Certificate
Real Estate Finance, Investments and Development Certificate
Learn from Industry Experts & Expand Your Investing, Development & Finance Acumen
Our real estate certificate program in partnership with the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate for those who want to expand and gain essential skills in financing, developing, managing, and selling commercial real estate projects, and explore the legal, entitlement, and environmental aspects as well as other important elements of development and project management.
The Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate provides course offerings to real estate professionals at all levels of career development through various academic and extracurricular programs. Our world-class faculty coupled with our extensive network of industry contacts provide students with a one-of-a-kind, personalized educational experience that positions them for successful careers in real estate. Learn more about real estate programs offered through the Knauss School of Business and the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate or view the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s Information Kit.
Real Estate Certificate Requirements
To earn a professional certificate in Real Estate Finance, Investments and Development, complete the following requirements:
- Complete 6 required courses
- Complete CEQA seminar
- Complete 2 elective courses
- Complete all coursework with a final grade of ‘C’ or better
- Certificate Fee $45
Learn more about the University of San Diego’s Professional and Continuing Education Certificate Benefits and Policies.
Schedule & Fees
Core Courses – To Enroll and Learn More Click a Course
| Course | Date | Units | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing the Entitlement Process [REP-X810] | See details for more information | 1 | ||
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Online Fixed-Date
Learn to recognize the policy documents, zoning regulations, and environmental studies that may affect your project budgets and timelines. |
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| Real Estate Investment and Income Analysis 101 [REP-X813] | 03 Feb 2026 – 03 Mar 2026 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
Michael Sieman
Gain a competitive edge and acquire an understanding of finance and investment fundamentals in the real estate world! Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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| Real Estate Market Analysis [REP-X815] | See details for more information | 1 | ||
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Online Fixed-Date
This course is aimed at providing students with a foundation for understanding market analysis in real estate, reviewing highest and best uses for a given site and a longer-term planning vision for a market site. |
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| Real Estate Finance [REP-X816] | 08 Sep 2025 – 29 Sep 2025 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
Scott Peterson
This course will give the student a working knowledge of the types of income properties with emphasis on underwriting the cash flows from each of the four main property types. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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| Legal Aspects of Real Estate [REP-X817] | 10 Jul 2025 – 31 Jul 2025 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
This 4-week course will provide an overview of all legal aspects of acquiring, developing and operating commercial projects. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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| Real Estate Development Process [REP-X835] | 08 Apr 2026 – 29 Apr 2026 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
Andy Pollin
Explore the commercial real estate development process, and learn from San Diego’s premier practitioners. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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Elective Courses (Select Two) – To Enroll and Learn More Click a Course
| Course | Date | Units | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Investment and Income Analysis 102 [REP-X814] | See details for more information | 1 | ||
|
Online Fixed-Date
Students will prepare financial models and analysis to determine the overall profitability and feasibility, and to identify the risk attributes that can affect the investment. |
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| Property Management [REP-X818] | See details for more information | 1 | ||
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Online Fixed-Date
Learn how sophisticated property management Impacts the bottom line through the intervention of experienced instructor . |
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| Asset Management [REP-X828] | 28 Oct 2025 – 18 Nov 2025 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
Alex M. Perry
This course will provide a basis for understanding the strategies, key concepts and practices around the management of real estate assets. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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| Commercial Real Estate Valuation [REP-X838] | 07 Aug 2025 – 28 Aug 2025 | 1 | $450 | |
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Online Fixed-Date
Justin Glasser
This 4 week course will help you develop the skills and knowledge to review narrative appraisal reports, and determine the highest and best use of real estate. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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| Small Scale Development [REP-X842] | See details for more information | 1 | ||
|
Online Fixed-Date
Learn the small scale real estate development process from one of San Diego’s premier practitioners with this online professional development course. |
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Seminar – To Enroll and Learn More Click Seminar
| Course | Date | Units | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Seminar [REP-X806] | 11 Mar 2026 – 11 Mar 2026 | N/A | $150 | |
|
Online Fixed-Date
Heather Riley
Review current trends, as well as, review major environmental issues confronting land use development and offer proactive site planning and design techniques to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability. Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, to review important course details. This course will be meeting via Zoom, meeting information and additional resources will be shared within USD’s Learning Management System two days prior to the course start date. |
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$45
Total Cost not Currently Available
Learning Method Information
Online Fixed-Date
Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.
How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
- Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
- Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
- Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
- Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
- Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
- Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
Curriculum
This certificate program includes 6 required courses, 1 seminar, and 2-course electives. Click on the following courses to learn more.
Core Courses (All Required)
- REP-X816 Real Estate Finance
- REP-X835 Real Estate Development Process
- REP-X817 Legal Aspects of Real Estate
- REP-X813 Real Estate Investment and Income Analysis 101
- REP-X815 Real Estate Market Analysis
- REP-X806 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Seminar
- REP-X810 Managing the Entitlement Process
Elective Courses (Choose 2)
What You Will Learn
- Develop competitive skills to identify sources of capital and other financing vehicles
- Learn the intricacies of real estate investment and analysis
- Examine the legal aspects of real estate as well as development and project management
- Identify real estate development strategies that are necessary to compete in today’s changing market
- Examine the mandated, complex and time-consuming processes involved in every land use decision, including clarification of the entitlement, environmental impact and permitting procedures
Who Should Attend
This real estate investment certificate is intended for real estate business professionals who wish to build a foundation for a career in the commercial real estate industry. Our stand-alone courses are great for professionals seeking proficiency in a specialized area.
Benefits of the Real Estate Certificate Program
Whether you are an established entrepreneur or work for a well-known company, the real estate industry is a robust field that offers excellent career opportunities in a variety of sectors. Some of the benefits you can expect from earning your professional real estate certificate from the University of San Diego include:
- Enhance your skills, proficiency, knowledge and marketability as a real estate professional.
- Learn about the key segments of real estate to give you an edge in the market.
- Grow your network and diversify your connections with others in the real estate field.
Accreditation
The University of San Diego’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Testimonials
Instructors
Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.
Careers Outlook
Employment opportunities in the business and finance field are expected to grow by over 750,000 new jobs by 2030 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With so many new and emerging opportunities, employers are going to have to compete heavily to attract and retain the most talented and educated business professionals.
This makes furthering your education and diversifying your business skillset all the more important. With expertise in a wide variety of business concepts, you will not only be well suited for many job roles, you will also be in demand by the employer of your choosing.
Industry Insights
8 %
Job growth
$78800
Average business manager salary
Career Opportunities
Project Manager
Social Media Coordinator
Data Analyst
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for completing a certificate program?
Requirements for completing a certificate can be found on the certificate page.
Are the continuing education courses transferable to a master degree program?
Professional and Continuing Education courses that are transferrable to a USD master degree will be stated on the course or certificate page. If you wish to transfer credit, it is your responsibility to confer with the receiving institution before enrolling, as each
individual academic institution decides whether or not to accept USD Professional and Continuing Education credit.
How long do I have to complete the Certificate?
You have five years to complete the certificate.
What are your registration/drop/refund policies?
Click here for complete details regarding our refund, drop and transfer policies
What if I can’t get into a course because it is full?
Prospective students can request to be placed on a waitlist. Should a space open up in a course, those on the waitlist will be notified. We encourage you to register early for courses.
Why USD?
The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.
Informative Stats and Facts
600+
High-quality, career-building courses to choose from
50+
In-depth, innovative, and relevant topics
25+
Career advancing certificates
8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN EVALUATING A REAL ESTATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT
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