Why Operational Capability Is Often Developed Outside Traditional Real Estate Degree Programs
A look at the structural reasons universities canât fully teach the operational side of commercial real estate.
Updated: November 2025
Introduction
Real estate degree programs across the country provide strong foundations in finance, law, valuation, development, planning, and macro-level analysis. These disciplines are essential to long-term professional growth in commercial real estate.
Applied operational capability â the day-to-day execution inside buildings and operating portfolios â is typically developed through additional pathways. This is not a shortcoming of academia, but a result of how degree programs are structured and the pace at which real estate operations evolve.
Structural Reason 1: Degree Programs Prioritize Breadth by Design
Universities serve students across multiple disciplines, including:
- Business
- Real estate
- Finance
- Construction management
- Urban planning
Degree programs are intentionally designed to provide broad analytical and theoretical grounding that supports a wide range of career paths. As a result, sustained immersion in building systems, facilities operations, and execution-level workflows is often developed outside the core curriculum.
Structural Reason 2: Operational Practice Evolves Faster Than Academic Cycles
Commercial real estate operations change rapidly:
- Building systems and infrastructure evolve
- Property technology advances quickly
- ESG and sustainability standards shift regularly
- AI and automation continue to reshape workflows
Academic programs operate on multi-year approval and revision cycles. Applied operational training, by contrast, can adapt more quickly to changing industry conditions.
Structural Reason 3: Faculty Expertise Is Oriented Toward Strategy and Theory
Faculty members bring deep expertise in areas such as:
- Finance
- Law
- Development
- Urban policy
- Valuation
Just as finance faculty are not expected to operate trading desks, real estate faculty are not typically embedded in day-to-day property operations or facilities management. Their role is to develop conceptual understanding and strategic thinking, not operational execution.
Structural Reason 4: Employer Expectations Continue to Shift
As commercial real estate teams become leaner, employers increasingly value early-career professionals who can apply foundational knowledge effectively in operational environments.
This includes the ability to:
- Interpret leases in practice
- Understand building systems at a functional level
- Coordinate vendors and maintenance activities
- Identify operational risks
- Communicate with tenants
- Understand operational accounting and NOI drivers
These skills are commonly developed through applied training and experience rather than within traditional degree programs alone.
The Role of CREXOM⢠as an Applied Complement
The CREXOM⢠Certification is designed to reinforce academic learning by developing applied operational capability alongside degree programs.
CREXOM⢠focuses on:
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Practical execution frameworks
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Building systems literacy
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Scenario-based operational decision-making
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Applied financial and lease context
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Risk, compliance, and inspection awareness
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Tenant and vendor coordination
Rather than replacing academic education, CREXOM⢠serves as a complementary applied layer â connecting foundational knowledge to the operational environments where commercial real estate work is performed daily.
Bring CREXOM⢠to Your Students, Program, or Institution
Academic programs establish the strategic foundation for commercial real estate careers. CREXOM⢠reinforces that foundation by supporting the development of applied operational capability aligned with employer expectations.
