Degree Programs
Master of Real Estate Development
School and Term: The MRED degree is awarded by the Graduate School of the University of Maryland. Students may apply and be admitted in either the fall (August) or spring (January semesters). Click on ADMISSIONS. In certain circumstances students may take a course in the summer or winter prior to their official admission.
Credit Requirements: Students with applicable academic preparation and/or appropriate real estate industry experience may complete the degree with 33 credits. The conditions for awarding of the degree are: Completion of 14 courses with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better, Completion of Executive Skills Training Sequence, Public Presentation of the Capstone Project, and Submission of a Written Capstone Report.
All students must meet the above credit requirements. Up to an additional 9 credits (3 courses) may be required for students without sufficient finance or other real estate academic or work experience in Microeconomics, Accounting, and Finance. Students with no or limited experience with financial tools, professional writing or, public presentations may be required to take supplemental non-credit course work prior to, or in conjunction, with their real estate course work.
Graduate courses taken at other institutions that qualify to meet core requirements may not be transferred for credit, but may be substituted with advanced electives. Subject to approval of the Program Director, up to 6 credits taken in other programs at the University of Maryland, such as, public policy, business, planning, architecture, engineering, may be applied towards the MRED degree.
Curriculum:
Seven Core Courses (or equivalents):
RDEV 688A Development Law, Process and Ethics
RDEV 630 Fundamentals of Development and Finance (Finance I)
RDEV 650 Construction Management
RDEV 688D Principles of Property Management (or other management course)
RDEV 688E Negotiating Agreements; Resolving Conflicts
RDEV 688G Planning Policy, Practice and Politics (or other planning course)
RDEV 688J Principles of Urban Design
Three Electives Courses from Concentrations: (not all courses offered every term or every year)
Finance and Investments
Property and Asset Management
Sustainable Design and Development
Public Policy and Planning
Affordable Housing
Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse
One Capstone Seminar:
RDEV 688I (research or project feasibility with an industry sponsor)
Time to Completion: Students may elect (or be advised) to follow the Accelerated Path (12 months), Full Time Path (18 months), or Part Time Path (24-36 months) depending on their academic preparation, work experience, current work load or other personal factors. Additional time would be needed for students taking additional required or supplemental coursework. Students may modify their choice of path each term with program approval. Maximum time permitted to completion is five years. A break in continuous attendance each fall and spring term may be approved upon filing a formal request.
Course Sequences: The MRED program is not a cohort program and all courses are not offered every term. RDEV 688A and RDEV 688X or RDEV 630 are required to be taken in the first term, unless otherwise approved. Thereafter, core course sequences and electives may be tailored to a student's particular background and interests and are not required to be taken in any particular sequence. For example, a student with an undergraduate degree in design or law could substitute more advanced courses for the standard core course with advice and approval of the Director.
Full Time, Part Time and Accelerated Programs
Master of Real Estate Development for Federal Managers
This 33 credit program results in the full MRED degree and is offered jointly by the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. There are 11 required courses with a final thesis/capstone project over an intensive on-campus schedule. The program is not offered in an online or weekend format. The program is being offered in collaboration with the Department of Defense on a fixed fee/federally provided tuition basis. Scholarship requirements and funding by the Department of Defense or other federal agencies are within their purview; admissions are the same as in the standard MRED program above with tuition as arranged through the DOD or other federal agency. The federal MRED program is offered with a Fall or Spring start using the Accelerated Path. There is also the possibility of part time admission on an individual request basis. Admission questions should be directed to the Program Director as early as possible!
See an article from the Multifamily Executive on Maryland's masters' degree in federal real estate privatization.
View more information on all Real Estate Development programs in the Graduate Catalog.