Requirements

Applicants should have at least 15 years of experience in the real estate-related industry. Applicants should have a basic proficiency in using a financial calculator (PV, FV, PMT) or the financial functions in Excel spreadsheets. For those new to financial functions, we recommend purchasing the HP 12C financial calculator. The handbook that comes with the calculator is a good way to learn how to use the financial function keys. In particular, participants should be familiar in advance with computing monthly payments and ending balances on mortgages and present values of annuities as well as internal rates of return (IRR) and present values (PV) of uneven cash flow streams.

Curriculum and Schedule

Participants will attend an average of fifteen 90-minute sessions per week in the subject areas listed below. The case study method is the primary form of instruction. A Team Project, Independent Project, and Elective Week are also included in the program.

Subject Areas

1. Finance: Capital markets, Structuring complex deals, Obtaining debt and equity, International finance, Investment analysis;
2. General Management: Strategic planning, Organizational management, Succession planning, Corporate real estate, Talent Management;
3. Development: Public-private development, Legal and regulatory issues, Marketing and market analysis, Team project competition;
4. Planning and Design: Land use and public policy, Urban design, Environmental issues;
5. Technology: The Internet and e-commerce, GIS, New building systems and materials;
6. Personal Leadership Techniques: Negotiation, Effective leadership skills, Personal goal setting and achievement.

Schedule

The AMDP is a six-week program divided into four segments. A new class begins each year in July.

Summer Term I, (PDF 28kb) two weeks, July 11-23, 2010
The AMDP commences with two weeks of sessions that present the latest thinking on finance and investment, real estate development, organization management, and new technologies. Experts from the worlds of practice and academia lead participants in case studies and other discussions about these and related topics.

Winter Term, (PDF 17kb) one week, February 13-18, 2011
During this one-week session, participants will attend several sessions as well as focus on their team project. Drawing on research and collaboration done off-site, participants move their project toward its final stage in preparation for the team project competition presentations.

Summer Term II, (PDF 27kb) two weeks, July 17-29, 2011
The final term of the AMDP focuses on managerial skill building. Topics such as strategic planning, personal goal setting, and organizational responses to opportunity are highlighted throughout this two-week session. Participants also present the results of their Independent Project.

Elective Week
Participants must also complete one week of elective programs offered by the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). Options for the Elective Week include other GSD Executive Education programs. The Elective Week can be taken before beginning the AMDP, taken between the first and second summer terms, or carried over to one more summer. The Elective Week is separate tuition based on your area of interest and pursuit.

Team Project Competition

During the course of the program, participants take part in a team project competition aimed to solve complex development problems on real-world subjects. Problems for these projects are as diverse as the redevelopment of dying shopping malls in Denver and Los Angeles or brownfield sites on Staten Island. The projects are introduced during the first summer term and are a focus of the Winter Term in February. Off-site work and research on the project continues between terms. Participants present the results of their team project to their peers during the winter term. View samples of past team projects.

Independent Project

A main program requirement of the AMDP is an Independent Project, undertaken with faculty guidance in which participants have the choice of:

1. preparing a strategic plan that spells out a new business for their firm or plans expansion into a new product line or market;
2. working with their local community to accomplish a regulatory change or perform some other service that contributes to the standard of development or quality of life in the community;
3. contributing to real estate education by creating a unique data set for future research or producing a case study that may be used for teaching purposes.
4. Urban Land Institute Panel Study including participation with written summary of work accomplished.

Participants present the results of their Independent Project to their peers during the final Summer Term. View past independent projects.

Instructors

AMDP classes are led by renowned faculty from across Harvard University and by experts in the field. View faculty in each of the following subject areas:

• Development (PDF 213kb)
• Executive Fellows (PDF 154kb)
• Finance (PDF 201kb)
• General Management (PDF 170kb)
• Personal Leadership (PDF 77kb)
• Planning and Design (PDF 191kb)
• Technology (PDF 105kb)

Participant Profile

AMDP is geared toward developers, owners, financiers, and other real estate professionals with 15 or more years in the industry who have a reasonable understanding of basic real estate finance. View current participant and alumni listing.

Tuition

The AMDP's standard tuition is $29,500. Non-profit tuition of $24,000 is offered only for employees of public agencies and non-profit organizations. Your organization's 501(c)(3), mission statement, and letter from your organization's leader stating your full-time status must be submitted with your application. Tuition includes all educational materials for the three terms. The Elective Week is a separate tuition cost based on your area of interest and pursuit. Not included in the tuition are accommodations, some meals, and travel and transportation costs. Spouses and guests are not included in the program.

Tuition Schedule

Tuition payment is not required until applicant has been accepted into the program and is based on a full payment or 60%/40% installment schedule as shown below. Payment and other program details will be forwarded to those accepted.

Standard Tuition	Non-Profit Tuition
$29,500 full payment due upon acceptance $18,000 first installment payment* due upon acceptance $11,800 last installment payment* due before Winter Term begins	$24,000 full payment due upon acceptance $14,600 first installment payment* due upon acceptance $9,650 last installment payment* due before Winter Term begins

*Service charge added to installment payments.
Tuition payment can be made by bank wire transfer, check, or credit card including American Express, MasterCard, or VISA.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be submitted in writing. Cancellations received 14 to 30 days before the program start will incur a charge of 10% of the program tuition. Cancellations received within 14 days of the program start date will incur a charge of 30% of the program tuition. No refunds on or after the first day of the program.

Application

• Application form (PDF 130kb)
• Application deadline: May 14, 2010 (Late applications will be considered if space is available.)

Program Contact

Janet L. Wysocki
Program Manager
Office of Executive Education
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
1033 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 440
Cambridge, MA 02138
T: 617.496.6164
F: 617.496.0297
E: Janet_Wysocki@harvard.edu