The Final Practicum
The Final Practicum-A Real Deal Competition
A capstone class on commercial and residential community development pit three to four, competitive internal MRED student teams against each other to prepare a detailed feasibility analysis and proposal for real development sites in conjunction with developers in Charlotte, Atlanta, Asheville, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and other regional locations. Professional juries evaluate student team proposal presentations. The curriculum concludes with this significant 6-credit practicum as a real feasibility study for a real deal with developers, financial institutions, brokers, economic development officials, and designers on the jury—a synthesis of their academic career.
Since 2004, The Carolinas Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR®) and the SIOR Foundation® (SIORF®) have awarded an annual scholarship fund for the graduating students, based on this annual competition.
The Capstone Practicum Course has three to four competing internal teams preparing a complete feasibility package presented to an investment jury for a site; these are usually mixed-use sites in Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Asheville and other regional locations. The curriculum concludes with this significant 6-credit practicum as a feasibility study for a real deal, synthesizing the program.
| Practicum Year | Practicum Site |
| Fall 2022 | Greenville, SC--Greenville City Hall |
| Summer 2022 | Greenville, SC--20 Odom Street |
| Fall 2021 | Rock Hill, SC--Celanese Road |
| Summer 2021 | Greenville, SC--Downtown East |
| Summer 2020 | Greenville, SC--various city locations |
| Fall 2019 | Greenville, SC--Furman University |
| Summer 2019 | Charleston, SC--45 Romney Street |
| Fall 2018 | Greenville, SC--Cone Mills/U.S. Finishing Plant |
| Summer 2018 | Spartanburg, SC--578 North Church Street |
| Summer 2018 | Pendleton, SC--Pendleton Oil Mill |
| Spring 2017 | Greenville, SC--Village of West Greenville |
| Spring 2016 | Charleston, SC--Morrison Drive |
| Spring 2015 | Charlotte, NC--Chadbourn Mill |
The Clemson Library keeps select MRED student practicum presentations on file through their Tiger Prints System as non-thesis final projects. Note: Non-thesis Final Projects are accessible only to those on a Clemson University IP address or using Clemson's VPN service.
Pendleton Oil Mill, Pendleton, SC. One of two Summer 2018 practicum sites.
Proud Recipient of SIOR® Funding—Towards the Annual Practicum Competition
Since 2004, The Carolinas Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® and the SIOR Foundation® have awarded an annual scholarship fund for the graduating students of Clemson University’s Master of Real Estate Development Program.
The MRED program has been very active with the Carolinas Chapter including the program’s founding director being involved annually as Moderator and Presenter in the Upstate Market Trends Forecast since 2004. These students have contacts with numerous Carolina SIOR® members during their program.
The Carolinas Chapter is one of 48 chapters of the prestigious international association. Commercial real estate professionals must meet rigorous requirements to earn the SIOR designation. Founded in 1941, The SOCIETY OF INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE REALTORS® is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association, based in Washington D.C. SIOR represents today's most knowledgeable, experienced, and successful commercial real estate brokerage specialists.
SIOR has certified thousands of members with the prestigious SIOR designation, a professional symbol of the highest level of knowledge, production, and ethics in the real estate industry. Real estate professionals who have earned the SIOR designation are recognized by corporate real estate executives, commercial real estate brokers, agents, lenders, and other real estate professionals as the most capable and experienced brokerage practitioners in any market. SIOR designees can hold the following specialty designations: industrial, office, sales manager, executive manager, or advisory service.
SIOR also consists of associate members who include corporate executives, developers, educators, and others involved in the commercial real estate industry. Dr. Benedict is an active SIOR Educator Associate.
A professional affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, SIOR is dedicated to the practice and maintenance of the highest professional and ethical standards. SIOR maintains a commitment to business and industry by providing outstanding professional services, publications, and educational programs.
The SIOR Foundation’s mission is to promote and support initiatives that expand, educate, and enrich the commercial real estate community. Established in 1962 to publish the industry’s first graduate level textbook on industrial real estate, SIOR Foundation has maintained its dedication to expanding understanding of the commercial real estate industry. The Foundation has a matching scholarship program available to the local SIOR Chapters.
