Courses commence April 2, and can be taken at the university or accessed on-line from anywhere in the world. National-level authors and other specialists from each industry will be teaching the classes, says Terry Bernhardt, director of the center, a professional appraiser, and education chairman for the Oregon Chapter of the Chicago-based Appraisal Institute, the acknowledged leader in residential and commercial appraisal education, research, publishing, and professional membership.

"If you have an undergraduate degree in real estate of have been in the industry, this is the perfect opportunity to complete a degree while working full time," says Bernhardt, who says professionals with certain licenses and certifications may earn as many as 45 credits for training and work experience. "It's really a professional program much more than an academic one."

Given Bernhardt's expertise, it is the appraisal track that is the most defined so far. It's possible to finish a bachelor's degree program and already have completed the requirement necessary for designation as a Senior Residential Appraiser, and in the subsequent masters program complete all the requirements for their MAI designation, the gold standard for appraisers.