Computer System Requirements for Online Courses

Operating System-Mandatory Requirements

  • Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/NT
  • Mac OS 9.x, OS X, 10.1

Web Browsers

Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/NT

  • Netscape 4.76 and 6.2.1
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher and 6.0, excluding IE 5.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • AOL 7.0 - Note: AOL 7.0 does not function with Chat/Whiteboard

Mac OS 9.x

  • Netscape 4.76 and 6.2.1
  • Internet Explorer 5.0
  • AOL 7.0- Note: AOL 7.0 does not function with Chat/Whiteboard

Mac OS X 10.1

  • Netscape 4.76 and 6.2.1
  • Internet Explorer 5.1
  • AOL 7.0 - Note: AOL 7.0 does not function with Chat/Whiteboard

Hardware — Highly Recommended

  • Personal computer with a 486/66 or higher processor (Pentium 90 or higher — recommended)

  • CD-ROM drive (to be able to install from CD and for language study)

  • At least 50 Megabyte (MB) of free hard disk space (200 MB or more — recommended)

  • At least 16 MB of RAM (32 MB or more — recommended)

  • DSL Line, Modem or permanent Internet connection is mandatory
    (33.6 Kbps data transfer rate or faster is recommended)

Software - Highly Recommended

Anti-Virus: Download sites—

Adobe Acrobat Reader: (to read pdf files).

An acceptable version can be downloaded at no cost from the following web site:
www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

MicroSoft Powerpoint Viewer:

An acceptable version can be downloaded at no cost from the following web site: http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx

Microsoft Word:

If you are not using Microsoft Office software on your computer, there are free viewers from Microsoft which enable you to view specific files in WebCT that have been created in the Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access and Project. If you are a Mac user, these viewers are also recommended. The web site is: http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx

E-Mail:

  • www.fepg.net has a list of over one thousand email options.

Internet Access (An Internet Service Provider) — Mandatory:

There are several acceptable free Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) available in the continental United States and some in Canada. These may include (but are not limited to):