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Minimum Hardware/Software Requirements:

The following are the minimum requirements needed to take a Web-based course. We have attempted to deliver courses via technologies that allow for stimulating and interactive experiences, but are also easily accessible for a majority of students.

If you are using a home computer or laptop you will need:

• Minimum Requirements: 800 MHz, 256 MG RAM, Monitor [800 x 600 min, 1024 x 768 recommended, 16 bit]
• Operating System: Windows 98 or above
• An internet connection (outside of company firewalls - firewalls may cause connection problems using Blackboard and downloading files)
• A web browser ( Internet Explorer (IE) 7 )
  • note: Internet Explorer 7 is the college standard, and works most fluently with Blackboard and the documents provided by your instructors. IE can be downloaded from the Microsoft website free of charge.
  • How to download and install IE:
    1. Make sure that you have +80MB free hard drive space.
    2. Go to the download site linked above (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp).
    3. Mouse over the word Downloads and choose Internet Explorer 7
    4. Choose Run this program from its current location and click OK.
    5. Follow Microsoft's installation directions.
  • NOTE: Javascript & Cookies must be enabled.
• Associated programs recommended by your instructor
  Course material in online course are provided in various computer file formats. The following file types are the most common.

• Microsoft Office 2003 (XP) is the college standard software and may be required to view and transfer files to and from your instructor.
• If you don't have Office 2003 (XP), you will need to download the Powerpoint Viewer, Word Viewer, and Excel Viewer. Follow the same steps as above to download and install.
• Several free plugins are necessary in most courses to view material. Go to the Blackboard 24/7 Help Desk to download the following Browser Plugins:

	Apple Quick Time 6 "The free QuickTime Player is an application for playing, interacting with, or viewing any video, audio, VR, or graphics file that is compatible with QuickTime. This includes MPEG-4, the new standard for digital media, new in QuickTime 6." (Apple Web site)
	Shockwave, Flash & Authorware Macromedia's Shockwave, Flash and Authorware Player plug-ins let you experience automation and entertainment in your Web browser. The new Shockwave 7 provides auto-updating of the player.
	Adobe Acrobat Reader View and print millions of documents on the Web with the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.
	Real Networks RealPlayer Play online audio and video content.
	Microsoft Media Player Windows Media Player supports Windows Media (WMA,ASF), MP3, WAV, MIDI, AVI, and other formats.

 

• If you need assistance with any of these downloads please contact the 24/7 Online Support Center for Shippensburg University or telephone the toll-free number at 1-866-766-5960.
• An activated Shippensburg University e-mail account.
  • Go to, mail.ship.edu to log into your Ship Email Account
  • Find answers to the following questions at SU Microsoft Outlook Site
    • Change your Ark (Ship email) password
    • Having Problems Logging In? (Note: Click this link to "Activate your email account")
    • Having Problems Receiving Email Messages