Requirements for Graduate Certificate in Real Estate

Real estate development is an interdisciplinary field. Therefore, courses for the Real Estate certificate come from the University of Michigan’s Business, Law, Urban and Regional Planning, Natural Resources and Environment, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design, Kinesiology, and Engineering programs.

Certificate students must complete a total of 17 credits hours.

Course Requirements

Students are encouraged but not required to have completed a course in microeconomics before beginning the certificate. Students will complete the following requirements (see below for courses approved to count towards each category):

1. An introductory real estate overview course
   The aim of these courses is to give students an overview of the process of real estate development from conception to completion before they enter courses that deal with detailed aspects of development.
2. At least three credits in real estate finance and investment
   These courses provide an understanding of how real estate is financed and why investors are interested in real estate. Students will learn about the role of real estate finance in capital markets and about the structure of financing for real estate projects.
3. At least three credits in real estate and land use law
   These courses provide background in the legal structure that encourages, discourages, and controls different types of real estate development. These courses provide the background for understanding why jurisdictions regulate development and how regulation can enhance the quality of development.
4. At least three credits in real estate in the urban development context
   These courses encourage students to consider what constitutes desirable development that enhances the quality of life in the context of market, political, and social factors.
5. At least three credits in design and implementation
   These courses aim to give students a background in areas of design and implementation of real estate development projects.
6. An integrative seminar
   This two-credit seminar addresses topics in real estate that build on the knowledge gained in previous courses and that offer advanced students the opportunity to share ideas about current real estate issues such as walkable urbanism, innovative project financing, smart growth, regionalism, mortgage foreclosures, and others. Students should have completed at least one real estate certificate course offering before taking the integrative seminar.

For specific questions related to completing the Graduate Certificate and for getting sign-off on the course requirements Please reach out to taubmancollegeadvising@umich.edu

Intro Overview

Real Estate Finance and Investment

Real Estate and Land Use Law

Real Estate in the Urban Development Context

Design and Implementation

The Integrative Seminar

For specific questions related to completing the Graduate Certificate, please reach out to taubmancollegeadvising@umich.edu.

Available Courses

A current schedule of courses is available via the Taubman College Course List and the University’s Office of the Registrar. Please note that course titles, listings and availability varies semester to semester. It is important to check course catalogs for each respective school and college each semester.

Students may also find other courses especially related to their interests in real estate development; these courses may be approved for credit for the certificate with permission of the Faculty Director of the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate.

• • A real-estate-related MAP project in the Ross School may be counted toward meeting one or two of the course requirements for the certificate. The requirements the course meets depend on the content of the MAP. Students should provide a copy of the completed MAP project to the Faculty Director for a decision about what requirements the MAP meets.

Counting credits from a single course toward both the certificate and another degree

Per Rackham Graduate School policy, students in a master’s program may double count up to one-sixth of their master’s credits but not more than one-half of the certificate program credits, provided they are courses from the approved certificate curriculum. Certificate students should consult advisors in their home units to confirm courses they wish to be double-counted.

For example:

M.U.R.P. 48 x 1/6 = 8 credits can be double counted

Graduating with the Real Estate Development Graduate Certificate

All certificate students must apply to graduate from their certificate program. If you are also enrolled in a degree program, you will submit two applications to graduate – one for your degree program and one for your certificate. See the Taubman College Intranet for more information.