ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Academic Requirements (111 units)

• CORE COURSES 54 Units

• MSRED ELECTIVES 24 Units

• OPEN ELECTIVES 21 Units

• THESIS 12 Units

MSRED Program Time-Line 

• The MSRED Program is a three-semester graduate program that may be completed in either 11 months or 16 months. All students begin the program in the fall semester and complete the required coursework during the fall and spring terms.

• Students are required to register for the summer term while completing their thesis. Students who successfully complete all degree requirements, including the thesis, during the summer term will be awarded the degree on the September degree list.

• Although students may enroll in summer coursework, most use the summer term to focus on completing their thesis.

• Students who wish to extend their thesis work beyond the summer may elect the Fall Thesis Option. See Fall Thesis Option below for additional information.

Fall Thesis Option

Many students enter the MSRED Program with the goal of changing or advancing their career trajectory. For these students, the Fall Thesis Option may be an attractive alternative to the standard 11-month program.

The Fall Thesis Option extends the program to 16 months and offers students the opportunity to:

• Complete an optional summer internship.

• Devote additional time to developing a more comprehensive thesis.

• Enroll in additional elective courses during the second fall semester.

• Serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA), if appointed.

Students pursuing the Fall Thesis Option do not register for or pay tuition for the summer term. Instead, they register for the second fall semester and are responsible for the associated tuition and fees.

International students may be eligible to complete a summer internship in the United States by enrolling in an approved internship subject that counts toward the MSRED degree requirements. Because the internship is part of the academic program, it may qualify as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) under U.S. immigration regulations.*

* International students should consult the MIT International Students Office (ISO) regarding CPT eligibility and employment authorization requirements before accepting an internship. CPT requires enrollment in a 1-unit course that has a small fee attached.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

• Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout the MSRED program. To be recommended for the Master of Science in Real Estate Development degree, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 (B average) across all coursework.

• Students whose academic performance falls below this standard may be placed on academic warning or academic probation and may be denied further registration in accordance with MIT policies and procedures.

• Students are expected to complete the program in three semesters.  In accordance with MIT policy, graduate students who remain enrolled beyond four semesters are automatically flagged for review and may be referred to the Graduate Academic Performance Group (GAPG) for evaluation of their academic progress and degree completion timeline.

Concentrations

Although MIT does not formally designate graduate majors, minors, or concentrations, MSRED students may choose to focus their elective coursework and thesis in a particular area of study. The MSRED Program offers two optional areas of concentration:

• Development

• Finance

Students may also elect to pursue a broader course of study without declaring a concentration.

Because MIT does not recognize graduate concentrations on transcripts or diplomas, any reference to a concentration is unofficial. Students who complete a concentration often choose to note it on their résumé or curriculum vitae.

To complete a concentration, students must:

• Complete all required MSRED core subjects.

• Complete 33 units of concentration-specific elective coursework (typically 3–5 subjects).

• Complete a master's thesis related to the selected concentration.

The thesis is typically completed during the summer term following the fall and spring semesters. Students who elect the Fall Thesis Option may complete their thesis during the subsequent fall semester as part of the 16-month program.

Students who prefer an interdisciplinary approach may design an individualized course of study by combining the MSRED core curriculum with elective subjects from across MIT, allowing them to tailor the program to their academic and professional interests.

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