A major step for real estate in Oklahoma
By : J. David Chapman/August 21, 2025
This fall marks a milestone for higher education in our state and for the real estate profession. After more than two decades of offering only a minor in real estate, the University of Central Oklahoma will now allow students to major in the field. It is the only undergraduate real estate degree offered in Oklahoma. As I pen today’s column, the students return for their first day of the fall semester. The sidewalks are alive with that familiar mix of nervous energy and fresh excitement—new notebooks, new friendships, and new beginnings. It’s a season filled with both nostalgia and promise, a reminder that education is as much about possibility as it is about preparation. It is a special time.
Until now, students passionate about real estate had to pursue related degrees and minor in real estate here and then leave for Texas, Kansas, or Missouri if they wanted a full real estate program. That gap is now closed. UCO has positioned itself at the forefront by answering a critical workforce need and cementing its role as Oklahoma’s premier workforce provider.
The opportunities in real estate are endless. From brokerage and property management to development, appraisal, finance, and investment, the industry touches nearly every community and every corner of the economy. Some students may find their path in commercial real estate, working with office buildings, retail centers, or industrial properties. Others may lean toward residential brokerage or multifamily development. Still others may gravitate to careers in banking, mortgage lending, urban planning, or even public policy—fields that rely on real estate expertise to make communities thrive.
The practical side of the program makes it even more attractive. At UCO, a student can take the three-hour Real Estate Principles course and the three-hour Real Estate Practice course and immediately become eligible to sit for the Oklahoma real estate licensing exam. That means graduates leave campus not only with a degree but also with a clear, direct pathway to a professional career.
For Oklahoma, this is more than an academic addition. It is a recognition that real estate is a profession requiring knowledge, skill, and preparation—and that our state’s future depends on having well-trained professionals ready to guide growth and investment. This fall, UCO isn’t just starting a new major. It’s opening a new door for opportunity in Oklahoma.
J. David Chapman, Ph.D., is chair of finance & professor real estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).