The Minor in Real Estate prepares students for careers related to hospitality and commercial real estate including investment acquisition, appraisal, asset management, brokerage, consulting, development, market analysis, and mortgage lending.
The minor, which is administered by The School of Hospitality Business, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s programs at Michigan State University.
With the approval of the department or school and college that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree program.
Admission Criteria
Those seeking admission must meet the criteria below:
- Completion of 28 credits.
- Completion of the following core courses:
- ACC 201 (3) or ACC 230 (3)
- EC 201 (3)
- General Admission Standards:
- MSU Cumulative GPA = 3.50
- MSU Core GPA = 3.50
Admission is based primarily on MSU cumulative GPA and MSU core GPA. Academic and non-academic factors and experiences will also be considered. The application requires a statement of professional goals as well as documented work experience and extracurricular activities.
If you are interested in the Minor in Real Estate then e-mail Jeff Yingling, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies at yingling@msu.edu before applying.
Apply to Minor
Complete the application for admission to the Minor in Real Estate today.
Minor in Real Estate Requirements
All of the following (16 or 18 credits)
- HB 311 Finance (FI 311 or FI 320 also accepted)
3 CREDITS
Introduction to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, financial statement analysis, capital budgeting, financial planning.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
- HB 273 Business Analytics (ITM 209 also accepted)
3 CREDITS
Quantitative and analytical skills used to communicate key business information effectively. Study of how business modeling and data analytics can increase decision making efficacy. Course topics include but are not limited to sensitivity and scenario analysis, financial modeling and forecasting, and applied business statistics methods.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
- HB 282 Real Estate Principles
3 CREDITS
Process of planning and developing a commercial real estate project: conceptualization and planning, feasibility, commitment, design layout and construction, and management and operation.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
- HB 470 Real Estate Asset Management
3 credits
Market forces effecting consumer and business spending applied to the management of real estate assets. Theoretical analyses, practical analyses, and hospitality industry specific cases requiring the use of spreadsheet software and technical writing skills. Application of operations expertise to capital investment and disposition decisions. Management contracts, franchise agreements, capital budgets, capital markets, capital structures, labor, market cycles, and brand decisions.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
- HB 472 Real Estate Financial Modeling (FI 355 also accepted)
1 credit
Design and development of computer spreadsheet-based models to analyze real estate investment financial strategies and valuation issues.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
- HB 474 Real Estate Valuation
3 creditS
Financial management principles for real estate appraisal and valuation considering perspectives of brokers, consultants, developers, and investors. Theoretical and practical analyses with hospitality industry cases using spreadsheet software and technical writing. Capital markets, capital structures, discounted cash flow, internal rate of return, leverage, and net present value.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
Student Organizations
The Real Estate Investment Club is for all students who have a common interest in real estate development, particularly within the hospitality industry. The club creates unique opportunities for students including listening to significant guest speakers, participating in various site tours, and keeping in touch with alumni and other industry professionals.
Learn MoreThe mission of the Hospitality Association is to create and refine hospitality business leaders by providing forums for academic growth, industry experience, leadership roles and career-enhancing opportunities, and by encouraging social interaction and the development of student unity within The School of Hospitality Business.
Learn MoreReal Estate Advisory Council
In 2007, The School of Hospitality Business established the Real Estate Advisory Council. This group is in place to review and support the real estate interests of The School. Council members are by appointment only and meet annually (each spring).
Real Estate Advisory Council Meetings
Click here to view Real Estate Advisory Council Members
- April 2024
- April 2023
- April 2022
- June 2021
- April 2020
- April 2019
Innovation & Technology in the Hospitality Industry
Presenters:
- Dr. Bryce Peake, Manager, Innovation Lab, Data & Analytics, Hilton
- Mr. Steven Longstreet, Director of Innovation & Strategy, Hilton
An Interactive Discussion: Innovation & Technology
Moderator:
- Ms. Stephanie Ricca, Editor in Chief, Hotel News Now
- April 2018
Hospitality Business Real Estate Education: Past-Present-Future (panel presentation) included:
- Dr. Barry Bloom: President and Chief Operating Officer, Xenia Hotels & Resorts
- Dr. Jack Corgel: Professor, Real Estate, Cornell University
- Dr. John W. O’Neill: Professor and Director, Center for Hospitality Real Estate Strategy, Pennsylvania State University
- Dr. A.J. Singh: Professor, Hilton Hotels Fellow, The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University
- Mr. Ed Watkins: Group Moderator & Manager, Hotel Revenue Strategy Leaders
The meeting also featured a powerful presentation on “The Impact of Labor Unions on the Hospitality Industry” by Mr. Peter G. Fischer, Partner, BakerHostetler.
An afternoon session featuring the ever-popular “Roundtable Discussion: Lodging Industry Trends” was led and moderated by Mr. Ed Watkins. Nearly forty Real Estate Investment Management Advisory Council members attended.
- April 2017
Dr. Tomas Hult, director of MSU’s International Business Center, and Dr. Norm Graham, director of MSU’s Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, discussed “New Administration: Impact on Foreign Policy and Global Business” with forty Real Estate Investment Management Advisory Council members.
“A New Administration: A New Era for the Lodging Industry” was led by HotelNewsNow Ed Watkins as moderator with all council members in attendance through a round table discussion.
- April 2016
Topic: “The Hotel Consolidation Wave: What It Means to You,” featuring Ed Watkins as moderator
Panelists:
- Mark Johnson, Professor of Practice, Finance, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University
- John M. Keeling (MBA ’74), Executive Vice President, Valencia Group
- Fred Kleisner (B.A. ’66), Independent Director, Caesars Entertainment and Independent Member, Board of Managers, Aimbridge Hospitality
- Ryan Meliker (MBA ’05), Managing Director, Equity Research REITs and Lodging, Canaccord Genuity, Inc.
- Chuck Pinkowski, Owner, Pinkowski & Company.
- April 2015
Topic: New Brand Development panel discussion featuring Stephanie Ricca (HotelNewsNow.com) as moderator
Panelists: Jim Anhut (IHG), Andrew Alexander (Red Roof Inn), Christopher Burdette (Best Western International), Gary Steffen (Hilton Corporation) and Ronald Stewart (Marriott International).
Industry Speaker: Stephanie Ricca, HotelNewsNow.com
- April 2014
Topic: “How to Stay On Top” interactive session moderated by Ed Watkins, as well as panel presentation, “Threats and Opportunities in Detroit”
Industry Speaker: Ed Watkins, HotelNewsNow.com
- April 2013
Topic: Real Estate and Development Specialization Reorganization, new name “Real Estate Investment Management”
Industry Speaker: Ed Watkins, HotelNewsNow.com, “Managing Change in an Uncertain Economic Environment”
- March 2012
Topic: Institute Directions
Industry Speaker: Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality
- March 2011
Topic: Launching the Real Estate Development Institute
Industry Speaker: Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality
- March 2010
Topic: Round table discussion reviewing The School’s Real Estate & Development Specialization program
Industry Speaker: Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality
- April 2009
Focus: Strategic Planning for the Real Estate & Development Program
- April 2008
Focus: Evaluation of Hospitality Business Real Estate & Development Specialization
- September 2007
Focus: Inaugural meeting to discuss real estate & development advisory specialization program.
