System Requirements

Computer and operating system requirements:

• COMPUTER: A chart listing compatible operating systems can be found at this link.
• MEMORY: 256 MB of RAM or more for Windows XP OR 1GB or more RAM for Windows Vista.
• AVAILABLE HARD-DRIVE SPACE: 400-600 MB or more

Web browser and Internet connection requirements:

• WEB BROWSER: A chart listing web browsers compatible with Blackboard, Southwestern's online learning software program, can be found at this link
  • We recommend that you use Firefox as your browser if you use a PC. It is available as a free download: Firefox.
• AMERICA ONLINE USERS: If you are a member of America Online, we suggest that you download the latest Microsoft IE browser and use that instead of the web browser provided by AOL. However, it is highly recommended that you use an Internet Service Provider other than AOL because of incompatibility issues.
• INTERNET CONNECTION: You will need a reliable connection to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you are currently using America Online (AOL), Juno, or any other ISP that utilizes a customized web browser, we suggest that you download the latest Microsoft IE browser and use that instead of the web browser provided by your Internet Service Provider.

Other software requirements

You will need the following software to open, read, unzip, protect, and create documents:

• Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is the official format for class-related documents. The catalog reads as follows: “All seminary students are expected to have regular access to a personal computer and an Internet provider. The seminary uses Microsoft Office, and all papers and documents will be submitted in appropriate formats.”

• There is a special requirement for students taking Internet classes: Students taking Internet courses are required to have Microsoft Word as their word processor.

• Students attending on-campus classes at the Fort Worth campus or at one of our satellite centers are required to have access to a word processor that allows them to submit documents in a format compatible with Microsoft Word.

• WinZip
  WinZip is a tool that extracts files that have been zipped (i.e., reduced in size for delivery via the Internet). If your instructor zips files before he or she sends them, then you will need to purchase this tool. Check with your instructor to see if he or she zips files before you download and purchase this product. The product can be obtained at www.winzip.com.
• Free Adobe Acrobat Reader
  This is a free tool that you can use to read documents that have been saved in the Adobe PDF format. This format retains the formatting of the document so that you see the documents exactly as the instructor designed it. You can download this free tool from the Adobe web site. Once you download and install this program on your computer, you can click on any Adobe PDF document and it will automatically open in the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Free PowerPoint viewer
  This is a free tool that you can use to view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. Not every instructor uses PowerPoint but, if he or she does, you can download this viewer from the Microsoft site. Two viewers are available: one viewer works with PowerPoint 97, 2000, and 2002 documents; another viewer works with PowerPoint 2003 documents. Check with your professor to see which version of PowerPoint he or she is using. Once you download and install this program on your computer, you can click on any PowerPoint file and it will automatically open in the PowerPoint viewer. Be sure to download the PowerPoint viewer.
• Virus Protection software
  You must have virus protection software that has been updated with the latest anti-virus files. The following companies (among others) sell virus protection software for home computers (you can purchase the software online or at your local computer store):

• Microsoft - onecare.live.com/

  Symantec - www.symantec.com/homecomputing/

  McAfee - www.mcafee.com/

  Trend - www.trendmicro.com/