Curriculum
Discover the Penn State Smeal Master's in Real Estate Analysis and Development (MRE) program, offering a comprehensive 30-credit curriculum that encompasses real estate finance, investment, and development analysis, backed by expert professors known for their research and practical insights. Delve into essential quantitative research methods while building a strong foundation to excel in the dynamic realm of commercial real estate.
This 30-credit master’s program will provide students a solid foundation in the concepts associated with real estate finance, investment, and development analysis as well as quantitative research methods that are needed to solve problems in the commercial real estate industry.
Our Master's in Real Estate Analysis and Development (MRE) courses are taught by distinguished professors with world-renowned research expertise and practical knowledge and experience. These award-winning teachers, researchers, consultants, and authors specialize in bringing complex business concepts to life.
Required Prerequisites
The following Penn State courses (or their equivalents at another institution) are prerequisites for the Penn State Smeal MRE program:
- MBADM 811: Financial Accounting (3 credits)
- MBADM 813: Data Analysis for Decision Making (3 credits)
Students who do not have the required prerequisites must complete these credits online during Penn State's 2024 summer semester.
Fall Semester
Module I
Duration: 16 weeks | Format: Online, Asynchronous | Professor: Kyle Kaplan, JD
Analyze contemporary law applicable to various types of ownership interests and rights, methods of transferring ownership, and use of real property.
Analyze contemporary law applicable to various types of ownership interests and rights, methods of transferring ownership, and use of real property.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professors: Brent Ambrose, Ph.D., Jiro Yoshida, Ph.D.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Duration: 4 weeks | Format: Online, Asynchronous | Professor: Mallory Meehan, JD
This course has three objectives: a) provide an overview of modern real estate analysis, b) overview of risk management, and c) develop a series of analytical techniques associated with real estate risk analysis. The course begins with an overview of issues in real estate and risk management. Focus then shifts to a series of legal issues, including property rights and regulations. The remainder of the course deals with the economic and financial evaluation of real estate.
This course has three objectives: a) provide an overview of modern real estate analysis, b) overview of risk management, and c) develop a series of analytical techniques associated with real estate risk analysis. The course begins with an overview of issues in real estate and risk management. Focus then shifts to a series of legal issues, including property rights and regulations. The remainder of the course deals with the economic and financial evaluation of real estate.
Duration: 7 weeks | Professor: Sajay Samuel, Ph.D.
Foundations in Management Accounting has two broad aims. First, it is designed to help students grasp the technical aspects of accounting for activities and processes within and between firms. Therefore, students will study methods of a) cost classification & estimation; b) cost measurement & allocation; c) profit planning; and d) evaluation and control of behavior. Second, the course emphasizes the context of managerial accounting.
Foundations in Management Accounting has two broad aims. First, it is designed to help students grasp the technical aspects of accounting for activities and processes within and between firms. Therefore, students will study methods of a) cost classification & estimation; b) cost measurement & allocation; c) profit planning; and d) evaluation and control of behavior. Second, the course emphasizes the context of managerial accounting.
Duration: 7 weeks | Professor: Tony Kwasnica, Ph.D.
Construction and use of quantitative methods in business decision-making.
Construction and use of quantitative methods in business decision-making.
Duration: 7 weeks
Students may choose one elective from the following list of courses. Click each course to learn more information. Offerings are subject to change each semester.
Students may choose one elective from the following list of courses. Click each course to learn more information. Offerings are subject to change each semester.
- Ethical Leadership (BA 804)
- Foundations in Finance (BA 831)
- Strategic Leading and Identity (BA 888)
- Descriptive Analytics for Business (BAN 830)
- Emerging Trends, Technology, and Corporate Innovation (ENTR 810)
- Global Finance (FIN 855)
- Strategic Financial Management (FIN 871)
- Modern Portfolio Management (FIN 883)
- Power & Influence (MGTM 565)
- Sustainability Strategy Development (MGMT 811)
- Complex Negotiations (MGMT 821)
- Strategy Implementation and Organizational Change (MGMT 831)
- Global Strategy and Organization (MGMT 861)
- Management Consulting Methods and Practice (MGMT 885)
- Data Collection for Business Research (MKTG 597)
- Driving Business Success with Marketing Analytics (MKTG 811)
- Supply Chain Management (SCM 800)
Fall Immersion
Duration: 1 week | Professor: Mallory Meehan, JD
A comprehensive overview of the leading real estate industry software used for financial and investment analysis. These software programs provide a platform for investment and valuation analysis of individual properties as well as portfolios. Students successfully completing this course will be prepared to sit for various industry certification exams.
A comprehensive overview of the leading real estate industry software used for financial and investment analysis. These software programs provide a platform for investment and valuation analysis of individual properties as well as portfolios. Students successfully completing this course will be prepared to sit for various industry certification exams.
Module II
Duration: 16 weeks | Format: Online, Asynchronous | Professor: Kyle Kaplan, JD
Analyze contemporary law applicable to various types of ownership interests and rights, methods of transferring ownership, and use of real property.
