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MS in Real Estate Program gains new certification partnership

Students in USF's MS in Real Estate program will have additional value added to their degrees, due to a new partnership with the CCIM Institute.

The CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation offers real estate professionals expertise in finance, especially useful for institutional real estate deals that are part of investment portfolios. The new Institute Membership allows students who receive their master's degrees in real estate to get three out of four of the courses required for the CCIM designation – normally a long and expensive process – simply by completing the degree program.

Greg Smersh, an instructor in the real estate program who has worked closely with the CCIM Institute to revise its certification curriculum, said this partnership affirms the excellence of the USF MS in Real Estate. USF joins Florida International University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami, and the University of Florida as the only schools in Florida to offer the fast-track CCIM program.

"The program has been recognized by the CCIM Institute as meeting its standards of professional education," Smersh said. "It is a stamp of approval that they are associated with it and that their members would want to be involved."

Instead of taking the CCIM certification courses on their own – a process that can require multi-city travel for classes, lengthy hotel stays, and tuition for individual courses – local real estate professionals now have the opportunity to gain a master's degree in about a year and have most of the requirements for CCIM certification met. In addition, students at USF can now gain networking opportunities and corporate connections through a $25 annual membership with the CCIM Institute, a fraction of the $595 regular membership price.

Yakhin Israel, a vice president at Fifth Third Bank and the chair of the university alliance committee for the Florida Chapter for CCIM, said he is excited for the opportunities USF's institute membership will provide to the community.

"It's a great opportunity for Tampa's real estate community," he said. "It's also great for the master's program. It supports the education real estate professionals need and also opens doors for undergraduate and graduate students alike to interact with Tampa Bay's commercial real estate industry before graduation."