Technological Requirements

Because Atlantic University’s distance education takes place in an online learning environment, students are expected to have access to technology that is adequate for online courses and completing their required proctored exams*.

Computer Hardware Requirements

PC Users

For PC users, the minimum requirements include Windows 7 or higher with 2GB of RAM or more, Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher, Adobe Acrobat Reader 9 or higher. Additional minimum requirements include a webcam with 1280 x 720 video pixel resolution, a high-speed Internet connection with 1.5 MB per second download and 1.5 MB per second upload or better, and a web browser such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 14.0.1, or Safari 4.

Apple Mac Users

For Mac users, the minimum requirements include MAC OS X or higher, Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher, Adobe Acrobat Reader 9 or higher. Additional minimum requirements include a webcam with 1280 x 720 video pixel resolution, a high-speed Internet connection with 1.5 MB per second download and 1.5 MB per second upload or better, and a web browser such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 14.0.1, or Safari 4. For Mac users, Mac OS X v. 10.7 “Lion” is recommended.

Test Your Computer

Students are encouraged to test their computer set-up by going to Google.com and typing in "Internet Speed Test". Clicking "Run Speed Test" will give you an idea of your upload and download speeds. To run the test, you'll be connected to Measurement Lab (M-Lab) and your IP address will be shared with them. M-Lab conducts the test and publishes all test results to promote internet research. Published information includes each device’s IP address, but doesn’t include information about you as an internet user. M-Lab is a consortium of research, industry and public-interest partners dedicated to providing an open, verifiable measurement platform for global network performance, hosting the largest open Internet performance data-set on the planet and creating visualizations and tools to help people make sense of Internet performance.

More information about Speed Test.

More information about M-Lab.

Special Considerations

Students are responsible for their own electronic devices, operating systems, the speed of their Internet connection, and any third party software downloads.

*Proctored exams require a web camera. Atlantic University's proctor examinations do not support tablets, Chromebooks or Microsoft Surface RT. More information about Proctored examinations can be found upon admittance in the learning management system classrooms.