In order to take an online course, there are certain requirements that you need to consider. You will need:
- Access to a computer (Windows or Macintosh)
- Access to the Internet
- An Internet Browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Safari)
You may need:
- DVD Player - Some online courses have lectures and supplemental material on DVD
- Webcam & Microphone - Some courses may have interactive video and/or audio chats
- iPad - Some courses may require the use of an iPad for instructional activities (See note at the bottom of this section).
Since online courses are based on technology, you should have access to a reasonably new computer. A general rule is that if your computer is fewer than two years old, it will fit the requirements for taking an online course. Specific (minimum & recommended) requirements are listed below:
Recommended
|
Minimum |
- Operating System – Windows 7
- Processor – Intel Core i3 (or AMD equivalent) or better
- Hard Drive – 250 GB or better
- Internet Connection – High Speed DSL or Cable Modem
|
- Operating System – Windows Vista or better
- Processor – Intel Core2Duo (or AMD equivalent) or better
- Hard Drive – 100 GB or better
- Internet Connection – High Speed DSL or Cable Modem
|
| Recommended |
Minimum
|
- Operating System – Mac OS 10.5 or better
- Processor – Any Intel based system
- Hard Drive – 250 GB or better
- Internet Connection – High Speed DSL or Cable Modem
|
- Operating System – Mac OS 10.4 or better
- Processor – Any Intel based system
- Hard Drive – 100 GB or better
- Internet Connection – High Speed DSL or Cable Modem
|
We do not recommend netbooks for participation in online courses. These computers are generally underpowered for use of multimedia in many of the courses offered.
We also do not recommend using Linux based systems as some media may not be compatible with this operating system.
In order to take a distance or online course there are a few free software packages that you will need. Click on the links below to download the most current versions of these software packages and plug-ins.
The software packages below are not required for your distance or online course. The are provided as additional resources you may choose to download.