MBA in Real Estate
Wisconsin is consistently ranked among the top three real estate programs in the country. Our career specialization in Real Estate prepares students for high-level managerial positions in the real estate industry. The program delivers a multi-disciplinary approach to real estate with a focus on development, finance, investment, valuation, law and the regulatory environment and urban land economics. Technical subjects are fully covered, but the curriculum also includes hands-on projects and substantial opportunities for fieldwork in the U.S. and abroad.
Center of Expertise
The James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate
The James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate is named after James A. Graaskamp, a legendary figure in real estate education. The Graaskamp Center fosters excellence in real estate education, research and outreach. It links Real Estate faculty and students to alumni, the real estate professional community, governmental agencies and the general public.
The Center offers many resources to students and industry. Top academics, researchers and industry executives regularly visit the Center to share expertise. Students network with industry professionals through the Center’s Board of Advisors meetings, Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association reunions and Real Estate Club. The Center also provides advising and mentoring to help match students with appropriate career opportunities. Internships are encouraged after the first year of coursework. Scholarships and fellowships are available to qualified students, along with occasional opportunities to work on consulting projects in the classroom with alumni and board members.
“I honestly feel that choosing the Wisconsin Real Estate MBA program was one of the best decisions of my life. The depth of the curriculum is unparalleled. In addition to general MBA academic courses, the program provides 10 Real Estate electives, with two of the 10 courses taken in the first year. The curriculum is enhanced with case studies, professional speakers, international real estate field trips and alumni-networking events.”
Shawana McGee, Class of 2007
Associate, BlackRock
Boston, Mass.
Real-World Experience
- Unique opportunities to travel domestically and abroad with real estate alumni and industry executives to visit industry conferences, tour real estate developments and participate on Real Estate Club field trips.
- Guest lectures from leaders in the real estate industry and interaction with members of the Board of Advisors.
- Close ties to the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association, a dynamic organization made up of more than 1,600 alumni and affiliates that is the envy of the industry.
Outstanding Job Placement
Leading companies regularly recruit Wisconsin real estate students at graduation and as interns. The Class of 2006 had 100 percent job placement, the majority finding jobs in the upper Midwest and East and West Coasts. Average starting salary for 2006 Real Estate MBA students was $86,000, with an average signing bonus of $8,150. Students have access to many resources during the job placement process — the Real Estate Club, Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association and MBA Career Services.
International Focus
Recognizing the increasingly global nature of real estate, we consider exposure to international real estate an invaluable part of the Wisconsin MBA. The Center offers the most in-depth international experience of any real estate program in the country. A core requirement of the MBA curriculum is participating in international study trips during the first and second years. For the past two years, first-year MBA students traveled to France to attend the MIPIM Conference, one of the largest international real estate summits. Second-year students traveled to China with stops in Beijing, Chongqing and Shanghai. On both trips, students met with leading developers, government officials, prominent business people, and consultants actively involved in the development community—enhancing their global perspective and network while gaining valuable practical experience in the field.
Each year, real estate students travel abroad to learn about international real estate firsthand. Second-year students traveled to China, visiting major developments and talking with local developers. Several board members and alumni also joined the China trip.
“The opportunity to travel to China through the Real Estate specialization was the absolute highlight of my entire MBA experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Marya Geiger
MBA Class of 2006
Extensive Alumni Network
Wisconsin Real Estate graduates are noted both for success in the real estate industry and loyalty to their alma mater. Members of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA) often serve as mentors to current students, providing them with guidance through the job search process and in making career decisions. WREAA is the leading industry network, with members coast to coast. It offers annual conferences, regional networking opportunities and access to a highly regarded employment database.
“The Wisconsin Real Estate program has been a springboard for my career. The program is unique because it provides a comprehensive theoretical background in real estate finance, but also offers a variety of courses that relate to current and practical issues in real estate today. Perhaps the best aspect of the program is the interaction with alumni and other real estate professionals through guest lectures and field trips. Going through the program and remaining involved with the alumni association has given me a connection to some of the foremost real estate professionals in the business.”
Alan Carmichael, Class of 2004
Investment Manager, Alere Property Group LLC
Newport Beach, Calif.
The Applied Real Estate Security Analysis Program
The Applied Real Estate Security Analysis Program (ARESAP) is the first program of its kind in the country, providing a team of MBA students the opportunity to manage a $1 million portfolio invested in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). ARESAP students develop fundamental research and portfolio management skills by blending a thorough theoretical foundation with the first-hand experience and challenges of managing real money and working successfully as a team.
Top Faculty
Faculty members of the Real Estate department are among the most productive and influential in higher education. Their research interests vary from REITs to institutional investments, land use regulatory policy, mortgage pricing, urban economics, housing and beyond. Faculty are in touch with cutting-edge, real-world issues by serving as consultants to businesses, governments and international organizations.
The Real Estate Club
The Real Estate Club provides outstanding opportunities for students to build long-term career networks, learn from real estate professionals and participate in job fairs and field trips.
Program Success
Our MBA students are offered top jobs—both at graduation and as interns in positions such as investment analysts, asset managers, acquisitions director, development manager and portfolio manager. A partial listing of recent employers includes:
- Northwestern Mutual
- Bank of America
- Black Rock Realty
- Wrightwood Capital
- Transwestern Realty Finance Partners, LLC
Contact
The James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate Sharon McCabe |