Technical Specs
Technical requirements for completing a college course online at DeVry
Sufficient technology and Internet access is required to access online coursework when you take a college course online. The following list will help verify that you are adequately equipped.
- Minimum System Requirements
- Minimum PC Specs for GSP, WGD, and NETW Students
- Minimum PC Specs for non-GSP/WGD Students
- Internet Access
- Email Account
- Plug-Ins
- Computer and Internet Security
- Screen Settings
- Buying a System?
Minimum System Requirements - Undergraduate
(Need Graduate technical specs?)Following is the hardware and software needed to complete your college course online at DeVry:
Operating System: Windows XP (with Service Pack 2), Windows Vista (32-bit recommended for maximum software compatibility).
It is highly recommended that you have administrative rights to the computer used for college online coursework. If you must use a computer over which you do not have administrative rights (such as a library computer or a workplace computer), you may experience difficulties with needed functions, such as installing plug-ins.
MAC OS 10 or higher is supported, but there are some applications that require the Windows OS. You should be prepared to run the Parallels desktop and a Windows OS if you elect to use a MAC system.
Productivity Tools: Microsoft Office 2007 Professional for Windows OR Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. (NOTE: This package will be available to matriculating students at deeply discounted pricing through the Student Software program after you have begun taking courses.)
Internet Access: ISP account for Internet access and email address. (See more on Internet connectivity specifications below.)
Browser: Java-enabled internet browser:
Windows: Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher (Free download available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx)
Windows: Mozilla Firefox 1.2 or higher (Free download available at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)
MAC: Mozilla Firefox 1.3 or higher (Free download at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)
NOTE: The AOL browser, Opera and Safari browsers are NOT currently supported for online coursework. You may use AOL for your ISP, but should use either IE or Firefox with the versions listed above for a browser
Plug-ins: The following are plug-ins are required for many of the resources available in your online courses.
NOTE: We recommend that you obtain the current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader as well as Adobe Digital Editions
Citrix Presentation Server Client
Additional plug-ins and/or downloads will be required by specific courses. The courses will include information for obtaining and installing the appropriate plug-ins.
Computer Security (Windows): Anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware
Recommended and supported:
- McAfee Virus Scan 8.5
- Windows Internet Connection Firewall
- Windows Defender Anti-Spyware
NOTE: McAfee VirusScan 8.5 will be available for free download from the Student Software site after you have started your classes.
Minimum PC Specifications for GSP, WGD, and NETW Students:
- Pentium® 4 Processor 540 w/HT Technology (3.2GHz, 800FSB)
- 512 meg RAM (1 GB recommended for optimal performance)
- Graphics card/128 meg RAM/1024x768x16 bit color
- High speed broadband connection to the Internet
- CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive
- Hard drive: 80 gig - 6.2 hrs of digital video
- Stereo sound card, speakers and/or headset, microphone
- Monitor - 1024 x 768
Minimum PC Specifications for non-GSP/WGD Students
- Pentium 4 Processor or equivalent AMD with 512MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)
- 20GB Hard Disk space available after Operating System install
- One of the following: Ethernet connection and cable or DSL modem, wireless or satellite Internet, or 56K modem for Internet connection. (See recommendations on Internet connection below.)
- CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive - Note that some software may require a DVD drive for installation.
- Sound capabilities with speakers and/or headset and a microphone
- A Webcam may be required in some courses. Check with your academic advisor.
NOTE: Specific curricula for a college course may require additional software purchases. Check with your instructor to make sure you have all of the necessary software for your course.
Computer specifications are reviewed and revised every six months to accommodate changes in technology. While every attempt is made to ensure that these specifications satisfy all curricular needs for students completing a college course online, DeVry reserves the right to require upgrades in the event of technology changes. Students will be given 90 days notice before such changes are implemented.
Note: Courseware cannot be accessed using Web TV. For questions regarding these requirements, please contact the Help Desk at 877-784-1997.
NOTE: Students who need assistive technologies will have different computer and technology requirements. Please check with your Student Services counselor to determine the requirements for the specific technologies needed to support your coursework.
Internet Access
Internet access is required to participate in online components of your college courses online at DeVry. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) will provide you with the software and access necessary to utilize the Internet in order of preference:
- Recommended: LAN, Cable, or DSL connection. Highly recommended for optimal student experience. Required for the GSP program.
- 56K Dial-up connection. Many course components will have suboptimal performance when accessed through a 56K dial-up connection.
- Satellite and/or Wireless Internet connection. Satellite and wireless connections are not recommended. Performance may be suboptimal due to latency and signal instability.
