The bachelor in real estate degree provides in-depth knowledge about the fundamentals of real estate, laws of real estate, and personal finance. The bachelor's degree in real estate program helps to prepare you for this ever-changing competitive market. You may be able to complete your bachelor's degree in real estate program online, on campus, or as a hybrid-program degree.
Prerequisites
When applying to a university or college for a real estate bachelor's degree program, you may be asked to fulfill certain criteria. This criterion may vary from university to university, but common prerequisites for many schools are:
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The applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent
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Submit SAT or ACT test scores
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An acceptable GPA, varies from university to university
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Letters of recommendation
Curriculum and Coursework
The curriculum of a real estate degree program aims to build a strong foundation in liberal arts studies. The curriculum aims to provide you with sound knowledge in various areas of real estate studies such as management of property, real estate law, sales and property, development, valuation, mortgage lending, and equity investment. The coursework is designed to enhance and build several skills and qualities that students may need in their careers. These skills include persuasive writing skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, business skills, and organizational skills. Students' understanding of the curriculum and coursework may be tested through written examination, assignments, and case studies.
The coursework may vary from university to university, but core courses may include classes similar to these:
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Principles of Real Estate
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Real Estate Finance
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Real Estate Law
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Real Estate Investment Analysis
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Real Estate Appraisal
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Financial Management
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Real Estate Property Management
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Money and Banking
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Financial Risk Management
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Intensive Writing
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Critical Thinking
Licensing Requirements
It is imperative for sales agents and real estate brokers to attend real estate course accredited by the state to acquire a state license; however, in some cases, some states may allow the applicant to bypass this requirement if the applicant has taken university or college courses, especially if the applicant already has a bachelor's degree in real estate. To get a broker's license, the applicant has to pass rigorous examination and be at least eighteen years of age. Some states have additional prerequisites such as background checks. Some states require the applicant to have two to three years of professional experience as a sales agent before getting a broker's license, but they may waive this requirement if the applicant has a bachelor's degree in real estate.
Career Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary of sales agents and real estate brokers was $41,990 per year in 2012. The BLS also projected that the number of people working as sales agents and real estate brokers would grow by 11 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is about as fast as the average of all occupations. Career prospects may be high, and as the economy grows, the demand for real estate brokers and sales agents could also grow.