UCSF School of Pharmacy

Microsoft Office Requirement Fall 2008

For students entering in other class years, see Microsoft Office Requirement.

Microsoft Office Requirement

Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are required. Microsoft Outlook and Access are required for Windows users. Microsoft Entourage is required for Mac users.

For Windows

Microsoft Office Basic, Standard, Small Business, Home & Student, and Student and Teacher do not include the required database application called Microsoft Access. These editions do not meet our requirements unless you also purchase Microsoft Access 2003 or Access 2007. See 2007 Microsoft Office system suites for details.

For Mac

The database application called Microsoft Access, which we require for Windows users, is not available for Mac. See the "What if I have a Mac?" sidebar and Office Editions Comparision Chart for details.

About Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac

Mac users: Office 2008 for Mac is available in 3 versions:

1. Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition
2. Office 2008 for Mac
3. Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition

The Home and Student Edition does not connect to Exchange mail servers and consequently will not meet our computer requirements for fall 2008. If you make a purchase, we recommend you select either:

1. Office 2008 for Mac or
2. Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition

Compatibility with Office 2007 and Office 2008

If you're using Office 2004 for Mac, you'll want to install the Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter which enables you to open documents created in Office 2007 for Windows and Office 2008 for Mac.

Service Pack & Critical Updates Required

Your computer should also have the most recent service pack and all critical updates for Office installed from Microsoft Update (Windows) or Check for software updates automatically (Mac).

Microsoft Office Not Provided

Unfortunately, we do not provide Microsoft Office for you, so you are responsible for purchasing it. Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are required. Microsoft Outlook and Access are required for Windows users. Microsoft Entourage is required for Mac users.

Questions?

Send e-mail to Web & Data Services Manager Frank Farm at farmf@pharmacy.ucsf.edu.

Next Software Requirement: Additional Software

What if I have a Mac?

Starting with your first quarter you will be required to complete assignments with Microsoft Access which is not available for Mac OS: Your options:

1. Work at School: You'll have free access to 24-hour computer labs with Windows computers that have Microsoft Access installed. (You'll learn more about these computer labs during Orientation.)
2. Work at Home:
   1. Use Apple Boot Camp, which enables you to restart your Intel-based Mac with Windows Vista or Windows XP instead of OS X.
   2. Use VMWare Fusion, which enables you to run Windows Vista or Windows XP within OS X on your Intel-based Mac.
   3. Use Parallels Desktop for Mac, which enables you to run Windows Vista or Windows XP within OS X on your Intel-based Mac.

   All of these options would require you to purchase a license for either Microsoft Windows Vista or Microsoft Windows XP. And with all of the options above you would still need to purchase a license for either Microsoft Access for Windows or Microsoft Office Professional for Windows to have an essentially equivalent experience.

Where do I buy computer stuff?

You may purchase computer hardware or software from any vendor. We recommend the UCSF campus computer store called The Technology Store because its location on campus at 500 Parnassus is convenient and because students can receive educational discounts on hardware and software. It provides complete computer systems as well as individual items, such as printers, mice, and cables. It also sells a wide variety of software applications.

Older Versions of Microsoft Office

If you have versions of Microsoft Office applications older than our specifications, you must upgrade to meet the requirement. If you meet the requirement except for certain required applications such as Microsoft Access (e.g., if you already have Microsoft Office 2003 Standard), you must make an additional purchase (e.g., Microsoft Access) or upgrade to meet the requirements.