(607) 255-7110
www.realestate.cornell.edu
real_estate@cornell.edu
The two-year master of professional studies in real estate (M.P.S./RE) degree program is an interdisciplinary program that combines courses from nearly every college at Cornell University. The degree is designed for aspiring real estate professionals who are in the initial or early stages of their careers. The Baker Program in Real Estate at Cornell University is home to the graduate program in real estate as well as the Cornell Real Estate Council, which is the centerpoint of academic and industry-related real estate activities on and off campus. The real estate field faculty is composed of 23 faculty members selected from several different colleges who are directly involved in and responsible for the design, delivery, and administration of the real estate curriculum.
The professional study of real estate is concerned with the design, development, finance, law, management, marketing, transactions, deal structuring, and many other aspects of the real estate business. Real estate professionals also contribute an understanding of the long-range social, political, ethical, and environmental implications of decisions about real estate. The 62 credit hours of course work and summer internship needed to earn the degree provide a comprehensive and lasting foundation for professional careers in real estate.
Students take core courses in principles of real estate, the real estate development process, real estate finance and investments, communication in real estate, managerial finance, residential development, real estate law, construction planning and operations, design in real estate development, transactions and deal structuring, and real estate marketing and management, along with a weekly industry seminar. Elective courses are taken in a chosen area of concentration and to fulfill a leadership and management distribution requirement. Many concentration options are possible and may be structured from the hundreds of related courses taught at Cornell University. Areas of concentration include development, finance, investments, real estate consulting, sustainable development, property and asset management, real estate marketing and market analysis, international real estate concentrations, and others. Students complete real-world, semester-long project workshops during their second and fourth semesters.
Admissions
Applicants to the Baker Program in Real Estate must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a good academic record. Applicants must submit a résumé plus two letters of recommendation either from faculty members familiar with the applicant’s academic work or, if appropriate, professional recommendations based on work experience. Competitive scores for the GMAT are required. Extensive and relevant work experience will receive favorable consideration. International students for whom English is a second language will need to achieve a minimum TOEFL score set by the Cornell Graduate School. There is no work experience required for admission; however, it is strongly preferred that applicants have at least some industry-related work experience, with three to five years’ experience typical. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The financial aid priority and dual-degree applicant deadline is January 15, and the regular application deadline is March 15; otherwise, applications will be accepted until June 1. For more information, contact the admissions coordinator.