Through 11 weeks (60 hours) of intensive instructional modules, independent work and project-based learning delivered on Drexel’s main campus in West Philadelphia, learners will gain essential knowledge and experiential best practices about real estate development projects, with an emphasis on New Construction projects.
Meeting every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the NextGen Developers Certificate Program follows the full life cycle of a ground-up development — from identifying and acquiring a site through design, financing, construction and final sale or disposition. Weekly classroom sessions combine focused, lecture-style instruction with real-world insights from guest subject-matter experts actively working in the industry.
Designed for aspiring real estate developers and more experienced developers looking to take their portfolio to the next level, this program provides a structured framework for understanding how successful projects are conceived, executed, and delivered the competitive and complex urban market.
Tentative Weekly Topic Schedule
- Week 1: Program Overview and Introductions
- Week 2: Project Financing and Capital Stack
- Week 3: Zoning, Entitlements and Land Use
- Week 4: Architectural Design and Programming
- Week 5: The Pre-Construction Phase
- Week 6: Site Selection and Acquisition
- Week 7: Groundbreaking and Site Work
- Week 8: Vertical Construction, MEP, and Closeout
- Week 9: Marketing, Sale and Disposition
- Week 10: Site Visit
- Week 11: Program Wrap-Up