Two smartly dressed Nichols College students present their project for a real estate management class.
Academics Undergraduate Programs Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

BSBA in Real Estate Management

at Nichols College

The real estate job market continues to grow, and it needs savvy professionals. You can learn the skills you need to begin a rewarding career in the real estate industry with a real estate management degree from Nichols College in Dudley, MA.

Our program prepares you for the residential, multi-family, commercial and vacation real estate markets. You’ll gain a broad range of skills needed in residential and commercial markets, and you’ll be prepared for licensure. Hands-on learning experiences support your learning—all students take on a specialized internship or experiential component.

Whether you aspire to sell luxury properties, manage commercial developments or invest in wealth-building opportunities, a bachelor’s degree in real estate management from Nichols College provides the skills and knowledge needed to create lasting value for customers, clients and developers.

Close-up exterior of a Nichols College brick building with a large arched window, with a vibrant yellow fall foliage tree visible along the campus sidewalk

Why Study Real Estate Management at Nichols College?

Pursuing a degree in real estate management at Nichols College means joining a program designed to prepare you for immediate success in the real estate industry. Here's what sets our program apart:

Comprehensive Skill Development

Gain skills in residential and commercial brokerage and leasing, investing and flipping, appraising, property management and operations, and lending—and prepare for real estate licensing exams, such as the National Real Estate Exam

Hands-On Learning

Connect course concepts to real-world practice through specialized internships, consulting projects, networking with real estate professionals and faculty with professional real estate backgrounds

Professional Connections

Engage with professionals and secure meaningful internships through our career contacts, hands-on employer experiences and alumni network that's 16,000+ members strong

Worcester County Location

Benefit from strategic access to New England's dynamic real estate market and property development corridor while getting the personal attention of a close-knit campus community

Plus, our program is AACSB-accredited—only six percent of institutions worldwide are accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Experiential Learning at Nichols College

Hands-on, experiential learning is a key component of a Nichols education. Every business student completes an internship, a professional certification and a research, experiential or consulting project before they graduate. Add holistic professional development to that hands-on foundation, and you get real results—95% of recent graduates secured jobs or entered graduate school within six months. All from a college ranked top 10 nationally among undergraduate business schools for mid-career salary potential and best value.

A Nichols College student intern assists with an event at historic Fenway Park in Boston.

Student-Faculty Projects

From assisting with faculty research and teaching to working on an advanced project with your professor, there are many ways to extend your learning beyond the classroom at Nichols.

Learn More About Experiential Learning at Nichols.

Student-Run Opportunities

Whether you’re managing the Thunder Fund, working with Bison Consulting clients, helping run the Nichols Dudley Hill Golf Course Club and Bison Den or pitching ideas to companies, you’ll build career-ready skills.

Learn More About Student-Run Opportunities.

Holistic Professional Development

Build confidence and vital soft skills through experiences that take you into the community, paired with public speaking practice, networking etiquette and signature leadership development.

Learn More About Professional Development at Nichols.

Study Abroad

Take your education global through faculty-led trips, international internships, semester abroad programs and short-term travel that let you earn Nichols credits while expanding your worldview.

Learn More About Study Abroad (Study Away).
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Careers in Real Estate Management

A degree in management develops expertise in leading people, coordinating operations and making informed business decisions, along with transferable skills in communication, problem-solving and leadership. Graduates can pursue roles across business, healthcare, nonprofits, government and entrepreneurial organizations, among other sectors.

Career possibilities include:

  • Real estate agent/broker
  • Commercial real estate specialist
  • Property manager
  • Real estate developer
  • Real estate investment analyst
And More
Two Nichols College students in professional attire laughing together at a career and internship fair booth

Meet Your Faculty

Maryann Conrad

Chair, Hospitality and Real Estate Management 508-213-2011
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Real Estate Management Program

How does Nichols College prepare students for real estate licensing?

Our real estate management degree integrates comprehensive licensing preparation directly into the curriculum. Students study real estate law, regulations, ethics and practice standards required for state licensing exams. Faculty members with industry experience provide guidance on licensing requirements and exam preparation, giving graduates a significant advantage in launching their careers immediately upon graduation.

What makes the real estate management program at Nichols College unique?

Our program stands out through its combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, with the dynamic real estate market in Central Massachusetts and beyond providing real world examples. We emphasize hands-on consulting projects with actual real estate ventures, with 22 students participating in real-world projects in the past year alone. The Real Estate Club provides ongoing networking with industry professionals and alumni, while our Worcester County location offers access to diverse property types and market conditions for comprehensive learning experiences.

What career support does Nichols College provide for real estate management graduates?

Nichols College offers comprehensive career support including connections to our strong alumni network in the real estate industry. Our Career and Professional Development Center[link] provides specialized guidance for real estate careers, including interview preparation, networking events with industry professionals and job placement assistance. Our emphasis on experiential learning ensures students graduate with professional references and real project experience that significantly enhances their marketability to future employers and clients.

