SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University (SU) is now offering a master’s degree in real estate, with the first group of students starting in the fall of 2026.
Building on Whitman’s undergraduate real-estate program, the new master’s degree offers dedicated real-estate education related to development, finance, and sustainability.
The one-year, on-campus program takes a finance and sustainability-focused approach to real estate. Students have access to faculty experts, hands-on learning, and a nationwide network of Syracuse alumni working across the industry. The program is STEM-designated, which allows international students to apply for a 24-month optional practical training (OPT) extension. STEM is short for science, technology, mathematics, and engineering.
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“We are excited for the future of real estate, and this new specialized master’s degree is the next step for our already excellent program,” Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School, contended in an announcement. “The face of real estate has changed dramatically in recent years, moving toward a model where a background in finance, business analytics, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability are vital components. This new program, combined with Syracuse’s proximity to major hubs like New York City, positions Whitman to create added value and drive job-ready professionals into the real estate industry.”
The 30-credit program can be completed in one calendar year with flexibility for students who prefer a longer timeline. Students will take specialized real-estate courses, alongside electives in areas such as sustainability, infrastructure, and real-estate law, which reflect the evolving needs of the industry, according to Milena Petrova, professor of real estate and finance and director of the real-estate program at the Whitman School, said.
Students will also engage in a group capstone project, “Green Real Estate Competition: Doing Well by Doing Good,” which will leverage real-estate data, modeling and analytical capabilities as students take part in a simulated competition on “green” real estate stock selection as part of their experiential learning.
“Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to pursue careers across the real estate industry, including development, investment analysis, capital markets, corporate real estate, private equity and asset and portfolio management,” Petrova said.