Analyze contemporary law applicable to various types of ownership interests and rights, methods of transferring ownership, and use of real property.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professors: Professor: Brent Ambrose, Ph.D., Jiro Yoshida, Ph.D.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Duration: 7 weeks | Professor: Jiro Yoshida, Ph.D.
This course provides a modern framework for the valuation and analysis of real property using both theoretical and empirical approaches.
This course provides a modern framework for the valuation and analysis of real property using both theoretical and empirical approaches.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Brent Ambrose, Ph.D.
This course covers the convergence of real estate and the capital markets. It is designed to expose students to the structure, analysis, and valuation of a variety of real estate securities including: residential mortgage backed securities (MBS), collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The course also focuses on the role of real estate as a specific asset class in modern portfolio theory.
This course covers the convergence of real estate and the capital markets. It is designed to expose students to the structure, analysis, and valuation of a variety of real estate securities including: residential mortgage backed securities (MBS), collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The course also focuses on the role of real estate as a specific asset class in modern portfolio theory.
Spring Semester
Module III
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Liang Peng, Ph.D.
The course provides students with working knowledge of some of the widely used quantitative methods and their applications in business, as well as using statistical analysis software to apply such methods for business analyses and decision-making. By the end of the course, students will understand the purposes of these methods and how to use them to solve real estate, financial, marketing, and risk management problems.
The course provides students with working knowledge of some of the widely used quantitative methods and their applications in business, as well as using statistical analysis software to apply such methods for business analyses and decision-making. By the end of the course, students will understand the purposes of these methods and how to use them to solve real estate, financial, marketing, and risk management problems.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Andy Gustafson, Ph.D.
One of the most important skills students develop in business school is the ability to demonstrate the value of their experiences. This course provides students with targeted opportunities to develop this skill as they clearly, forcefully, and professionally represent ideas, opinions, and solutions. Students will participate in various oral, written, and graphic projects during the course.
One of the most important skills students develop in business school is the ability to demonstrate the value of their experiences. This course provides students with targeted opportunities to develop this skill as they clearly, forcefully, and professionally represent ideas, opinions, and solutions. Students will participate in various oral, written, and graphic projects during the course.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Eva Steiner, Ph.D., Liang Peng, Ph.D.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: TBD
This course covers economic theories of valuation applied to real estate as a guide to business decisions. The goal of the course is to give students an understanding of real estate value, how to measure it, and its application to the real estate marketplace.
This course covers economic theories of valuation applied to real estate as a guide to business decisions. The goal of the course is to give students an understanding of real estate value, how to measure it, and its application to the real estate marketplace.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Eva Steiner, Ph.D.
Survey important issues in real estate markets, including special characteristics of real estate markets, valuation of real properties, mortgage mechanics and calculations, valuing investment opportunities, financing corporate real estate, financing project development, and the secondary mortgage market.
Survey important issues in real estate markets, including special characteristics of real estate markets, valuation of real properties, mortgage mechanics and calculations, valuing investment opportunities, financing corporate real estate, financing project development, and the secondary mortgage market.
Module IV
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Liang Peng, Ph.D.
The course provides students with working knowledge of some of the widely used quantitative methods and their applications in business, as well as using statistical analysis software to apply such methods for business analyses and decision-making. By the end of the course, students will understand the purposes of these methods and how to use them to solve real estate, financial, marketing, and risk management problems.
The course provides students with working knowledge of some of the widely used quantitative methods and their applications in business, as well as using statistical analysis software to apply such methods for business analyses and decision-making. By the end of the course, students will understand the purposes of these methods and how to use them to solve real estate, financial, marketing, and risk management problems.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Andy Gustafson, Ph.D.
One of the most important skills students develop in business school is the ability to demonstrate the value of their experiences. This course provides students with targeted opportunities to develop this skill as they clearly, forcefully, and professionally represent ideas, opinions, and solutions. Students will participate in various oral, written, and graphic projects during the course.
One of the most important skills students develop in business school is the ability to demonstrate the value of their experiences. This course provides students with targeted opportunities to develop this skill as they clearly, forcefully, and professionally represent ideas, opinions, and solutions. Students will participate in various oral, written, and graphic projects during the course.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Professor: Eva Steiner, Ph.D., Liang Peng, Ph.D.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Continuing seminars that consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: TBD
This course covers economic theories of valuation applied to real estate as a guide to business decisions. The goal of the course is to give students an understanding of real estate value, how to measure it, and its application to the real estate marketplace.
This course covers economic theories of valuation applied to real estate as a guide to business decisions. The goal of the course is to give students an understanding of real estate value, how to measure it, and its application to the real estate marketplace.
Duration: 16 weeks | Professor: Steve Bisbee, MBA
Explore the real estate development process, emphasizing property analysis and deal execution, as well as marketing, management, zoning, and financing. Course lectures will include a variety of speakers that will cover various aspects of the development process. Material covered in their presentations will be critical to successful completion of the semester research project.
Explore the real estate development process, emphasizing property analysis and deal execution, as well as marketing, management, zoning, and financing. Course lectures will include a variety of speakers that will cover various aspects of the development process. Material covered in their presentations will be critical to successful completion of the semester research project.