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Students taking on-line courses for the Master's and certificate programs will need ArcGIS and its Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Network Analyst and Geostatistical Analyst extensions. Below are three options for acquiring ArcGIS and the required extensions. The first method is the preferred and recommended option.
Purchase a one-year, time-out student license of ArcGIS (ArcView license) that includes the Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Network Analyst and Geostatistical Analyst extensions. With this option, students will need to purchase a license each year they are in the M.S. or certificate program. However, students will get the current version of ArcGIS whenever they acquire or renew their license. This will enable to you to keep current with the latest software release within a year. If you are in the M.S. or certificate program for several years, you will want to keep current with the latest version of ArcGIS. Contact the ESRI Desktop Order Center at 800-447-9778 for current pricing. Of the three options listed here, this is the most economical. Before purchasing ArcGIS, students should contact Northwest’s GIScience Graduate Program Director about any ESRI promotional offers for ArcGIS that might be available.
Purchase regular student licenses (non-time-out licenses) of ArcGIS (ArcView license) and the Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Network Analyst and Geostatistical Analyst extensions. This option does not include any upgrades to new versions of the software. Students purchasing this license should be aware that the Department of Geology and Geography will generally require students to upgrade to new major releases of ArcGIS. Typically, purchasing several one-year time-out student licenses (Option 1 above) over the time that a student is in the Master's or certificate programs will cost less than purchasing one non-time-out license of ArcGIS and the four extensions.
For either the first or second option, students residing in the U.S. should call the ESRI Desktop Order Center at 800-447-9778. Ask for student pricing for ArcGIS. You will need a fax from the Department of Geology and Geography confirming that you are a student at Northwest, and the Department will be happy to provide the fax. Students residing outside the U.S. should contact ESRI's international distributor for their country. Pricing from international distributors may vary.
Purchase the book Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop, Second Edition, Updated for ArcGIS 9.3, ESRI Press, 2008. This book includes a 180-day trial version of ArcGIS 9 and extensions. The book may be purchased from ESRI by calling 800-447-9778 or by ordering on-line. Those residing outside the U.S. should review the ordering options. The 180-day trial version of the software should only be used as a temporary means of acquiring the software. If you choose this option, make certain that you do not install the software too early so that the 180-day trial license expires before the end of the trimester.
Students employed by an organization that uses ArcGIS may wish to ask their employer about using ArcGIS at work. Students within driving distance of Northwest Missouri State University can access ArcGIS in the GIS lab in Garrett-Strong 1050. The lab may be used Monday through Friday, 7:30 - 5:30 PM when class is not being held in the lab. Evening or Saturday access to the GIS lab may be arranged by contacting the course instructor during the first week of class.
Please be aware that you are responsible for obtaining access to ArcGIS and its extensions and for installing the software on your PC.
Students are required to have software that creates and reads Microsoft Word files (*.doc), PowerPoint files (*.ppt) and Excel files (*.xls), such as Microsoft Office XP/2003/2007. Students taking the course Digital Image Processing are required to purchase a student edition of Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE. Students are responsible for installing the software on their PC.
Please view the hardware requirements.
All Northwest on-line courses use eCollege (sm). For browser requirements, visit Northwest Online and click on "Technical Information." Please note that the hardware requirements listed under "Technical Information" are not adequate for running ArcGIS. ArcGIS does not run under Macintosh OS or under Windows 95, 98, 98SE, or ME.