Our Curriculum
Since 2017, undergraduates at the GW School of Business have had the option to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a Concentration in Real Estate. Students must take one real estate investment course and one real estate development course, and then they choose from a variety of electives in real estate valuation, real estate law, walkable urban development and place management, strategic planning, sustainability, geography, economics and architecture. GW is now one of only a few major universities that offer an undergraduate degree concentration in real estate.
The B.S. in Finance with a Concentration in Real Estate provides students with a knowledge base encompassing finance, real estate investment, development, valuation and strategic planning — all of which will prepare them for a successful career in the real estate industry.
Since most of the electives in our curriculum are at the graduate level, this degree may put students at a competitive advantage when compared with students from other university real estate programs.
After completing this degree program, students should:
- Have a strong understanding of finance in order to assess the risks and returns of investment decisions and financing.
- Understand the principles of real estate investment (including valuation, appraisal, financing and development).
- Be prepared to immediately contribute at companies and agencies on the cutting edge of real estate, i.e. those that are focused on the type of mixed-use, walkable and sustainable projects currently in high demand throughout the country.
Curriculum
The following requirements must be fulfilled for the concentration in real estate: 15 credits in required and selected courses; at least 9 of these credits must be taken in residence. All concentration courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
Concentrations are only available to GWSB students. See Concentrations under GW School of Business Undergraduate Regulations in this Bulletin for additional information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| FINA 4201 | Real Estate Investment | |
| FINA 4240 | Real Estate Development | |
| or FINA 6240 | Real Estate Development | |
| FINA 4242 | Real Estate Valuation and Investment | |
| or FINA 6242 | Real Estate Valuation and Investment | |
| Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| AH 2154 | American Architecture I | |
| or AMST 2520 | American Architecture I | |
| ECON 2157 | Urban and Regional Economics | |
| FINA 4102 | Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts | |
| FINA 4243 | Strategic Planning for Real Estate Companies | |
| or FINA 6243 | Strategic Planning for Walkable Urban Real Estate Companies | |
| FINA 4248 | Commercial Real Estate Development Cases | |
| or FINA 6248 | Real Estate Development Cases | |
| GEOG 2140 | Cities and Societies | |
| SUST 2002 | The Sustainable City | |