Fordham’s graduate programs in real estate give students the skills and connections they need to succeed in the competitive real estate space. Designed for learners in every phase of their RE career, these flexible graduate programs combine the Jesuit University’s commitment to integrity and academic excellence with a robust professional network to create a unique educational experience in the heart of Manhattan. TRD got an inside look at what makes these programs tick from the Real Estate Institute’s Executive Director as well as a member of its Board and a pair of recent graduates.
Advanced Degrees are No Longer A Luxury
Fordham’s RE graduate programs set themselves apart from the NYC real estate higher education ecosystem by taking into account the needs of both their students and those of the industry at large. Simply put, employers no longer have the time or resources to train their new hires, putting the onus on individuals to develop the necessary skills.
“It’s on you as the employee to get your own education,” says Joshua Harris, Real Estate Economist and Executive Director of the Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI). “If you’re the person without a graduate degree, your application might not even be reviewed.”
Professionals can leverage the competitive advantage of an advanced degree at any point in their career, whether they’re trying to get their foot in the door or move up in their organization. Lisa Flicker, Senior Managing Partner and Head of Real Estate at Jackson Lucas, has spent two decades helping organizations acquire top-tier talent as well as coaching professionals in career development.
“If you’re a property manager and you dream of being in the C-suite, it’s very hard to pick up those skills,” says Flicker, an REI Executive Advisory Council member, who explains that higher-ups will “recognize you as a leader” when you take the initiative to seek out education on your own.
Of course, the graduate programs provide more than just a degree. Flicker emphasizes how the skills that students learn during coursework are more important than ever in today’s increasingly corporate and tech-forward RE industry.
“We are now at a point in time where almost everybody is realizing that they need to embrace data, that they need to embrace technology,” says Flicker. “I’ve noticed that the students come in with skills that are really needed by the senior folks right now.”
Fordham Means Flexibility
The Fordham graduate programs in real estate are designed to level up any RE professional’s career, no matter where they are when they enroll. From recent undergrads without any employment history to industry veterans with hundreds of deals under their belts, the curriculum conforms to each student’s unique needs, providing them with the tailored attention and support they need while inviting them into the larger Fordham and NYC real estate communities.
This flexibility begins with the class schedule itself. The REI offers day and night classes, which graduate students can attend in person, online, or a combination of the two. In-person classes are held on Fordham’s historic Lincoln Center Campus, located in Midtown Manhattan.
Ken Morrison, Managing Member at Lemor Development Group LLC, began working in the real estate industry in the 1980s, starting in sales with his father’s company and eventually becoming one of the leading low income housing developers and property managers in Harlem. When he decided to go back to school for his masters in Real Estate a few years ago and weighed the advantages of the various NYC-based programs, Fordham’s flexible class schedule was a major selling point.
“I used all three options: in-person, virtual, and hybrid,” explains Morrison, who graduated in 2023 with a Master of Science in Real Estate and now sits on the Fordham University Real Estate Advisory Committee. “I was able to finish in two years, get all 36 credits, because I took no time off.”
This flexible schedule empowers students to take the classes they need in the timeframe that works for them. Morrison, who was already a leader in his corner of the industry when he enrolled, took classes that both expanded on skills he already possessed and introduced him to new areas that would help him grow as a RE professional. For example, while he came into the program as an expert in affordable housing, he learned how to appraise a variety of other property types in Professor Anthony Meo’s Real Estate Valuation and Investment Analysis class, helping him grow his investment and development businesses.
However, not every student knows what they want to specialize in on day one, and others will discover new areas of interest in the classroom. Fordham’s program is designed to give these learners the opportunity to expand their knowledge and adjust the curriculum to fit their interests as they evolve.
The REI offers three graduate programs, the Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), the Master of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED), the Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM), and the Master of Science in Hospitality (MSH), as well as advanced graduate certificates in real estate, finance, development, management, hotel management, and hospitality investment and development. Students can shape their professional development by pursuing some combination of these degrees and certificates.
“When you enroll here, you’re not locked in,” explains Harris. “This is a chance to reframe yourself and get a fresh start in the industry.”
Blazing the Trail from Classroom to Boardroom
In real estate, connections are everything, and building a professional network can take a Herculean effort. Flicker jokes that she could attend a different networking event “breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.”
Students at Fordham’s RE graduate programs don’t only get a great education, they also receive entrée into the world of NY real estate. This networking begins in the classroom, both with their peers and their professors, and continues through galas and the global Fordham alumni network.
Recent graduate Colin Whelan enrolled in Fordham’s graduate program in real estate as part of a career pivot from working for a Washington, DC-based think tank to affordable housing development. As someone looking to get into the affordable housing space, taking classes alongside Morrison put Whelan in the room with a leader from day one. He was ultimately able to leverage his connection with another member of Fordham’s “Ram-ily” to get his first job in the space upon graduating.
“I broke into the affordable housing industry through a student from the class of 2020,” says Whelan. “An alumnus directly helped me network and get a foot in the door.”
Students have direct access to working professionals every time they attend class. “All of our faculty members are in the business,” says Harris. “We’re not pontificators without real-world experience. We all have some skin in the game, and the battle scars to show for it.”
Morrison talked about meeting up with a fellow graduate who got a job working for one of the professors who taught their favorite class. “Those are the kind of stories I love to hear,” he says. “After school, you’re working with a professional who was a teacher who saw something in you.”
The Fordham Advantage
While Fordham’s graduate programs in RE are relatively new compared with others in the city, Fordham itself is a venerable institution with a passionate alumni network that spans the globe, and Fordham graduates have a reputation for excellence that precedes them.
“People hire Fordham alumni because they know these people are going to put their heads down and do what it takes to achieve success,” explains Flicker. “They earn their seat at the table. They have grit.”
To learn more about Fordham’s RE graduate programs, reach out to Josh Harris today.