Senior Studio Capstone for Real Estate and Development 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 5: Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
- *USP 15: Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
- *USP 25: Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
- *USP 50: 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
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.
