The Penn State Beaver Office of Continuing Education will offer two real estate courses beginning January 2013. The courses are designed for people who are preparing to take the salesperson or broker's license examinations offered by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission as well as those employed or seeking employment in real estate-related organizations, including title search, appraisal and mortgage companies.

Real Estate Fundamentals will be offered 6 to 8 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, Jan. 21 through March 11 and will provide a foundation for the study of real estate in Pennsylvania, covering language, principles, and laws that govern the industry.

Real Estate Practice will be offered 8:15 to 10:15 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, Jan. 21 through March 11 and offers an introduction to all facets of the real estate industry, including a survey of areas of specialization with emphasis on the role of a real estate agent in residential brokerage. Examination of a real estate transaction is designed and conducted to provide a working knowledge of actual forms and documents, including related mathematics.

The Penn State Smeal College of Business is offering a new major, the bachelor of science in risk management, which will be housed in the restructured Department of Risk Management and have three concentration options: actuarial science, enterprise risk management, and real estate. The new Department of Risk Management represents a restructuring of the former Department of Insurance and Real Estate. The research and disciplinary focus of the department is on risk assessment, mitigation and management, connecting disciplines such as actuarial science, business law, decision analysis, insurance, international business, and real estate.