North Carolina Central University Master of Business Administration program has introduced a real estate specialization into its growing MBA course offerings.
A real-estate hub within the school provides resources for students seeking hands-on opportunities and a platform for innovation and discovery.
“Real estate is a central part of our daily interactions – encompassing where we live, work, shop and eat,” said Anthony Nelson, Ph.D., dean, NCCU School of Business. “Being able to understand this industry is not only instrumental to the foundation and sustainability of our communities but it is essential to our personal well-being and financial success.”
The School of Business’s fully accredited Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) MBA program will make the real estate concentration available both online and in in-person settings. The program is the first of its kind being offered as an MBA at a historically black university or college.
“Through the offering of a relevant and challenging real estate curriculum within our MBA program at NCCU, we are able to not only providing education to support the needs of the real estate industry, but we are able to fill a much-needed diversity gap within the field itself,” Nelson said.
Major real estate specialty companies, such as Walker & Dunlop financial services, have contributed to the curriculum, adding industry insight, structure and support to ensure students have up-to-the-minute information and access to an expansive industry network. First National Bank has also contributed $20,000 in support of the program.
“Through collaborations like this, we hope to help drive meaningful and sustainable change in our industry by preparing the next generation of diverse real estate leaders,” said Jason Golub, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Walker and Dunlop and a member of the School of Business advisory board.
“NCCU is developing an innovative real estate program that will help change the face of the real estate industry by providing young leaders with new opportunities and career growth, and we are excited to play a part in this.”
Emil Malizia, research professor om the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina, and Business Department Chair Ibrahimn Salama are among those working together to provide a curriculum that delivers business knowledge in an appropriate instructional framework.
“Building on the MBA core curriculum, the course sequence starts with real estate fundamentals, followed by in-depth treatment of finance, investment, asset management, development, and other important topics,” Malizia said.
NCCU working to build a pipeline of diverse talent in the business community through scholarships, fellowships and assistantships that is expected to attract students from all over the country.
