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Finish in Three Curriculum

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 with **two asterisks are prerequisites for the RED Foundation Courses USP-151 (USP-005) and USP-152A (USP-015 and USP-025) AND the RED Capstone Studio Sequence (USP-185A & USP-185B).

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

Courses underlined are prerequisites for the RED Capstone Studio Sequence's USP-185B.

Courses italicized have alternative subsitutions. 

Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

First Year
  • USP-001: History of US Urban Communities or USP-002: Urban World System or USP-006: Introduction to Global Architecture
  • **USP-025: Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
  • Lower Division Math (MATH-010A, MATH-020A, or MGT-003)
  • **USP-005: Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
  • 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)
  • **USP-015: Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
  • MGT-005: Managerial Accounting (MGT-045 can be substituted for both ECON-004/MGT-004 and MGT-005)
Second Year
  • *USP-050 (can also be taken first year)
  • *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
Third Year
  • 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

Academic Plan for Students that Entered UCSD Prior to Fall 2024

The RED Major consists of 20 courses:

  • Eight (8) lower division courses + USP 50 (added as a prereq for USP 185A)
  • 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 3rd year.

Courses in with **two asterisks are prerequisites for the RED Foundation Courses USP-151 and USP-152A.

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

Courses underlined are prerequisites for the RED Capstone Studio Sequence's USP-185B.

*Courses italicized have alternative subsitutions.  

Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

First Year
  • USP-001: History of US Urban Communities or USP-002: Urban World System or USP-006: Introduction to Global Architecture
  • **USP-025: Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
  • Lower Division Math (MATH-010A, MATH-020A, or MGT-003)
  • **USP-005: Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
  • 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)
  • **USP-015: Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
  • MGT-005: Managerial Accounting (MGT-045 can be substituted for both ECON-004/MGT-004 and MGT-005)
Second Year
  • *USP-050: Real Estate and Development Colloquium (can also be taken first year)
  • *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
Third Year
  • USP-185A: Real Estate Finance and Development Studio I
  • RED Upper Division Elective
  • USP-185B: Real Estate Finance and Development Studio II
  • USP-171: Sustainable Development or USP-170 Planning for Sustainable Communities
  • RED Upper Division Elective
  • MGT-172: Business Project Management