MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
One year, full-time at UCLA — to build a better future
UCLA’s new Master of Real Estate Development fills a need for smart stewardship of urban growth in Los Angeles, the nation and the world. Housed at UCLA Luskin Urban Planning and drawing on expertise from across the university and key industries, the MRED prepares professionals with the leadership skills, ethical foundation and technical prowess to guide cities on a path of sustainable expansion. With a foundation in social justice and an emphasis on key practical skills, the program immerses students in real-world development projects in the nation’s second-largest city, Los Angeles, a place known for innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.
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about the
UCLA Luskin MRED
Email Us
For more information about the UCLA Luskin Master of Real Estate Development, email:
Make an Admissions Appointment
Sean Campbell
Associate Director of Admissions & Recruitment
Public Affairs Building, Room 3357E
sean@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-8957
Schedule an appointment here
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THE DEMAND
From planning to finance to design, decisions about what to build and where to build influence equity and sustainability in ways that are often neglected in traditional real estate development programs. The UCLA Luskin MRED will pair ethical underpinnings with advanced skills in high demand in the real estate development field. The MRED is part of the UC system’s self-supporting degree program, aimed at addressing specific needs in the workforce. The degree will benefit students and professionals seeking advanced degrees, including:
Applicants with a bachelor’s or graduate degree, particularly in these fields:
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- Architecture
- Business
- Economics
- Civil engineering
- Law
- Management
- Planning
- Public policy
International applicants, particularly from countries with growing rates of urbanization
Applicants with at least two years of experience in real estate, urban development or related fields
Mid-career professionals seeking to advance in an evolving field
CALENDAR AND CURRICULUM
The MRED program spans 11 months of full-time instruction, including an optional one-week boot camp bringing students up to speed on high-demand technical platforms used in project planning, spatial analysis and visual communication; three quarters of rigorous core and elective coursework; and a summer spent completing a practicum, conducted remotely, that immerses students in the challenges of executing a real estate development proposal.
MRED coursework provides a strong grounding in urban development policies and institutional processes, and calls on students to think critically about the future of cities.
Core courses will develop a strong foundation in:
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- Economics and finance
- Market analysis
- Land development laws and regulation
- Development and design
- New building technologies
- Negotiation and consensus-building
- Community participation
A rotation of electives will touch on topics including but not limited to:
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- Climate adaptation
- Housing affordability
- Zoning and equity
- Age-friendly building
- Innovative financing
- Globalization
- Big data and smart cities
OUR TEACHING TEAM
Distinguished and innovative real estate and urban development practitioners will join UCLA faculty in administering, teaching and delivering the MRED curriculum. Campus partners include:
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- Ziman Center for Real Estate, housed at the Anderson School of Management
- Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
- Institute of Transportation Studies
- Luskin Center for Innovation
- Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy
- UCLA Law
- cityLAB
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The UCLA Luskin MRED meets a demand for professionals who possess both technical skills and a forward-looking understanding of the socioeconomic issues surrounding real estate development. Students will emerge prepared for positions around the world in:
- Private industry, including development, management and investment
- The nonprofit sphere, including affordable housing projects, land acquisition and financing
- The public sector, including strategic planning, community development and asset management
WHY CHOOSE UCLA?
The UCLA Luskin MRED is housed within Urban Planning at UCLA, recently ranked as the nation’s No. 1 program of its kind. The program is part of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, a living laboratory of teaching and research at the convergence of the fields of social work, urban planning and policymaking. UCLA Luskin is known for:
Leadership: Integrity, equity, and justice lie at the heart of public affairs, and UCLA Luskin is committed to developing leaders equipped to enter the world ready to make a difference.
Collaboration: Our master’s, doctoral and undergraduate students value the unique integration of several disciplines within one School, an academic cross-collaboration that fosters a rich education and encourages fresh perspectives.
Resources: In addition to highly ranked degree programs, UCLA Luskin is home to numerous innovative research centers, and the region around us offers abundant opportunities to intern and work.
Diversity: At UCLA Luskin, diversity is strength. Our faculty and student body come from many ethnic, age, gender and socioeconomic spheres, creating one of the most diverse and interdisciplinary units in the entire UC system.
Family: UCLA Luskin is known for its supportive learning environment. Our faculty and staff enthusiastically share knowledge and inspire students to engage with the world through advocacy and research in public, private and grassroots organizations.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants to the MRED program must follow UCLA Graduate Division’s admission procedures. General requirements for admission include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or international equivalent
- A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Proficiency in English
- Previous experience in real estate or urban development is recommended but not required
Materials needed to apply:
- UCLA Graduate Division Online Application
- Application Fee
- Transcripts
- Statement of Purpose – No longer than 1,000 words
- Personal History Statement – No longer than 500 words
- Resume
- Three Letters of Recommendation
About the illustration
Icons represent topics related to the UCLA MRED: green, solar and wind energy; protection of nature; equity; commercial real estate; eco homes and climate-friendly power generation
