Master of Science in Business with a Concentration in Real Estate

Program overview

The master's program offered at VCU School of Business stands out as one of only four in the nation meeting the demanding educational standards set by the Appraisal Institute for the MAI designation. The program delivers a comprehensive education in related disciplines, significantly augmenting the analytical skills and communication abilities of its graduates. Completion of this program also enables individuals to expedite their path to acquiring the Certified Commercial Investment Member professional designation.

Last updated: January 31, 2024

Academic Information

Degree offered

MS in Business with a Concentration in Real Estate

Length of program

1 Year

Number of Credits Required

Courses and disciplines/concentrations offered

Required core courses

FIRE 615 – Foundations in Real Estate
FIRE 627 – Real Estate Development
FIRE 629 – Cases in Real Estate
FIRE 630 – Real Estate Valuation
FIRE 658 – Real Estate Finance and Investments

See a full list of courses and disciplines here

Approved electives
Select nine credit hours from the following and those courses not used toward general finance requirement:

FIRE 697 – Guided Study in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
MGMT 654 – Negotiations
MKTG 673 – Marketing Research
MKTG 691 – Topics in Marketing (marketing analytics)
SCMA 632 – Statistical Analysis and Modeling
SCMA 643 – Applied Multivariate Methods
SCMA 669 – Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business
URSP 621 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
URSP 625 – Spatial Database Management and GIS Modeling
URSP 628 – Land Use Planning
URSP 643 – Housing Policy

Real Estate Extracurricular Opportunities

Notable traditions & events

Real Estate Trends Conference (RETC): This annual conference is one of the leading forums in the region for the exchange of ideas and information about real estate, plus unsurpassed networking opportunities.

Real estate extracurricular activities available

Around The Region Newsletter: This is a newsletter that is emailed every three weeks about events and career opportunities in the area.
The Kornblau Institute: connecting scholars on research related to commercial and residential real estate and the social, cultural and economic sides of the real estate business.
Kornblau Real Estate Industry Talks: Virtually connect with real estate professionals from various industry sectors such as law, finance, construction, development, brokerage and appraisal, to share and learn about trends, issues, and current events impacting our industry.
The Real Estate Circle of Excellence: Real estate executives support students through scholarship, internship, and mentoring programs.

Recruiting

General info on roles students fill after graduation

Real estate appraisers
Real estate valuation analysts
Project managers
Asset management coordinators
Acquisitions analysts

Common employers

Capital One
Ryan Homes
PNC
MossMutual

Faculty and Research

Faculty & Staff for the Program

See a list of current faculty here

Alumni Support

Real estate alumni networks and associations

Association for Real Estate Alumni (AREA): is comprised of more than 600 alumni and friends of the Kornblau Real Estate Program. Opportunities include professional development, networking and a student mentoring program.

Financial Information

Financial aid

Available.

Scholarships

Available.

General information

State of the art Facilities

The Kornblau Institute: was founded by Richmond businessman and philanthropist Sam Kornblau. It offers scholars the chance to conduct influential research on both commercial and residential real estate subjects. The institute employs an interdisciplinary approach, addressing topics like land use, housing, and commercial development while examining the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the real estate industry. The overarching objective is to establish a network of researchers and a scholarly community dedicated to advancing the knowledge base in real estate and providing policymakers with evidence-based insights.

Campus Size

Virginia Commonwealth University, located in downtown Richmond, is a public institution that encompasses both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus, spanning a total of 198 acres.