OVERVIEW
Housed in the Department of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate and Legal Studies, the Real Estate major offers a comprehensive curriculum that serves as a foundation for students seeking employment in real estate related enterprises. The primary objective of the real estate major is to provide students with the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to enter the real estate industry. More specifically, the program aims to equip students for entry-level positions in mortgage banking and institutional lending, real estate brokerage and leasing, appraisal and investment consulting, real estate investment and development activities, corporate real estate and real estate positions within government agencies.
The Real Estate Society (student organization) and the FSU Real Estate Center network of alumni and friends give students exposure to the various aspects of the real estate industry through corporate tours and professional forums, as well as an opportunity to interact with real estate professionals. The program seeks to facilitate internships, both at the department and college-levels to provide students the chance to gain practical experience. The “fast-tracking” of many training programs available through our department provide students with a competitive advantage over other new hires.
Established in the early 1970s in response to the rapidly growing employment opportunities in real estate, today the Real Estate Program at Florida State is one of the largest and most successful programs in the nation.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Real Estate major is a specialized admission program. To be certified to the major, a student must meet the requirements for specialized admission programs in the College of Business. Upon completing all requirements for this major, the student will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Courses for the major are updated each academic year. Students must use the course requirements from the academic year they were certified into the College of Business. Typically, students are certified to the College of Business beginning their junior year, and the academic year runs fall through summer.
ACADEMIC MAPPING
Mapping is Florida State University’s academic advising and monitoring system that provides each student with a recommended eight semester map for completing their bachelor’s degree in four years. Summer semesters are not included in degree mapping, but the student may use summer terms to either get ahead or catch up in their degree program.
Students are not required to complete all the recommended classes on their map to remain on course; they simply must meet certain minimum requirements known as "milestones." Milestones include a minimum grade point average (GPA), completion of specific courses and minimum grades (typically “C-” or better, although there are some exceptions) in the milestone classes. Milestones are identified on each major map. All incoming freshmen are monitored for Semester 1 milestone criteria, regardless of the number of hours they previously accumulated through dual enrollment and/or credit by examination.
Students will be contacted if they are not making the appropriate progress. Students who do not satisfy the appropriate milestones at the end of any semester will be notified by the university. The first time a student is off course, a Hold will be placed on registration; and the student will be required to contact an adviser to have the registration Hold removed. The advisor will discuss: (1) what is necessary to get back on course; and/or (2) possible alternative majors. If the student is off course for two consecutive semesters, a Hold is placed on registration; and the student will be required to change their major to an area outside of business.
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom are offered through the department’s internships, careers and licensing opportunities, as well as the college’s internship program and international programs. Education also is enhanced through several networking and leadership opportunities available through student organizations, including the Real Estate Society, and our numerous industry specific events. Generous scholarships help support students along the way.
Highly qualified FSU students enrolled in this major are able to pursue a combined bachelor’s/master’s pathway that gives them a jump-start on a master’s degree. Combined pathway students substitute specific graduate coursework for undergraduate classes and double count up to nine credit hours of coursework toward requirements for both degrees. To learn more, meet with an advisor in the Undergraduate Programs Office before registering for senior coursework. Learn more about combined pathway options and GPA criteria at business.fsu.edu/combined-pathways.
