Welcome to Kellogg's Real Estate Lab
Information for Students

Course Description

Real Estate Lab is an experiential learning course that allows Kellogg students the opportunity to participate in a quarter-long project, working in a research and advisory role on a real estate project for a sponsor firm or organization. Participants will be exposed to a project related to an investment, development, public policy, or another real estate question. Enrollment in the course is by application only.

Course Requirements

• Weekly meetings will take place with the faculty advisor to discuss the assigned tasks, progress, and feedback.
• Required readings will be completed during the quarter.
• The workload for this course translates to approximately100 hours during the quarter.
• A final presentation of the work product will be made to the sponsoring firm/organization at the end of the quarter.

Grading: The course grade is based on feedback from the sponsoring firm or organization, participation and contributions throughout the quarter, and the quality of the final work product and presentation.

Faculty Advisor: William M. Bennett or Therese J. McGuire. William Bennett is the faculty member for sections of Real Estate Lab that address questions of real estate investment, development, or operations; Therese McGuire is the faculty member for sections of Real Estate Lab that address questions of public policy with an impact on the real estate industry.

Target students: This opportunity will be most beneficial to students who are seeking to transition to different roles within real estate, who are interested in public policy questions relevant to real estate, or who do not have extensive real estate experience but would like to pursue a career in the field.

For those students taking sections of the course taught by William Bennett, it is recommended, but not required, that students have taken Real Estate Finance and Investments (FINC 454) or gain permission from the professor. For those students taking sections of the course taught by Therese McGuire, it is recommended, but not required, that students have taken at least one economics-based course (for example, MECN 430, SEEK 470, or SEEK 480) or gain permission from the professor.                                         

Selection Process: Registration is by application only. The faculty advisor will make the final team selection.

Sponsors: The project sponsor changes with each course offering. For an idea of future sponsors, you can examine the list of past and current sponsors.

Application Instructions and Materials

The only way to apply for the course is through an online application process. Once you start the application, you must complete and submit it; the application cannot be modified thereafter. We recommend that you draft answers to the questions off line before filling in the online form. To apply for this course, please click here.

If you encounter any technical issues while using this application, please email kis-appdev-support@kellogg.northwestern.edu for assistance.

Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected at least three weeks prior to the start of the quarter. We recommend that you bid for classes as if you will not be taking Real Estate Lab, yet be prepared to drop a course if selected for the Lab.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE DROPPED DURING THE QUARTER.