinct. Real Estate: The business, finance, and law behind property and development. Finance: How money, risk, and investment decisions work. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.

How long does it take to earn a Real Estate degree?

Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.

This overview describes what the field of study typically covers. It's not a guarantee of course availability, job placement, or earnings, program details vary by school. See our disclaimer.

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