Real Estate Development and Management Certificate

This credential is designed to give you the core foundational knowledge to make a career change into real estate development, facility management, and related disciplines. It is an option for students with work experience in the field but with no previous degree who need a credential to advance in their careers. It can also be used to augment an existing degree.

The certificate is a 19–21-credit University credential that can be completed in as quickly as two semesters (or a longer timeline convenient to your schedule and course availability).

A degree at the University of Minnesota is a 120-credit undergraduate program that includes liberal education requirements, preparatory courses, and major coursework, and typically takes four years full-time to complete. The University of Minnesota does not offer a full degree in real estate.

All courses in this program are offered asynchronously online or in a hybrid synchronous/asynchronous online format, with most having face-to-face options as well. CMGT 3011 – Plan Reading is being redeveloped to have an online section. CMGT 4861 – Capstone can be taken in-person, remotely, or at your own pace via the recorded class discussions.

Certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid. However, halfway through the certificate program, students may be eligible for CCAPS scholarships if funds are available (priority is given to bachelor’s degree students). Also, be sure to check with your employer for tuition assistance and apply for relevant industry scholarships.

Yes. In addition to the required Certificate courses, we offer many elective credit options that can be tailored toward your career goals, offered within Construction Management, Applied Business, Urban Studies, and the Carlson School of Business. An internship is also highly recommended (CMGT 4196 – Internship, 1 cr) to help you gain experience in the field while taking classes. Alternatively, you could pursue a special project with your employer via CMGT 4193 – Directed Study (1–2 cr).

The bottom line: we want you to select a package of coursework that fits your career objectives.

Yes. Not every certificate student has the same work and educational experience, so we endeavor to tailor the requirements to your skills and career objectives. We can waive courses based on previous related upper-division coursework, subject to departmental approval. We can also substitute other upper-division construction management, applied business, or other University coursework (subject to meeting prerequisite requirements) to meet your goals. Please talk with us to find out more about a custom course plan.

Yes, all courses will appear on a student’s U of M undergraduate academic transcript.

Certificate students are not eligible for career services because they do not pay the student service fees. However, they are invited to attend our annual Built Environment Career Fair, place their resume in our spring virtual career fair booklet, participate in industry events hosted by the department, and receive announcements regarding job openings via email as they appear.

The fee is $582.65 in-state tuition per credit as of the 2024–25 academic year.

International students who have never applied to the U of M and are taking online courses from their home country will be assessed at in-state tuition of $582.65 per credit. If international residency has been previously assessed, international tuition rates will be billed.

Yes, however, you will need to inquire and self-report to your licensing agency. Generally speaking, university-level courses will qualify for professional development credits with most licensing agencies.

This is an academic certificate, not a technical certification. This program does automatically count toward state real estate licensing certification, though professional education may apply, subject to licensing rules. We are not a provider for any specific organizations. 

Depending on your needs, two elective courses offer professional certifications. You may earn the OSHA 3 card by taking CMGT 4031 – Construction Safety and Loss Control and the Minnesota Site Stormwater Management Certificate from CMGT 4081 – Erosion Control.