Technical Information

To see if your computer meets the general requirements for online classes, use our quick, automated system checkup and review the links below. For additional technical information and support, go to Technical Help. Before you enroll in a course, make sure you have access to a computer and Internet connection that meet the requirements.

NOTE: Some eCampus courses have specific technical requirements in addition to the general requirements listed below. Check course descriptions and course information pages for these requirements.

• General information
• Minimum hardware specifications
• Recommended hardware specifications
• Operating system requirements
• Internet connection requirements
• Browser requirements
• Plugins
• Firewalls
• Help

SPC and eCampus do not recommend any particular brand of computer for online course work, but your equipment should meet the requirements described below. If your home computer doesn't meet them, there are a number of other places you can find a suitable computer.

• SPC's computer labs and Information Commons are open every day, with computers available for students. Use the Campus Locator Map to find the campus nearest you, and contact information@spcollege.edu for computer lab hours.
• If you don't live near an SPC campus, check with your local public library or any cybercafes in your area.
• To explore purchasing a new computer of your own, check out discounts available at SPC's Computer Connection.

• Dial-up, DSL or cable Internet connection. Some course features, such as video segments, may load slowly or incompletely when a dial-up connection is used. In addition, some courses require a cable connection for certain assignments. Check the course description and course information page for specific requirements before you enroll.

• Windows Operating Systems:
  
  Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 or above is the recommended browser to use with ANGEL, which is the software program eCampus uses to deliver online courses. You can download the latest version of IE free.
  
  Netscape Navigator 7.1 or above. You can download the latest version of Netscape free.
  
  America Online 10.0 or above. If you are using an earlier version, download Version 10.0 from your AOL homepage.
  
  
• Macintosh Operating Systems:
  
  Firefox 1.x or higher
  
  
• WebTV: WebTV is not compatible with the software used in online courses..
  
  

If your course material includes audio, video or Flash files, you may need to download some browser plug-ins to access these materials. (Plugins are small software add-ons that enable your Internet browser to correctly display certain types of video and animation.) Use our automated system checkup tool to make sure your computer's browser meets online course requirements. If your computer doesn't have the necessary plugins, the tool provides links that go directly to sites where you can download the plugins free of charge.

If you plan to access your online course from an office that has a firewall, you may have difficulty with the course software program, ANGEL. Contact your company's Information Systems (IS) department and discuss the issue with them. Make sure you have any problems solved before the course begins.

If the firewall problem can't be solved, you may want to consider using a computer at another location to take your course. (See options listed above.)

For additional technical information and support, go to Technical Help.