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MBA or MSRED?

What is the difference between an MIT MSRED or an MBA? Here are some issues to consider:

	MBA	MSRED at MIT
Time Frame	2 years	1 year
Curriculum	1^st year - Business Basics 2^nd year - Specialization largely focused on finance-related areas	Real estate focus and specialization throughout. The MIT MSRED program provides an intense, one-year graduate education entirely focused on real estate.
Expense	2 years of tuition, partially offset by possible summer income.	One year of tuition
Specialization	Real Estate specialization tends to be finance focused urban economics, housing economics, and investment.	Broad-based real estate education in design, management, law, development, economics and signficant focus on finance, e.g., real estate finance, capital markets.
Program Size	Typically, the programs are large with real estate students representing a relatively small (2% - 3%) percentage.	Small, tight knit group of 30 to 40 students.
Industry Commitment	Students pursuing a MBA may not be committed to a real estate career; therefore they are seeking a broader base.	MIT/CRE students are committed to the real estate industry and have real-estate related experience prior to coming to the program. An important part of the program is the learning between students.
Post Graduate Careers	Varied but with a heavy concentration in finance-related areas of the industry.	Varied, with significant representation in project management, finance-related areas, acquisitions, entrepreneurship.
Internship Opportunities	Internship opportunities exist during the summer between 1^st and 2^nd years.	Limited. However, there is the opportunity for participation in the MIT Alumni Association's externship program during the January Independent Activities Period. After the completion of the program, students move to full-time employment.
Thesis	Generally, no thesis is required.	A thesis is required; however, the thesis is seen as an opportunity to synthesize the theoretical and practical; potentially establish an area of expertise; and continue to make and cultivate industry relationships and connections.
Alumni Network	Usually extensive, but predominantly outside of the real estate industry.	Over 700 real estate-focused alumni/ae in all facets of the industry and located throughout the world. The alumni/ae network is accessible, extensive, and well-connected.
Recruitment	Business programs have an extensive recruitment program for people interested in finance (including investment banking), marketing, and consulting; however, for those students interested in other sectors of the industry, most job search efforts will be self-initiated.	Each year, approximately 5 to 10 companies interview on campus. However, most hiring in the real estate industry is done based on need. Therefore, the 12 to 20 informal opportunities for students to meet with company representatives and industry executives, position students well for meaningful access for self-initiated job searches. Investment banks do not tend to recruit at the Center.