Technology Requirements - Courses

Additional Software and Hardware Requirements

In the Purdue Global online learning environment, computer software and hardware allows you to communicate clearly and effectively with faculty, staff, and other students. It is the vehicle by which you submit all course assignments. Without the appropriate software and hardware, you will not be able to access course materials, collaborate with faculty, and complete assignments for submission and grading.

Along with the technology requirements, all students should review and be aware of any additional software and hardware requirements for their classes prior to enrollment. Please review the following information carefully. If you have questions about these requirements or about whether your current software or hardware is appropriate for a class in which you would like to enroll, contact your Student Support Specialist at 866-522-7747. If you need to purchase additional software, please see the Recommended Software Vendor section for information about discounted student rates.

Open College at Purdue University Global

In addition to Purdue Global's technology requirements, students must possess the following computer hardware prior to enrolling in Open College at Purdue University Global: sound card with speakers, webcam, and microphone.

Course Requirements

Some courses have additional software and hardware requirements. All students should review the chart below carefully, as well as any software or hardware requirements specified on the online course pages or in communications from your instructor. Please check to ensure that your computer meets the minimum requirements needed to run any additional software. All software and hardware requirements are subject to change.

All arts and sciences courses require Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer, available as a free download (if you do not have PowerPoint already) from this page. In addition, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Communication program must have access to a computer with a built-in microphone and webcam or an external headset with a microphone and an external webcam. Please note: Purdue Global's Support and Solutions Team is not available to offer guidance or technical support concerning the use of microphones or webcams. Students should understand how to operate the built-in features and/or external equipment prior to using them in the classroom environment.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN to BSN and graduate nursing programs will utilize Shadow Health software throughout the program. The current, one-time fee is $99 and is paid directly to Shadow Health. Course syllabi will provide directions to students to purchase the software. Please note: Purdue Global's Support and Solutions Team is not available to offer guidance or technical support concerning the use of Shadow Health. Shadow Health provides technical support for students.

