The Master of Science in Finance and Real Estate (MSF&RE) program offers a rigorous and intellectually sophisticated framework to prepare students to lead new and established businesses, non-profits, government agencies and other organizations. The program is specially designed for graduating or recently graduated bachelor-degree recipients who wish to develop or enhance technical skills in finance and real estate, as well as professionals in support and/or finance-related positions who wish to cross-train into finance or real estate. Many prominent local real estate developers and professionals are alumni of the program, and Kogod maintains close ties with them to help assist students find internships and full-time employment. Graduating students target a wide variety of organizations including investment firms, commercial, development and investment banks, mortgage finance firms, international development organizations, pension plans and insurance companies.

The M.S. in Finance and Real Estate program provides students an opportunity to obtain focused training in real estate that will prepare them for professionally-oriented careers in finance in areas such as asset management, mortgage markets, property management, and corporate finance. 

Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must have earned an undergraduate bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a satisfactory grade point average and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and must have earned a satisfactory grade point average for the last 60 credit hours of academic work from a Council of Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) regionally-accredited institution. Applicants whose first language is not English must have a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants must also have earned satisfactory grades in introductory economics, basic statistics, and accounting courses before formally entering the program. Deficiencies in these prerequisite courses may be completed at American University or at other schools. 

Degree Requirements

• 33 credit hours including 9 credit hours of introductory, 6 credit hours of core, and 18 credit hours of elective course work 

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisites must be satisfied, either at the undergraduate or graduate levels, prior to enrollment in the degree program. 

• 6 undergraduate credit hours of micro and macroeconomics or 3 graduate credit hours in economics 
• 3 credit hours of statistics 
• 6 undergraduate credit hours of financial accounting or 3 graduate credit hours in accounting 

Introductory Courses (9 credit hours)

These courses may be waived if the student has earned a B- or better in an equivalent course; 3 credit hours may be waived without substitution, the other 3 to 6 credits must be taken in additional advanced courses as approved. 

• FIN-614 Financial Management (3) 
• FIN-555 Financial Modeling (3) 
• STAT-514 Statistical Methods (3) 

Core Courses (6 credit hours)

• FIN-684 Fixed Income Analysis (3) 
• FIN-686 Quantitative Methods in Finance (3) 

Elective Courses (18 credit hours)

• 18 credit hours with at least 12 credit hours from the following and up to 6 credit hours from other graduate-level courses accounting, economics, statistics, or other courses approved by the program director: 

FIN-685 Topics in Finance and Real Estate (1.5-3) 

FIN-730 Real Estate Principles and Investments (3) 

FIN-731 Real Estate: Managing Properties (1.5) 

FIN-732 Residential Real Estate and Mortgage Markets (3) 

FIN-733 Commercial Real Estate and Mortgage Markets (3) 

FIN-734 Real Estate Development (3)