The Executive Certificate in Commercial Real Estate is a new first-of-its-kind program that aims to accelerate higher-level career opportunities for commercial real estate professionals. It is scheduled to be launched by the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management this coming March.
The new six-month program is developed by Pepperdine University faculty member, Dr. Abraham Park, the Director of the Fred Sands Institute of Real Estate and an Associate Professor of Finance, along with John Heffernan, PE, the Director of the Executive Real Estate Certificate Program. The program has a curriculum based on the established training of the Mortgage Banker Association and the extensive expertise of Dr. Park in the commercial real estate equity and REIT fund investment.
"Real estate is a vast and highly segmented industry. Real estate professionals from one area may find their previous education and training either too narrowly focused or insufficient for transitioning into higher-level career opportunities," said Dr. Park. "The Pepperdine Graziadio Executive Certificate in Commercial Real Estate is an opportunity for real estate professionals to acquire practical, cutting-edge, graduate-level education."
According to their press release in Business Wire, the certification is designed for mid- to senior-level commercial real estate professionals. The materials and programming from the Commercial/Multi-family Courses of the Mortgage Bankers Association Education is incorporated in the program to make it the first-of-its-kind industry program that combines graduate school certificate education and industry-recognized training curriculum.
"Our industry needs to continue to recruit, develop, and retain top talent. MBA is proud to join with Pepperdine Graziadio to forge this partnership that offers great value, that will serve as a foundation for MBA to expand its educational efforts," said David H. Stevens, CMB, President and CEO of Mortgage Bankers Association. "Pepperdine Graziadio students in the program will have access to certain MBA education and training programs, and MBA members will build connections with talented future industry leaders."
Students enrolled in the program can earn credits toward MBA's Certified Mortgage Bankers designation through the Commercial/Multi-family Secondary Servicing (CMF SS) courses. The program also offers a series of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Basic courses provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
The Executive Certification in Commercial Real Estate will begin on March 4 and will run through July 23. It is designed with flexible formats that meet two-days-per-month on Fridays and Saturdays. Classes for the program are being offered in five different Pepperdine locations: Malibu, Irvine, West Los Angeles and San Jose in California, as well as in Dallas, Texas. The program is also available online.