Department Chair

Kurt M. Saunders, J.D., LL.M.


Bookstein Hall 3121
18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330

Phone: (818) 677-2905

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Real Estate Program

The option in Real Estate covers both theoretical and practical aspects of real estate and provides an academic foundation for careers in real estate. We offer a major and minor in Real Estate. Real Estate majors may sit for the California Broker License Exam upon completion of the B.S.B.A. degree with an option in Real Estate, with their real estate and other business courses considered to be equivalent to two years of experience as a licensed salesperson.

Please note that several courses have been renumbered as of Fall 2019. FIN 338 Real Estate Principles is now RE 414. FIN 439 Valuation is now RE 416 Real Estate Appraisal. The table below shows the equivalency of courses depending on which catalog year you entered. If you're under an old catalog, just submit course substitution requests, which you'll find here.

Course Equivalency FIN BLAW RE
RE Practice - 412 412
RE Principles 338 414 414
RE Finance 433 - 420
RE Appraisal 439 416 416
RE Market and Development Analysis - 418 418

You'll find prerequisite and other information in the catalog here.


For planning purposes, note that we offer every required course every semester, subject to enrollments and budget restrictions: BLAW 280, 308, 368, 453, and 481; RE 412, 414, 416, 418, and 420.


Course Sequence for BSBA Real Estate (PDF)

Broker CSUN Equivalent

1. Real Estate Practice; and

RE 412

2. Legal Aspects of Real Estate; and

    BLAW 481
    3. Real Estate Finance; and RE 420
    4. Real Estate Appraisal; and RE 416
    5. Real Estate Economics or Accounting; and RE 418,  ECON 310 or ACCT 220
       
    6. Three courses from the following list:  
    Real Estate Principles RE 414
    Business Law BLAW 308 or BLAW 280
    Property Management  
    Escrow  
    Real Estate Office Administration  
    Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending  
    Advanced Legal Aspects of Real Estate  
    Advanced Real Estate Finance  
    Advanced Real Estate Appraisal  
    Computer Applications in Real Estate IS 312
    Common Interest Developments  
    Note: If both Real Estate Economics and Accounting are taken,          only two courses from section 6 are required.  
    Agent/Salesperson CSUN Equivalent
    1. Real Estate Principles, and RE 414
    2. Real Estate Practice, and RE 412
       
    3. One course from the following list:  
    Real Estate Appraisal RE 416
    Property Management  
    Real Estate Finance RE 420
    Real Estate Economics RE 418 or ECON 310
    Legal Aspects of Real Estate BLAW 481
    Real Estate Office Administration  
    General Accounting ACCT 220
    Business Law BLAW 308 or BLAW 280
    Escrows  
    Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending  
    Computer Applications in Real Estate IS 312
    Common Interest Developments  

    Note: This information is intended to aid students in preparing for licensure but we are not authorized to make representations on behalf of the California Department of Real Estate. For more information, contact the Department of Real Estate.

    Have real estate course prefixes changed from earlier CSUN catalogs?

    Courses for the Real Estate major now have the prefix “RE”. This should help avoid confusion with BLAW courses. Below is a table showing the equivalency of the courses.

    Course Equivalency FIN BLAW RE
    RE Practice - 412 412
    RE Principles 338 414 414
    RE Finance 433 - 420
    RE Appraisal 439 416 416
    RE Market and Development Analysis - 418 418

    I already have an agent's or broker's license.  Is it possible to waive RE 412 or 414 based on this?

    No.  In order to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the required courses in the real estate program, they must take all of the courses.  This ensures that students receive the necessary preparatory education and can be successful in the higher level courses.  As a recipient of the major or minor in real estate, you will represent that you have taken a series of courses that will help you be successful in the real estate field. Note that all real estate courses are offered each semester.

    I already have a bachelor’s degree. Can I get a minor in Real Estate?

    No. You can’t earn a minor unless you’re a matriculated student in a degree program.  However, you should consider our Real Estate Certificate program for professionals who already have a bachelor's degree. You can find out more here.

    Are all of the required classes offered every semester?

    Yes.  All RE courses are offered each semester, along with BLAW 280, 308, 368, 453, and 481.

    I’m a Real Estate major or minor from a previous catalog year and I still need to take FIN 338 (Real Estate Principles) or FIN 439 (Real Estate Valuation). Will they continue to be offered?

    No.  Instead, you’ll need to petition to substitute RE 414 in place of FIN 338 and RE 416 in place of FIN 439.  Please review the table above for all equivalencies. Both RE 412 and RE 414 are offered every semester. You’ll find a request for substitution/waiver form here

    Can I transfer real estate classes from a junior college or a real estate course from a non-university provider to substitute for real estate courses at CSUN?

    No. All of the required courses in the Real Estate major, minor, and certificate program are upper division 400-level or 300-level courses, while courses at junior colleges are lower division 100- or 200-level courses.  Therefore, they are not equivalent as to content and level of difficulty.  Courses from private, non-university providers, even if they are approved by the California Department of Real Estate, are not academically accredited and therefore cannot be substituted.

    I’m a Real Estate major from a pre-2015 catalog year. Can I substitute BLAW 368 (Law, Business & Ethics) in place of the upper division communication course requirement?

    Yes, just submit the course substitution/waiver form referenced above.

    I’m a Real Estate major from a pre-2015 catalog year. Can I substitute RE 412 (Real Estate Practice) in place of the Real Estate Elective Breadth and Perspective course requirement?

    Yes, just submit the course substitution/waiver form referenced above.

    How can I find out the most recent information about the programs?

    “Like” and “Follow” CSU Northridge Department of Business Law on all of our social media platforms provided on the homepage. Don't forget to check your email regularly as well.

    If I major in Real Estate and graduate with a B.S.B.A. degree, am I eligible to sit for the California Broker License exam?

    Yes.  Based on an articulation from the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), students may sit for the Broker License Exam upon completion of the B.S.B.A. degree with an option in Real Estate.  The courses in Real Estate Law, Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Market Analysis, and Real Estate Appraisal, and other business courses will be equivalent to two years of experience as a licensed salesperson. 

    The DRE articulation letter about our program is available HERE.  Please refer to the FAQ below for the California course requirements for eligibility to sit for the exam and CSUN course equivalents.  Additional information about the requirements for the exam is available on the DRE website.

    Does the Minor in Real Estate allow me to sit for the California Salesperson License exam?

    Yes.  The minor meets the requirements to sit for the California Real Estate Salesperson Exam.  However, the minor alone does not meet the course requirements to sit for the Broker License Exam.  You would need to gain two years of experience as a licensed salesperson and complete the remaining required courses before being eligible to sit for the Broker License Exam. 

    Please refer to the FAQ below for the California course requirements for eligibility to sit for the exam and CSUN course equivalents.  Additional information about the requirements for the exam is available on the DRE website.

    I’m interested in getting a real estate degree.  How strong is CSUN’s program?

    Frankly, we’re great.  Our business programs are accredited by AACSB (an achievement obtained by only 5% of the world’s business schools).  Our real estate classes are staffed by professors who have excellent academic credentials combined with real world experience.  We have a vigorous speakers’ series and opportunities for internships.  CSUN has one of the largest real estate program of the 23 CSU campuses and is represented on California’s Real Estate and Land Use Institute. 

    Department Chair

    Kurt M. Saunders, J.D., LL.M.


    Bookstein Hall 3121
    18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330

    Phone: (818) 677-2905

    Send email

    Our Accreditations

    Logo for WASC   Teal, blue, and green colored accreditation logo for AACSB Accredited    

    Follow Us!

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