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Finish in Four Academic Plan

Updated: 6/3/25

Important Notes

The plans below do not include any college or university requirements. Students should consult with their college advising office to add any missing coursework such as general education and university requirements. Students may be able to overlap gen ed/universitity and major requirements.

All courses taken to satisfy RED major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and a C- or better must be earned for major credit. *Only USP-050, which is a 2-unit lower division course can be completed with Pass/No Pass grading.

The RED Capstone Studio Sequence (USP-185A & USP-185B) must be taken in order during the Fall and Winter of a student's senior year. USP-185A is ONLY offered in Fall quarter and USP-185B is ONLY offered in Winter quarter.

Courses with Prerequisites:

  • *USP-185A: USP-005, USP-015, USP-025, USP-050, USP-124, USP-151, USP-152A, and USP-153. Students must complete these before their senior year at UCSD.
  • **USP-151: USP-005 which should be completed sophomore year.
  • **USP-152A: USP-015 and USP-025 which should be completed sophomore year.
  • USP-185B: USP-185A and Technical Elective

Lower division courses should generally be taken before upper division courses, but overlapping is allowed. It is also recommended that students complete one foundation course before taking upper division electives. Options for major requirements with options to choose from can be found on the RED Major Requirements pages

Students should review major requirements and academic plans on the DUSP website each quarter for potential changes and updates. Customizable Academic Plans with a major requirement checklist can be found on the DUSP Academic Advising page of the DUSP website under the "Class Planning Tools" section.

Information on entry level Mathematics courses (MATH-010A or MATH-020A) can be found at the Math Testing and Placement Website.

Course Substitutions allowed for the RED Major: 

  • MGT-045 can be substituted for both ECON-004/MGT-004 and MGT-005.

While Summer Session is not a requirement for UCSD students, major courses may be available during summer terms. Students wishing to graduate early or who have missed a prerequisite course during the academic year are encouraged to consider summer courses.


Academic Plan for Students that Enter UCSD Fall 2024 and Later

The RED Major consists of 21 courses:

  • Nine (9) lower division courses
  • Twelve (12) upper division courses

The following chart is a helpful guide to ensure successful completion of all required courses in time to graduate at the end of one's 4th year.

Courses in **with two asterisks are prerequisites for the RED Foundation Courses USP 151 (USP 5) and USP 152A (USP 15 and USP 25) AND the RED Capstone Studio Sequence (USP 185A & USP 185B).

Courses in *with one asterisk are prerequisites for the RED Capstone Studio Sequence's USP 185A.

Courses in purple are prerequisites for the RED Capstone Studio Sequence's USP 185B.

*Courses italicized have alternative subsitutions. 

Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Freshman
  • Lower Division Math (MATH-010A, MATH-020A, or MGT-003)
  • ECON-001: Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON-004/MGT-004: Financial Accounting (MGT-045 can be substituted for both ECON-004/MGT-004 and MGT-005)
Sophomore
  • USP-001: History of US Urban Communities or USP-002: Urban
    World System or USP-006: Introduction to Global Architecture
  • MGT-005: Managerial Accounting (MGT-045 can be substituted for both ECON-004/MGT-004 and MGT-005)
  • *USP-050: Real Estate and Development Colloquium (can also be taken junior year)
  • **USP-005: Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
  • **USP-025: Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
  • **USP-015: Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
Junior
  • *USP-124: Land Use Planning
  • *USP-151: Real Estate Planning and Development
  • *USP-152A: Real Estate Development Finance and Investment
  • *USP-153: Real Estate and Development Market Analysis
  • USP-150: Real Estate and Development Law and Regulation
  • RED Technical Elective
Senior
  • USP-185A: Real Estate Finance and Development Studio I
  • RED Upper Division Elective
  • USP-185B: Real Estate Finance and Development Studio II
  • RED Sustainable Planning/Sustainable Development Course
  • RED Upper Division Elective
  • RED Upper Division Elective