Real Estate Co-Major

Jump-start a career in real estate before you graduate

Whether you want to work for a real estate development company or in one of the many business roles in real estate, adding this co-major to your bachelor’s degree in business helps you stand out as a job candidate.

The Real Estate co-major offers you a hands-on opportunity to interact one-on-one with industry professionals in Indianapolis while gaining the analytical skills to add to your resume. Apply the lessons from your co-major in two semesters of workshop courses in which you solve actual real estate challenges for local professionals in the field.

Additional educational activities are provided by the Center for Real Estate Studies. Real estate is only offered as a second major and must be combined with another major offered by the Kelley School of Business.

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Gain unparalleled, hands-on experience with the capstone workshop

The capstone experience in the Real Estate co-major is a workshop that’s taken twice for eight weeks each semester. In this workshop, you work directly with real estate professionals to solve their business challenges. The Commercial Real Estate Workshop goes beyond academic case studies—you will work in groups to create real-world solutions for actual real estate deals using what you learn in the co-major courses.

This capstone experience enhances your cross-functional skill set in:

Research
Financial modeling
Problem-solving
Presentation skills
Plus you walk away with a portfolio of 10 case presentations that you can discuss in future job interviews

Example workshop projects:

Proposal for an industrial development for 216 acres in Hancock County, Indiana
A broker opinion of value and marketing strategy for a retail center in Champaign, Illinois
Valuation analysis of a multi-tenant downtown Indianapolis office building
Retail space site selection pitch for a pizza restaurant entering the Indianapolis market
Highest and best use analysis to determine if an Indianapolis hotel should remain a hotel, rebrand as another hotel, or be converted to apartments

The Commercial Real Estate Workshop, BUS-R428 (1.5 credits), must be taken twice: once in the fall, and once in the spring, in whichever order best fits your schedule.

Fast-track your resume to industry recruiters

The Commercial Real Estate Workshop also provides an opportunity for you to network closely with industry professionals and gain greater exposure among potential employers. Faculty submit workshop students’ resumes to recruiters and IU Center for Real Estate Studies Advisory Board members in the real estate field.

How to make real estate a second major

The co-major can be paired with any of the six Kelley business majors we offer. Once you’ve been admitted to the Kelley School, choose your major, and follow the degree path for your Bachelor of Science in Business. Next, inform your advisor that you want to add the Real Estate co-major, which consists of 15 credit hours. Your advisor will help you with the details and course requirements.

The Commercial Real Estate Workshop was hands down the most beneficial class I took at IUPUI in terms of preparing me for a career in commercial real estate. The weekly cases are great examples of what it is like to work on a project within your career. It’s the closest thing you can get to real-world experience in a class. It’s also an excellent way to network with some of Indiana’s top commercial real estate companies.
Cameron Beckner, BS’22 | Real estate and finance co-major

The Commercial Real Estate Workshop gave me the confidence to get into a new career that I have an absolute love and passion for. This program is so much more than just a class; it’s truly a first step into a new future.
Heather White, BS’22 | Real estate and finance co-major

Co-Major Faculty

Sara Heidtmann Coers

Associate Director, IU Center for Real Estate Studies and Lecturer in Real Estate

View Sara's profile

Co-major or workshop questions?

If you have questions about enrolling in the Real Estate co-major or workshop, Email Sara Heidtmann Coers at sheidtma@iu.edu.