ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To apply, you must have ONE of the following:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Two years of college education and professional experience in a field such as planning, engineering, environmental science, utilities, resource management or branches of business that require spatial analysis
You must also have:
- Familiarity with the fundamental concepts of data analysis and statistics
- Education or professional experience with GIS fundamentals and spatial data formats
- Ability to use ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap or a comparable GIS software for basic functions, such as spatial and attribute queries, map overlay and map display
- Familiarity with ArcGIS Online
If you’re new to GIS and need help meeting the GIS requirements (or simply want to brush up on your skills), we recommend the independent study courses below.
These free Esri online courses and tutorials will help you gain the essential and fundamental knowledge you’ll need to be admitted to this certificate program. If you complete the two required courses and at least one elective course from the list below, you’ll earn Esri certificates of completion that can be used to demonstrate that you meet admission requirements:
For the above courses, you'll need ArcGIS Pro, which is available for free for a 21-day trial period if you have a professional affiliation and email address that you can use. Otherwise, you can purchase a $100 ArcGIS for Personal Use license, which is valid for a year for personal, non-commercial use, and includes the most popular ArcGIS Pro extensions.
The following textbook is recommended for optional preparatory study:
- Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro 3.2. This textbook introduces readers to ArcGIS Pro, the world’s most powerful desktop GIS. It walks readers through exploring ArcGIS Online, using 3D GIS, building a geodatabase, creating maps for web and physical presentations, and more.
Time Commitment
Including time in class, you should expect to spend about 10 to 15 hours each week on coursework.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. To see if you qualify, make sure you are at the B2 level on the CEFR self-assessment grid. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Noncredit Programs.
International Students
International students are welcome to apply to an online offering of this program, which doesn’t require a visa. To enroll in a classroom offering, you must have a visa that permits study in the United States. This program does not enable students to obtain or maintain F-1 visa status. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
- Access to a recent computer (no more than five years old) with:
- Windows operating system* (MacOS is discouraged, see below)
- At least 32GB of RAM
- 32GB or more of available disk space
- Recent web browser
- Ability to use Esri’s GIS software platform (free license for software provided via the UW for the duration of the program)
- The computer should meet the system requirements identified on the ArcGIS Pro website.
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset and webcam (recommended)
* The software you'll use in this program is designed specifically for Windows. MacOS is highly discouraged as you would need to install and configure Windows emulation software in order to run the Esri ArcGIS software. Also, technical support is limited for this option, and we can't guarantee the product will work as intended.
Earning the Certificate
You earn a certificate of completion by successfully completing all required courses. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.