NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate

Over Four Decades at the Forefront of the Real Estate Industry

Founded over 40 years ago as the Real Estate Institute (REI) at the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the NYU Schack Institute is now the largest, university-based provider of real estate and construction education in the world, offering multiple graduate degree and certificate programs as well as continuing education programs for real estate professionals, architects, and engineers. Each year, the Institute hosts two influential industry events—the NYU REIT Symposium and the NYU Capital Markets Conference—as well as lecture series featuring esteemed speakers, breakfast programs, and panel discussions.

The NYU Schack Institute is renowned for its ability to tailor programs to meet the needs of working adults. Students at the Schack Institute also have the advantage of interacting with industry leaders through internships, research experiences, and networking opportunities, all taking place in one of the world’s most vigorous and challenging real estate marketplaces—New York City. 

The Early Beginnings

The NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate was established in 1967 but had its beginnings in a real estate appraisal course offered in 1937, when, for $25, individuals looking to enter the field or advance their real estate careers could take a course that outlined the real estate appraisal process and issues in urban land evaluation, building construction, and cost analysis. After the Depression and World War II, few published materials and continuing education learning opportunities existed in the science of mortgage lending. In 1945, in cooperation with the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, NYU-SCPS held the first session of what was to become annual conferences for executives in mortgage banking. These cooperative seminars continue to this day.

Growth and Expansion

The growth of the NYU Schack Institute has aligned with changes in the real estate market. The 1970s saw a boom in the market, which drove rapid expansion of the Institute’s diploma and continuing education course offerings. The newly established Center for the Sustainable Built Environment (SBE)—dedicated to advancing sustainability practices in the real estate and construction industries through applied research, education, and outreach—reaffirms the Institute’s deep commitment to serving the evolving needs of industry professionals, the regional community, and the global community as a whole.

Establishment of Graduate Programs

In the late 1980s, the NYU Schack Institute’s Master of Science in Real Estate was introduced to give students an even more in-depth experience in the study and practice of the complex business of real estate. The master’s program has grown to become the largest in the country and competes for students against institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Cornell University. In 2002, NYU-SCPS created a Master of Science in Construction Management for individuals seeking career advancement and the knowledge and skills required to obtain higher-level positions, such as in large-scale construction project management. The year 2011 marks the launch of the Institute’s third master’s degree offering, the Master of Science in Real Estate Development, a program that examines innovative, sustainable solutions to emerging challenges within the real estate development industry.