Technical Requirements
These are the technical requirements necessary for your online courses to run properly. Please read this information carefully, as you must ensure that your computer is properly configured.
Please note, some courses require the use of software that is not Mac compatible. If you use a Mac, you may need to attend a campus, use a PC, or run the software in Windows emulation mode in order to complete some required course activities and assignments.
Basic Computer Requirements
A fully functional Windows computer or Mac computer capable of running a Windows virtual machine is required. Additionally, a high-speed/broadband internet connection is strongly recommended.
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 8th generation or higher | Core i5 8th generation or higher |
| Memory – 8GB of RAM or higher | Memory – 8GB of RAM or higher |
| Windows 10 recommended | OS v10.15 Catalina or newer |
| Disk space – at least 500MB available | Disk space – at least 500MB available |
| Virtual Machine or Bootcamp with ability to run Windows 10 |
School of Technology Computer Requirements
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Intel Dual Core i5 current generation or higher (or equivalent) | Intel Dual Core i5 current generation or higher |
| Windows 10 (OS provided license through Microsoft® student downloads site) | Mac OS v10.12 Sierra or newer |
| 8GB of RAM (12GB–16GB recommended) | 8GB of RAM (12GB–16GB recommended) |
| 500GB hard drive (1TB recommended) | 500GB hard drive (1TB recommended) |
| A Mac computer must be capable of running Microsoft Windows with a virtual machine environment, e.g., VMware® Fusion®, Parallels®, Virtual Box®, etc. |
School of Design Computer Requirements
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 1000 series (or newer) OR Intel 6thGen or newer CPU (Core i7 with hyperthreading recommended) | Apple Silicon (Rosetta2 supported) OR Intel 6thGen or newer CPU (Core i7 with hyperthreading recommended) |
| 16GB of RAM (32GB recommended) | 16GB of RAM (32GB recommended) |
| Windows® 10 or higher | MacOS® v11 Big Sur or newer |
| 512GB HDD or SDD (1TB recommended) | 512GB HDD or SDD (1TB recommended) |
| NVidia GTX 10xx with 4GB of GPU VRAM. Warning: A dedicated graphics card is essential. An Intel HD or Iris graphics chipset may not be sufficient, and may slow or impede your ability to complete some assignments. | AMD Radeon Pro with 2GB of GPU VRAM (4GB or more recommended). Warning: A dedicated graphics card is essential. An Intel HD or Iris graphics chipset may not be sufficient, and may slow or impede your ability to complete some assignments. |
| 1920 x 1080 resolution or better | 1920 x 1080 resolution or better |
Web Browser Requirements
Current versions of either Firefox or Google Chrome are the preferred browsers and will work best.
The following web browsers are formally supported and tested:
- With PCs running Windows OS:
- Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- With Macs running OS X:
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
Cookies Enabled on Browsers
A cookie is a small file that is placed on your computer by the server. Cookies are a very common internet technology used by many websites, such as Amazon or eBay. Your browser has a setting that allows you to control whether you allow cookies or not.
Since cookies are so common, your browser probably already has cookies enabled. If you are unsure whether your browser is set up properly, please call Classroom IT Support at 833-606-1909.
Required Plug-Ins and Software
- Acrobat Reader: Your courses may include .pdf files, which require the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Acrobat is not installed on your computer, please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://get.adobe.com/reader/.
- Microsoft Office: Your courses may require the use of Microsoft Office (such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc). If you do not have Microsoft Office, please call Classroom IT Support at 833-606-1909.
- Anti-Virus Software: It is highly recommended that you obtain anti-virus software to protect your computer and files.
- Audio Equipment: Certain programs, courses, or assessments may include team projects, Live Classrooms, or media-based projects that would require access to a microphone. Additionally, some programs utilize remote testing software that requires access to a headset with a microphone. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have access to a headset and microphone for all programs and coursework (built-in microphones are sufficient).