Computer Hardware & Software Guidelines

Please note that these are minimum requirements, and that our online courses will work more effectively with higher capabilities.

General Requirements

The following recommended specifications suit most our online programs

* Processor: Student computers should have a processor speed of at least 400 MHz. A processor of at least 800 MHz is recommended.

* RAM: Computer memory is directly affected by how many programs are running at any given time. Running multiple applications at once slows a computer’s performance. Therefore, we recommend students have at least 256 Mb of RAM installed.

* Sound: A working sound card and speakers will be required. Some programs also require a headset & microphone.

* Modem: A 56 Kbps modem can be used with our online programs. We do however recommend using a high-speed connection such as DSL or a cable modem.

* Disk Drive: A CD-Rom drive is required for some software installation and program materials.

* Monitor: A monitor with a minimum 800 x 600 resolution is required. It is recommended that students have a monitor with at 1024 x 768 or more.

* Disk Space: 2 GB of disk space is required for software installation.

Certain software components are required for full functionality of our online programs. To run an automatic system check, visit our browser compatibility page.

Internet Browser:

Firefox is recommended for viewing all online courses in blackboard. Other internet browsers include: Internet Explorer and Safari. To download FireFox for free click here

Word Processor:

Microsoft Office is required

Operating System

A Windows operating system is recommended, and our learning system works best for Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Many of our students may have new computers with Windows Vista installed. Blackboard has not yet been certified for use with MS Windows Vista.
Some programs will work on Macintosh OS X platform. For students using a Macintosh computer, the following specifications should be met:

* Mac OS X 10.2 or better (Leopard not yet validated)
* Mac OS X 10.2 for use with Safari 1.0
* Mac OS X 10.3 for use with Safari 1.1 or 1.2

Plug-ins

The following plug-ins are required for use with our online programs: Adobe Reader, JavaScript, Macromedia Flash Player, Shockwave Player, QuickTime Player, RealOne Player, and Windows Media Player. All of these programs are available free of charge from the manufacturers.

Internet Connection

Students will need access to the Internet to connect to the online courses. It is strongly recommended that students subscribe to a high-speed online service provider such as DSL or cable internet. The internet connection is critical in viewing Tegrity video lectures in blackboard.