Senior Studio Capstone for RED Majors
One of the outstanding features of the real estate and development major is the upper division capstone studio requirement. The RED Senior Studio Capstone (USP-185A & USP-185B) is designed to take the RED Major course material and put it into practice through a group comprehensive develpment plan. This is an opportunity for RED students to examine the highest and best use for a unique parcel of land while exploring different areas within the field of real estate and development. The Senior Studio Capstone culminates with a poster display at the Urban Expo in March.
In their senior year, all RED majors must complete the Capstone Studio Sequence: USP-185A Real Estate Finance and Development Studio I in the fall, and USP-185B Real Estate Finance and Development Studio II in the winter. These courses must be taken in order.
USP-185A Real Estate Finance and Development Studio I is restricted to RED Seniors and has the following prerequisites:
- *USP-005: Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
- *USP-015: Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
- *USP-025: Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
- *USP-050: Real Estate and Development Colloquium
- USP-124: Land Use Planning
- USP-151: Real Estate Planning and Development
- USP-152A: Real Estate Development Finance and Investment (formerly USP 152)
- USP-153: Real Estate and Development Market Analysis
USP-185B: Real Estate Finance and Development Studio II has the following prerequisites:
- USP-185A
- Technical elective*
*Prerequisites effective Fall 2025
Recommended preparation: Based on faculty and student feedback the following classes are recommended as preparation for the RED capstone.
- Technical elective: USP-175 Site Analysis (completed in junior year or Fall senior year)
- Upper Division elective: USP-152B Advanced Real Estate Development Finance and Investment (completed in Spring junior year or Fall senior year)
Working in teams, the real estate and development studio develops each student’s ability to:
- critically approach the real estate finance, development and design process
- gather and manage complex sources of research and knowledge as part of an integrated team approach
- prepare a detailed pro forma financial analysis
- evaluate all site constraints and opportunities
- evaluate all market constraints and opportunities
- develop a complete urban design program
- develop a plan to market, lease, and/or sell the development
- analyze, interpret, and write up the findings
Each team will prepare a final written report and presentation drawings.