Real Estate Degree Management Courses

Required Courses

This course introduces students to the fundamental practices involved in effective human resource management, such as recruiting, performance evaluation, compensation, employment law, and employee rights. HR theory and practice are emphasized within the context of improving organizational productivity and developing employee potential.

This course introduces students to real estate fundamentals and the practice of real estate sales and appraisals as a profession. Topic areas include market valuation, land use and zoning, forms of ownership, legal aspects of real estate, financing, and property management. Students will gain valuable insight into the real estate industry and the nature of real estate transactions and have an opportunity to engage with industry guest speakers about their particular real estate specializations. This course is based on the National Real Estate exam for licensure.

Real estate touches all of us - it is where we begin and end each day, where we attend classes, where we work, where we spend time with friends and family - it is literally everywhere we go. A working knowledge of real estate law is important to every member of society as almost all of us will rent or own real property in our lifetimes. This course introduces students to the basics of real property law and then explores the various issues that arise in both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Emphasis is placed on the ways to acquire real property; the types of concurrent ownership; the limitations posed by encumbrances and liens; the various types of real estate contracts and how those contracts are negotiated; the importance of a title search and survey review; the various ways of financing a real estate purchase; the closing process; and the governmental regulations that affect real estate transactions.

The real estate world is a fast-paced environment. Maintaining relevance in the midst of dynamic change can be challenging. This seminar monitors and addresses current business leaders, fresh managerial theories, and innovative practices in a way that helps synthesize new trends with classic management models. Successful completion of this course will enable the student to craft the initial steps of their real estate career.

An intensive program of work experience with a business or corporation. Combines both experiential learning with traditional academic work through required term essay and presentation of internship results to an appropriate class. Internship course specifications and "learning contract" forms are available through the Office of Career Services. Students interested must be of junior or senior standing and have a 2.5 grade point average.

Elective Courses

choose two from the following options:

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and analytical methods used for making residential and commercial real estate finance and investment decisions. Students will gain a fundamental, real-world understanding of returns on capital with a focus on expected growth along with market and project-specific risks. Students will develop hands-on experience building financial Pro Forma Statements using a multi-year discounted cash flow analysis which will include tax implications, depreciation, capital gains and losses.

Negotiation is a critical skill in business and in life - whether it is for salary, contracts, resource allocation, or collective decision making. Knowing how to effectively and ethically negotiate is essential for leadership and for accomplishing individual and group objectives. In this course, students will learn the strategy, structure, and skills of negotiation in interpersonal and organizational contexts.

The internet is a dynamic marketplace if there ever was one. This class will give you the theoretical understanding of the Internet marketplace necessary to adapt to its many changes, while also equipping you with the skills you'll need to perform vital daily functions. By the end of the course, you will be able to walk into any company with an online presence and improve their use of the internet. The course includes discussions of both B2B and B2C and looks at marketing and communications from an integrated, business-wide perspective. The goal is to appreciate principles and practice of online marketing. The classroom sessions are a combination of lectures, discussions, and experiential learning. To ensure effective utilization of lecture time and the time of your classmates, you are required to read the materials before they are covered in class.

An investigation of the functions and activities of sales managers. Topics include recruiting, organizing, training, compensating, leading, motivating, and managing the sales force.

This course introduces students to basic appraisal principles and procedures. A practical and theoretical overview of the appraisal process and the three valuation methods of sales, cost, and income approaches will be introduced. The social and economic determinants of value, residential construction, architectural styles, site valuation, highest and best use, and primary and secondary data base research will additionally be explored through case study analysis.

This project-based course provides the opportunity to engage with real-world applications within the real estate industry and examine current real estate trends and issues. Topics will include site acquisition and development, zoning and planning, market analysis and property valuation, investing, marketing, and vacation properties. Students will gain both a national and local perspective of the real estate industry and will have the opportunity to engage and network with leading real estate professionals.

This course is offered on an occasional basis and addresses topics and themes of special interest not covered in the standard course offerings of Real Estate Management.

his course is offered on an occasional basis and addresses topics and themes of special interest not covered in the standard course offerings of Real Estate Management.

An intensive program of work experience with a business or corporation. Combines both experiential learning with traditional academic work through required term essay and presentation of internship results to an appropriate class. Internship course specifications and "learning contract" forms are available through the Office of Career Services. Students interested must be of junior or senior standing and have a 2.5 grade point average.

No description available.

This Undergraduate Adult Education Program (UAEP) Experiential Capstone Course is designed to provide fourth-year students the opportunity to apply the business core knowledge gained from their education at Nichols College. Students are expected to look internally within their organization, and their places within them for identifying and proposing actions and externally for influences on corporate social responsibility. Students will apply business, ethical, and leadership knowledge through a series of three projects.

Free Electives

15 credit-hours of electives

Interested in Learning More?

Join us at one of our upcoming campus events in Dudley, MA, or schedule a campus visit. You can also contact our Admissions team to discuss your academic goals and how Nichols can help you reach them.