New Undergraduate Programming

CFP® Board-Approved Financial Planning Track

Launched Fall 2025

The School is excited to announce the launch of our Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board-approved Financial Planning Track within the existing Finance major. 

The Financial Planning Track, supported by a generous gift from Schwab Advisor Services in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation, will prepare graduates to become trusted financial planners. Students will build the skills to guide individuals, families, and small businesses through major life decisions, making a real difference while building a rewarding career. 

Preparing Graduates for CFP® Certification

The CFP® Board-approved curriculum, covers investment strategy, retirement and estate planning, tax and risk management, and more—all with a hands-on, real-world focus. The program prepares students to be eligible to sit for the CFP® exam, the gold standard in wealth 
management. 

Innovative Resources, Enhanced Opportunities

Students will leverage the resources of the School’s Investment Strategy Institute, which includes access to 24+ Bloomberg Terminals, Wharton Research Data Services, and leading financial databases, ensuring they are well-equipped with industry-standard technologies.

Meeting the Need for Financial Planners

The need for CFP® professionals is rising, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which predicts a 15% increase in demand for personal financial advisors between 2021 and 2031. Moreover, research shows that 86% of consumers prefer working with an advisor who has earned the CFP® designation, while 90% report feeling more confident in their futures thanks to their financial planner’s expertise. 

By aligning the curriculum with industry standards and trends, the Financial Planning Track will equip students to enter a growing field where they can help clients achieve personal financial goals. With demand for financial planners on the rise, there’s never been a better time to turn a business degree into a purpose-driven profession.

Real Estate Program

Launching Fall 2026

Debuting in the 2026-2027 academic year, the School is expanding its academic programming with a Real Estate major, minor, and certificate. Designed for students ready to shape the future of urban and suburban spaces, foster community transformation, and make a lasting economic 
impact, the Real Estate program blends rigorous academics with hands-on learning and industry engagement.

A Career-Ready Curriculum 

The Real Estate program builds on Duquesne’s established strengths in sales, marketing, project management, finance, business analytics, entrepreneurship, and accounting.

The 24-credit hour major will prepare students for a variety of roles in commercial and residential development, real estate finance, brokerage, property management, and corporate site selection. The 15-credit hour minor will provide business majors with an additional competitive edge for pursuing real estate-related careers. The 15 to 18-credit hour certificate is for Duquesne students outside the business school—including engineering and environmental science—who want to add marketable real estate skills to their primary area of study.

A Talent Pipeline for Employers

Pittsburgh’s prime location, competitive real estate market along with Duquesne’s deep corporate connections create a direct pipeline from the classroom to the workplace. Employers will benefit from graduates who are trained to analyze deals, manage assets, navigate zoning and land use regulations, integrate sustainability into projects, and leverage emerging technologies such as AI and data analytics.

Difference-Making Opportunities

The School’s signature cornerstone-to-capstone experiential model will provide students with:

• Opportunities to work on real-world projects that matter with real estate industry firms as part of a course, both at the beginning (cornerstone) and end (capstone) of the curriculum
• Real estate networking events with alumni, corporate partners, and industry leaders
• Co-curricular real estate competitions and activities (both internal and intercollegiate)
• One-on-one guidance from a Student Success Coach to align academic goals with career aspirations.