If AOL is your ISP, you must use the Internet Explorer or Firefox browser, rather than the default AOL browser, to complete coursework in a college course online. Simply launch the appropriate browser after logging onto your AOL account.
If you connect to the Internet through your company, you may need to ensure that appropriate plug-ins and access rights are available to you. Check with your IT department to ensure that you may access course materials from your company’s network.
Email Account
A valid email address, which is checked frequently, is required for participation in online coursework. All students are provided with an email address that we recommend you use. This will avoid issues with Spam blockers and other problems that may prevent you from receiving email from your instructors. It will also enable you to participate in special student offers that are available only to students with a ".edu" email address. If you change your email address, you must supply the correct address to Student Services.
Plug-ins
All plug-ins needed to participate in online coursework are available free of charge. It is recommended that you review the list of plug-ins and install them prior to beginning your coursework.
Computer and Internet Security
The ease and convenience of online education through the World Wide Web brings with it the need to ensure that our computers do not become targets for unwanted and often malicious attacks and intrusions by computer viruses and/or hackers. To prevent this, we recommend using an anti-virus package and a corporate or personal firewall.
Your computer is subject to virus attack whether you're surfing the Internet or getting information from floppy disks, CDs or a network. Email attachments are particularly vulnerable.
McAfee Virus Scan is one of the most popular and effective anti-virus programs on the market. This product offers the security of automatic protection against viruses, malicious ActiveX controls and Java applets and other dangerous code. This program also offers automatic retrieval of new anti virus definitions for updating. Since an anti-virus program is no better than its virus definitions, virus definitions should be updated regularly, preferably on a monthly basis. McAfee Virus Scan is available for download through the Student Software site at http://devry.e-Academy.com.
Personal firewalls are another means to protect your computer from malicious activity when you are connected to the Internet. Windows comes with a built-in personal Firewall. It is recommended that you enable the Windows Internet Connection Firewall and learn how to use this application to protect your computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.
More information from Microsoft.
Screen Settings
Your screen resolution (size) should be set at minimum 1024 x 768 or higher.
Buying a System?
If you are purchasing a new system, the following are the specifications for all new computers purchased by DeVry for student labs. This may provide you with a guideline for configuring your new system. .
Laptop
Operating system - Genuine Windows Vista® Business or Windows XP Professional (SP2) Processor -.
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7300 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 4MB L2 cache)
OR
AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology Processor, TL-64 (2.2 GHz, 2x512-KB L2 cache) - Memory - 2 GB
- Hard drive - 120GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
- Optical drive - DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive
- Video graphics - Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, up to 384 MB of shared memory
- Wireless LAN - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
- Battery - 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery
Desktop
- Operating system - Genuine Windows XP Professional OS
- Processor - Intel® Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.86/1066/2M)
- Memory - 2GB PC2-5300 (DDR2-667)
- Hard drive - 80GB SATA 3.0Gb/s
- Optical drive - 16X DVD+/-RW Drive (LS/DL) - SATA
- Video/graphics - Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000
- Network card - Integrated Intel 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection
- Keyboard - USB Standard Keyboard
- Mouse - USB 2-Button Optical Scroll Mouse
- Power supply - dc7700 CMT chassis E-Star 3.0
- Monitor - 19-inch TFT Flat Panel Display w/ Contrast ratio - 500:1 Contrast Ratio
GSP Student Notebook
- Operating system - Windows XP Professional
- Processor - Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.2 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 4MB L2 cache)
- Display - 15.4-inch WUXGA display
- Memory - 2GB 667MHz DDR SDRAM
- Video memory - 256MB video memory (512MB TurboCache) - NVIDIA
- Hard drive - 120GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
- Optical drive - DVD +/- RW drive with Lightscribe
- Modem - 56K modem
- Network card - 10/100/1000 NIC
- Wireless LAN - Intel 802.11a/b/g/
- Battery - 8-cell Lithium-Ion battery
- Centrino Pro - Intel® Centrino® Pro processor technology
GSP Desktop
- Operating system - Genuine Windows® XP Professional SP2
- Processor - Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6600 2.40 GHz, 4 MB, 1066 MHz FSB
- Video Card - GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP
- Memory - HP 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 ECC RAM
- Hard drive - 60GB WD Raptor SATA NCQ 10K
- Optical drive - 16X DVD+/-RW SuperMulti -SATA
- Keyboard - USB Standard Keyboard
- Mouse - USB Optical Scroll mouse
- Network card - Integrated Broadcom 5755 NetXtreme Gigabit PCIe
- Sound card - Integrated High Definition audio with Jack Retasking technology
- Monitor - 20-inch Wide TFT Flat Panel (600:1 Contrast Ratio)
