Tulane launches nation’s first MBA/Sustainable Real Estate Development degree program

Someone presents to a group of students in front of a model replica

The A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University has announced a partnership with the Tulane University School of Architecture to meet the increasing demand for business professionals equipped with the tools for a career in real estate development. The MBA/MSRED will offer students an unrivaled preparation with a broad foundation in business disciplines as well as specialized knowledge from the country’s only master’s degree program in Sustainable Real Estate Development.

“With the exponential growth of the real estate market, prospective real estate professionals must combine business expertise with an understanding of the social and environmental costs of development,” says Ira Solomon, dean of the Freeman School. “The MBA/MSRED program builds upon the rigorous core of the Freeman School’s nationally ranked MBA program to create a comprehensive and holistic approach to sustainable development.”

In conjunction with Tulane’s School of Architecture, the program awards students an MBA and a master’s degree in Sustainable Real Estate Development.  Through the real-world application of theory to current real estate development projects, graduates will be prepared for the rapidly evolving challenges facing the industry. Students will be equipped to successfully manage in all areas of real estate development – finance, analytics, design, management and consulting – with both the qualitative and quantitative skills needed to make informed business decisions.

“We are disrupting how real estate has been taught to drive change in the educational landscape of this field,” says Casius Pealer, director of Sustainable Real Estate Development and Shane Professor of Practice at the Tulane School of Architecture. “We want students to analyze the implications of technology, environmental changes and urbanization to better understand how political, ecological and cultural forces impact real estate development. By creating an interdisciplinary program, our alumni can anticipate the long term social and financial effects of development.”

The MBA/MSRED is an accelerated two-year, full-time program delivered during the weekday from the historic Tulane University campus in Uptown New Orleans as well as the Freeman School’s new facility in vibrant downtown. Students will benefit from Freeman’s small cohorts, active learning environment and direct engagement with industry leaders. Freeman is also offering new real estate specializations in its full-time and Professional MBA programs, as well as in its 10-month Master of Management program.

“New Orleans is an exceptional place to study real estate development because of its storied history, ongoing redevelopment and rapid growth,” says Matt Schwartz, co-chief executive officer of The Domain Companies.  “Our rich architectural history and dedication to preservation blends with the innovative development strategies currently driving the reinvestment in and revitalization of the city, making New Orleans an exceptional incubator for learning.”