NAR launches Realtor University, offers major discounts for their Masters Degree

Education opportunities available to Realtors

We have a lot of education opportunities available to us, through our companies, boards, and online. These opportunities are going to get much bigger in the very near future.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) will be offering a Master of Real Estate degree via Realtor® University in 2012.

The cost of the degree program is similar to other Universities’ Masters in Real Estate (MRE) programs, however, there is a huge discount for Realtors, whether we pay for the full course up front, or by the credit hour. Small loans are also available for professional development through The Realtors® Federal Credit Union, for those who are members. Eventually, it appears scholarships may be offered locally as well as nationally. Can we say awesome, much?

Intense curriculum, but major discounts

The curriculum looks pretty intense, all business and real estate – from law and marketing, to finance and accounting, 12 courses are taken. Four of the classes alone, even if at a scaled down version, should be taught in every pre-licensing school in the country – Money & Banking, Real Estate Marketing, Business Management, and Marketing Management.  These are much like the classes offered in many other schools which have this degree program, but as the course outline says, it’s geared more for today’s real estate world, plus not all schools offer distance learning, yet another reason the Realtor® University’s MRE offering will be so sweet!

Realtor® University will accept some transfer credits, up to nine hours, for their MRE degree program, and could potentially waive some classes for work or academic experience. Nine credits may not sound like a lot, however, it is as much or even more than other Universities allow. Some colleges won’t take any transfer credits for their MRE programs.

The catch

The knot in the shoelace so to speak, is that Realtor® University is not a fully accredited University at this time. Per their website, they still need to get “Independent Degree Program Operating Authority approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education,” they have not submitted their application yet. Then, they will be able to apply for accreditation, about a two year process. Anyone taking courses prior to the accreditation will still get a fully recognized MBA upon completion once Realtor® University gets all their ducks in a row, according to NAR.

We have distance learning, a super cool curriculum and Realtor discounts, for a freaking Master’s Degree.  I don’t know about you guys, but I’m digging the idea, and think it’s about the best thing since sleeping late on Saturdays.