Dresden Bouman | staff writer

A new major is on the market at Duquesne.

The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business announced it will offer a new real estate major, minor and certificate beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. Students, faculty and local real estate professionals say they are excited for the addition.

The program will prepare students for roles in commercial and residential development, real estate finance, brokerage, property management and corporate site selection, according to the news release. A 12-credit hour minor and a 15-credit hour certificate are also available for students looking to study real estate.

Ryan Luchs, a Duquesne marketing professor who chaired the university’s task force for implementing the real estate program, said most of the classes in the major are already being taught at the university.

“I thought that it was a major that used a lot of the skills that we developed at the business school, so it really fit with what we do. But we also thought real estate is such a big part of the economy when you look beyond just the idea of being a real estate agent. It’s so much more than that. It’s construction, property management and redevelopment of properties. So that whole life cycle is what attracted us,” Luchs said.

While it is possible to become a real estate agent without a college degree, Luchs said that offering this program would provide the students with opportunities in a broader range of areas.

The program gives students access to real-world projects, networking events and real estate competitions, according to a news release.

Luchs said the program is looking for a big enough student size to support active clubs, well attended guest speaker events and a professional network in which alumni hire current students.

“That’s kind of where we think things work best — when you have that sort of critical mass where the students are learning not just from the faculty, but from each other,” Luchs said.

Although students at Duquesne will get the chance to enter the real estate industry with a college degree, many working Realtors in Pittsburgh came to the profession without it.

As someone who did not go through a college program for real estate, Pittsburgh-based Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway, Kelly Frey, said she hopes students learn everything from contracts, to paperwork, to how a deal works, which is vital to the profession.

“[Students should be] learning in the classroom but also with real world practice and internships where they should show what a full day entails and how demanding it can be,” Frey said. “Standards should also be taught along with ethics and character. Character is paramount. It’s how you handle your business and your integrity.”

Realtor Abby Wilson, who is a part of the Askin-Wilson Group at Compass Real Estate said most people can become an agent just by passing a test and paying a fee, but that doesn’t guarantee quality — neither does a college degree.

“Formal training doesn’t always mean you’ll be dealing with someone who’s good at their role,” Wilson said.

“Honestly, some of the people I’ve worked with who don’t have a college degree have given me the best experiences.”

Frey also said students should work on building clients in college because of the length of time it takes to close a house.

“The myth is when you first start, you make pools of money — and it’s not true. It can be very difficult to make a living,” Frey said. “Most agents drop out after three years, or maybe five. It’s honestly overwhelming because they cannot make enough money, because they can’t get clients.”

Wilson echoed this notion.

“I think the biggest misconception is that real estate is easy. In reality, it’s very difficult to be successful because the work is totally self-motivated and it’s a crowded business,” Wilson said.
Luchs said the task force is still in the early stages of planning.

He said the school plans to partner with a property owner to allow students to look at underutilized properties and explore ways to redevelop it, known as the Cornerstone project.

Luchs said the goal is for students to create ideas that transform such properties into vibrant parts of the community.

Later in the program, students may work on projects starting from just a piece of empty land, representing full scale development. He said the goal of the program is to build experiences step-by-step so that students gradually develop the necessary skills and expertise.

Wilson said she is a huge fan of the city for real estate.

“I think Pittsburgh is a really dynamic and exciting market. It’s a great time to be learning about real estate here. The city is climate resilient and people are relocating from all over the country and the world. I expect that trend to intensify even more. It’s a great time to get into the business but anyone who is interested also has an ethical duty to make housing healthier, it’s a huge responsibility,” Wilson said.

Dresden Bouman can be reached at boumand@duq.edu