Undergraduate Courses

    • AB122: Payroll Accounting: Computerized Payroll Accounting Software (comes w/ textbook)
    • AB209: Small Business Management: Quicktime™
    • AC122: Payroll Accounting: Computerized Payroll Accounting Software (comes w/ textbook)
    • CJ290: Confronting Terrorism Today: Windows Media Player® or Real Player® is required for viewing videos.
    • CJ407: Crisis Negotiation: Windows Media Player® or Real Player® is required for viewing videos.
    •  CM214: Public Speaking for the Professional: Webcam and related software—audio and video recording required for course
    •  CM313: Tools for the Digital Age: Webcam and related software—audio and video recording required for course
    •  CM405: Communicating Persuasively: Webcam and related software—audio and video recording required for course
    •  CM460: Strategic Communication: Webcam and related software—audio and video recording required for course
    • FS101: Fire Behavior and Combustion: Adobe Flash Player®; Adobe Acrobat Reader® is required for viewing PDF files.
    • FS102: Building Construction for Fire Protection: You will need access to a camera to send pictures as part of Discussion requirements.
    • FS103: Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply: Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view video segments.
    • FS104: Fire Protection Systems: Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view video segments.
    • FS105: Fire Prevention Practices: Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view video segments.
    • FS204: Occupational Safety and Health for Emergency Services: There are video clips throughout this course. You will need Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view these video segments.
    • FS205: Ethics for the Fire and Emergency Services: Adobe Acrobat Reader® is required for viewing PDF files.
    • FS302: Advanced Principles of Firefighter Safety and Survival: There are video clips throughout this course. You will need Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view these video segments. 
    • FS304: Community Risk Reduction for Fire and EMS Windows: There are video clips throughout this course. You will need Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view these video segments.
    • FS320: Recovery Practices in Emergency Management: There are video clips throughout this course. You will need Windows Media Player® and Quicktime™ to view these video segments.  
    • FS403: Leadership and Management: You will need access to a PC microphone.
    • BU486: Independent Directed Study VI: Built-in computer microphone or students must purchase a headset with microphone.
    • HS305: Research Methods For Health Sciences:  You will be using Tableau Data Visualization Software. Your instructor will provide instructions for obtaining this free software during the course.
    • HS312: Epidemiology and Biostatistics II: PSPP Software is required. A free download is available.
    • IT111: Programming Fundamentals for Beginners: Alice 3.0, © Carnegie Mellon University, available as a free download from http://www.alice.org/index.php
    • IT117: Introduction to Website Development: Latest version of the following browsers: Microsoftreg; Internet Explorer®; Firefox®, or Safari (for MAC® users) Web hosting service to display your course work. You will have the option of using the free Web Server.
    • IT163: Database Concepts: Microsoft® Access® 2013 is required. This course uses Microsoft Access 2013. If you do not have a copy of Microsoft Access you may obtain a free copy of Access from the Microsoft Imagine™ Premium web store. If you do not already have an account, you will need to sign up for one. You may complete the Microsoft Imagine Premium Account Request form and an account will be created for you. You will need to know your student email address. If you do not know it, please check your email by clicking on the gmail link located in the upper right hand corner of your student portal. This is used to build your account. Speak with the Office of Student Support for additional information.
    • IT213: Software Development Concepts—Introductory: Depends on student's choice of language. Eclipse for Java or Web Development, available from http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/updates/. Visual Studio for C#, available from the Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3
    • IT214: Foundations of Web Design: A clean editor such as NotePad™ or TextEdit™ is required for this course. Server space will be provided.
    • IT227: Cloud Infrastructure Administration: A program that allows the student to connect to a remote server over SSH. These are often called "shells." Free examples include PuTTY on Windows or Terminal on MacOS.
    • IT232: Software Design and Development Concepts—Intermediate: Depends on student's choice of language. Eclipse for Java or Web Development, available from http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/updates/. Visual Studio for C#, available from the Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3
    • IT234: Database Foundations: SQL Server Express available for download at
      https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server-editions/sql-server-express.aspx Server Express available for download at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server-editions/sql-server-express.aspx.
    • IT247: Fundamentals of Web Graphics: Students are required to download GIMP™ and Inkscape™. Details and free download information are provided in the course. The ability to take photographs either from a digital camera, tablet, or cell phone is required.
    • IT261: Desktop Administration: Optional: VirtualBox® – Open Source Software for Virtualization – Download VirtualBox for Windows Hosts. http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
    • IT273: Networking Concepts: Microsoft Visio® will be required in this class. Version: Any version of Visio from 2007–2013 is acceptable.
    • IT275: Linux System Administration: Virtualization Software (VMWare®, Virtual Box ® or Virtual PC ®). Hardware requirements: A minimum of 30 GB of hard disk space and a minimum of 4 GB RAM.
    • IT278: Network Administration: Microsoft Windows Server® 2016/R2;Windows Server 2016 is provided free on the Microsoft Imagine™ website for all IT students. Sign up for an account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3. Hardware requirements: A minimum of 30 GB of hard disk space and a minimum of 4 GB RAM. Version: Microsoft Windows Server® 2016/R2
    • IT283: Networking with TCP/IP: Wireshark® protocol analyzer (free download); Screen capture software
    • IT299: Associates Capstone in Information Technology: Microsoft Project®; Microsoft Visio®; All students have access to a Microsoft Imagine™ Premium account. Sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • IT301: Project Management I: Microsoft Imagine™ account for access to Microsoft Project® software. Sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • IT302: Human Computer Interaction: A microphone is required. Audio file creation software (several free tools are suggested in the course) is required; Microsoft Visio is recommended, but other true wireframing tools are acceptable. Note that Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Paint, and the tools in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are not acceptable.
    • IT303: Application Development, Virtualization, and the Cloud: Software: Microsoft® SQL Server®, Oracle® VirtualBox™, Imagine™ account; Hardware: A minimum of 30 GB of hard disk space and a minimum of 2 GB RAM
    • IT304: A program that allows the student to connect to a remote server over SSH. These are often called "shells". Free examples include PuTTY on Windows or Terminal on MacOS.
    • IT350: Structured Query Languages: SQL Server 2012 Express and SQL Server Management Studio; Version SQL Server 2012
    • IT374: Linux System Administration II: You may need VirtualBox™ (free download) or Microsoft® Virtual PC® 2007 (free download) or VMWare® Player or Server (free editions), if you intend to install your Linux software as a virtual operating system. CentOS and UbuntuLinux Software. You can download CD images from www.centos.org and www.ubuntu.org. Your systems must be capable of installing the CentOS and UbuntuLinux operating system as a stand-alone operating system, a dual-boot, or as a virtual operating system using VirtualBox or Virtual PC or VMWare. Recommended operating system is CentOS 6.2 Live DVD and Ubuntu Server 12.1 or current images. The ISO images can be downloaded from the Centos and Ubuntu organization websites.
    • IT391: Advanced Software Development Including Web and Mobility: Depends on student's choice of language. Java, or Web Development:
      Eclipse and Codename One for Java. C# - Visual Studio and Xamarin.
      For C#, the development environment is Visual Studio 2017 configured to include mobile applications (Xamarin).
    • IT401: Project Management II: MS Project® 2010. Note that MS Project is available by creating a Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3. 
    • IT402: IT Consulting Skills: Microsoft Visio® is required. Mac users will need to set up a Windows environment to use Visio; information is given in the course. Microsoft Project is required. Note that MS Project is available by creating a Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3. A microphone is required.
    • IT458: Oracle Database Administration: Oracle® 11g Enterprise Edition: Available for download at http://www.oracle.com/-technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/-downloads/index.html  Version: Oracle® 11g Enterprise Edition
    • IT 460: Microsoft Visio; Microsoft Project®; Microsoft Visio®; All students have access to a Microsoft Imagine™ Premium account. Sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • IT478: Web Servers and Security: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Enterprise Edition preferred); available from the Microsoft Imagine™ website. Sign up for an account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • IT481: Advanced Software Development: Depends on student's choice of language. Eclipse for Java or Web Development, available from http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/updates/. Visual Studio for C#, available from the Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • IT482: Network Design: OPNET IT Guru Academic Edition. Download this free software from the OPNET website, as directed in Unit 2. Adobe Acrobat Reader®
    • IT488: Software Product Development Using Agile: Depends on student's choice of language. Eclipse for Java or Web Development, available from http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/updates/. Visual Studio for C#, available from the Microsoft Imagine™ account at https://goo.gl/forms/DaJO90xPmuHHc6BD3.
    • MA260: Clinical Competencies I: Web access to SimCharts via Evolve
    • MA265: Online Clinical Competencies I: Web access to SimCharts via Evolve
    • MA270: Clinical Competencies II: Web access to SimCharts via Evolve
    • MT209: Small Business Management: Quicktime™
    • MT217: Finance: Requires extensive use of the Time Value of Money calculator
    • MT357: E-Marketing for the Non-Business Professional: You will be creating presentations with free Prezi™ software
    • MT434: Requires downloading and installing the most current corporate version of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
    • MT437: Requires downloading and installing the most current corporate version of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. $36 fee.
    • MT477: Requires downloading and installing the most current corporate version of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. $36 fee.
    • MT499: Bachelor's Capstone in Management: QuicktimeTM
    • MO260: Medical Office Applications: The Virtual Medical Office Online Simulation. Adobe Flash Player® for multimedia presentations and animations.

