Virginia Tech will be offering a bachelor’s degree in real estate starting in 2013.
What makes the program unique is that it’s been developed by all six of Tech’s colleges: agriculture & life sciences, architecture and urban studies, engineering, liberal arts and human sciences, natural resources and environment, the Pamplin College of Business, and science.
Not only is it the first program at the uni to be jointly created, as an “interdisciplinary learning opportunity” it will be unique among real estate programs in the country. For example, the Pamplin College of Business offers “FIN 4154 – Real Estate Finance,” while the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences has “AAEC 4764 – Real Estate Appraisal.”
Third time’s the charm for the program — two attempts were made to create the program since 2005, but both failed. In this case the program was developed for more than two years, and was unanimously approved by Tech’s Board of Visitors.
The degree won’t simply be an extended version of basic real estate licensure training. It will include courses in architecture, construction, business, economics, engineering, and natural resources. It’s designed to give graduates an edge if they choose a real estate or related career.
As Kevin Boyle, head of the department of agricultural and applied economics, told the Collegiate Times:
“If we look out for the next, say, ten years, a third of the management in the real estate industry are going to turnover, mainly because of retirement. The earnings are higher than average for college graduates, so there are good job opportunities and income potential.”
The new program is scheduled to begin in the fall semester of 2013. It still needs to be approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, although that isn’t expected to be an issue.
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