Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The estimated smart cities market size for the U.S. in 2021.
Globe Newswire (Jul, 2021).
“[N]ew ventures launched by people dedicated to scalable creative ideas will have an important impact in cities and the built environment around the world.” – Gilad Rosenzweig, Executive Director, MITdesignX
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Our built environment — the human-made spaces in which we live and work — has evolved over centuries. But this evolution has left gaps in its wake, leading to challenges in modern cities. In the Entrepreneurship in Architecture, Planning and Real Estate online short course, you’ll learn to identify, analyze, and ultimately fill these gaps with a design-based solution.
Centering on the value iteration method, this program allows you to create your own solution to an urban problem, and explore the process of launching a new venture through this lens. You’ll also receive insights from experts within MITdesignX, an on-campus venture accelerator housed in the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (MIT SA+P), and develop an action plan that you can use to translate your business solution to the real world.
Is this course for you?
This program focuses on entrepreneurship in urban and the built environment. As such, it will prove beneficial to existing entrepreneurs who work in the built environment already, and are looking for new skills or opportunities that can be applied to their current or new businesses. It will equally provide key knowledge to those who work in the built environment, but are not yet entrepreneurs. These professionals will learn the process of launching a venture in an environment they’re already familiar with, allowing them to translate their current experience into new areas. Existing entrepreneurs who haven’t worked directly in the built environment will gain insights into this sector, and will have the opportunity to explore the value offered by this growing market.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Our built environment — the human-made spaces in which we live and work — has evolved over centuries. But this evolution has left gaps in its wake, leading to challenges in modern cities. In the Entrepreneurship in Architecture, Planning and Real Estate online short course, you’ll learn to identify, analyze, and ultimately fill these gaps with a design-based solution.
Centering on the value iteration method, this program allows you to create your own solution to an urban problem, and explore the process of launching a new venture through this lens. You’ll also receive insights from experts within MITdesignX, an on-campus venture accelerator housed in the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (MIT SA+P), and develop an action plan that you can use to translate your business solution to the real world.
Is this course for you?
This program focuses on entrepreneurship in urban and the built environment. As such, it will prove beneficial to existing entrepreneurs who work in the built environment already, and are looking for new skills or opportunities that can be applied to their current or new businesses. It will equally provide key knowledge to those who work in the built environment, but are not yet entrepreneurs. These professionals will learn the process of launching a venture in an environment they’re already familiar with, allowing them to translate their current experience into new areas. Existing entrepreneurs who haven’t worked directly in the built environment will gain insights into this sector, and will have the opportunity to explore the value offered by this growing market.
What will set you apart
Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Imagine design solutions in the built environment
Module 2
Test ideas, research the market, and define stakeholders
Module 3
Calibrate an idea and create a development framework
Module 4
Determine the value proposition and model the user journey
Module 5
Prototype your built environment solution
Module 6
Create a business model
Module 7
Tailor the message and pitch your venture
Module 8
Develop an action plan to operationalize your venture
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Faculty Director
Gilad Rosenzweig
Executive Director, MITdesignX
Photo credit: Suzanne Kreiter / Boston Globe (2014)
About the certificate
Study Entrepreneurship in Architecture, Planning and Real Estate, and earn an official MIT SA+P digital certificate.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.