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.
In-person instructional module topics, dates and Final Capstone Project.
- Week 1 – June 13, 2026:
Program Overview, Introductions, Project Requirements
- Week 2 – June 20, 2026:
Site Selection and Acquisition
- Week 3 – June 27, 2026:
Zoning, Entitlements and Land Use
- Week 4 – July 11, 2026:
Architectural Design and Programming
- Week 5 – July 18, 2026:
The Pre-Construction Phase
- Week 6 – July 25, 2026:
Project Financing and Capital Stack
- Week 7 – Aug. 1, 2026:
Groundbreaking and Site Work
- Week 8 – Aug. 8, 2026:
Vertical Construction (The Shell)
- Week 9 – Aug. 15, 2026:
MEP and Interior Finishes; Closeout and Punch List
- Week 10 – Aug. 22, 2026:
Site Visit
- Week 11 – Aug. 29, 2026:
Marketing, Sale and Disposition