The undergraduate division of the Department of Real Estate provides a curriculum which enables all students in the College of Commerce to work and excel in the real estate community at the local and national levels, and to adapt to future changes in the industry. It provides a strong foundation for students with career goals in real estate as the demand for qualified professionals in all areas of the industry continues to escalate with changing economic factors that drive the real estate market. Competence in real estate today, and the future, requires an understanding of a wide variety of professional disciplines and their interactions.  As a result, the program reaches across academic boundaries of departments and colleges to provide a truly interdisciplinary degree housed within the College of Commerce.  The DePaul real estate major requires finance and real estate law courses, and provides choices in economics, architecture history, public service management, geography, sociology, history and anthropology.

Students who complete the program will:

• Develop a comprehensive body of knowledge that will strengthen financial and analytical skills, including  risk analysis, portfolio construction and management, cash flow analysis, and investment strategy
• Understand the organizational structure of financial institutions and the impact of capital markets on real estate
• Understand the basic laws and regulations governing land use and real estate decisions
• Be able to clearly articulate a site development strategy to all parties and agencies
• Understand the historical development of real estate and its impact on present and future development patterns
• Understand how architectural and urban history provide insights into real estate analysis and valuation

Employment opportunities exist everywhere across the spectrum: ownership, brokerage, appraisal, design, insurance, inspection, leasing, management, and construction are a few. Property sectors include office, industrial, multi-family, retail, and hospitality and entertainment. Expanding the definition of real estate to consider the financial services side of real estate yields an additional list of career opportunities (mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, underwriters, services, researchers, and others).  The Real Estate Center assists students in finding employment in many of these diverse areas and industries in the associated supporting professions.