2026 - 2027 Catalog
Technical Requirements
Students are required to have personal laptops for classroom and online learning experiences, and for any other educational activity. Having the accessibility of a laptop allows students to stay connected with their classmates and faculty throughout their courses. Technology requirements for student laptops for all programs are listed below.
Please read this information carefully, as you must ensure that your computer is properly configured.
Please note that some courses require the use of software that is not compatible with Mac® computers. If you use a Mac, you may need to attend a campus, use a PC, or run the software in Windows® emulation mode to complete some required course activities and assignments.
1. 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.
- Chromebooks, Android devices, tablets, and mobile phones have limited compatibility with educational platforms and will not meet the minimum technological requirements, either in software or hardware, and cannot be supported by the IT Help Desk.
| Windows® | Mac® |
|---|---|
| Intel® Core i5 10th generation or newer or AMD equivalent. ARM processors are not supported | Intel® Core i5 10th generation or newer or M1 or newer |
| Memory – 8GB of RAM or higher | Memory – 8GB of RAM or higher |
| Windows®11 operating system or newer recommended, minimum of Windows® 10 required | MacOS® Sequoia or newer |
| Disk space – at least 256GB available 500 GB preferred | Disk space – at least 500MB available |
| Virtual Machine or Bootcamp with ability to run Windows 10 | |
| Installed copy of Microsoft® Office – Microsoft 365 licenses are provided for all enrolled students | Installed copy of Microsoft® Office – Microsoft 365 licenses are provided for all enrolled students |
2. Additional Technical Requirements
Web Browser Requirements:
The following web browsers are formally supported and tested:
| Windows® | Mac® |
|---|---|
| Google® Chrome, preferred | Google® Chrome, preferred |
| Microsoft® Edge | Safari® |
Other
- Java®, if required
- Adobe Reader®
- Wired headset or wired earbuds if needed; wireless devices are not permitted
- Webcam for virtual lectures and exams, as applicable
- Cookies* enabled on browsers.
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 wired headset with a microphone. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have access to a wired headset and microphone for all programs and coursework (built-in microphones are sufficient).
3. School of Design Computer Requirements
3. School of Design Computer Requirements
| Windows® | Mac® |
|---|---|
Required:
Memory:
| Required:
Memory:
|
4. School of Technology Computer Requirements
| Windows® | Mac® |
|---|---|
| Intel® Dual Core i5 current generation or higher (or equivalent) CPUs must support SSE4.2 and POPCNT instruction sets Windows® 10 (OS provided license through Microsoft® student downloads site) 8GB of RAM (12GB–16GB recommended) 500GB hard drive (1TB recommended) | Intel® Dual Core i current generation or higher MacOS® v12.6 Monterey or newer 8GB of RAM (12GB–16GB 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. |
Every student is expected to be proficient and responsible with the technology required for their education; this includes:
- Learning Management Systems
- Rasmussen e-mail: Enrolled students are given a Rasmussen student e-mail address.
This is the official e-mail address used to communicate with students. This is the
e-mail address that students will use to communicate with faculty and staff. Students
should check their Rasmussen e-mail at least daily.
- E-mail services should only be used for academic communications. Students’ use of e-mail should not interfere with others’ use of the systems and network. E-mail use shall comply with all federal and state laws and all academic unit policies.
- IT Help Desk:While students are welcome and encouraged to contact the IT
services available through their campuses for assistance, issues that cannot be
resolved locally are escalated to the support team that manages the learning
management system. This team can be reached by phone or email:
- For assistance, contact Classroom IT Support at 833-606-1909 or [email protected]
- Student Portal: Students are required to utilize the Student Portal throughout their
program. It will be used to post vital information, send reminders and access the
Student Account Center. It is the responsibility of the student to access the Student
Portal to:
- Access their courses in learning management systems
- Access course resources, including the library and tutoring support
- View the academic calendar
- Read news postings, including Campus Closure alerts
- Access career services information
- Utilize 24/7 tech support and troubleshooting the learning management systems
- Access the Student Account Center to:
- Access unofficial transcripts
- Update personal contact information
- View the student ledger and pay tuition