  • The Unity Web Player is a free Web application that you must install in order to use the Shadow Health™ Digital Clinical Experience™. Instructions are within the course

    Shadow Health’s Digital Clinical Experiences require the use of a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse or touchpad. However, if you are currently unable to use the DCE due to a visual or motor impairment, please contact the Shadow Health Learner Support team. at Support@ShadowHealth.com

    Computer speakers or PC headphones are required in order to listen to narration and/or normal and abnormal sounds within the concept labs.

    Tina Jones™ presents auditory and visual information representative of a human patient. To address auditory accessibility, Tina's speech is presented as both audio and text displayed at the bottom of the screen, except in instances where the textual representation would distinguish physical findings (e.g. textual descriptions of breathing sounds). If you require a transcription of these instances due to an auditory impairment, please contact the Shadow Health Learner Support team at Support@ShadowHealth.com.

    The use of virtualization technologies (i.e. VMware, Bootcamp, Parallels) is currently unsupported when using the Digital Clinical Experience

    • PA335: Trial And Courtroom Presentation: SmartDraw® Legal 2014 ASIN: 1935341049
    • SC360: Energy and Our Global Climate: Adobe Acrobat Reader®; Adobe Flash Player® (to view multimedia presentations); Java™

Graduate Courses

    • GB500: Business Perspectives: Master of Business Administration students will pay a one-time fee of $45 as part of GB 500 (Marketplace Business Fundamentals Simulation).
    • GB513: Business Analytics: Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus, which is available as a free, renewable subscription to active, enrolled students at Purdue Global.
    • GB590: Ethics in Business and Society: EthicsGame Simulation
    • GB601: MBA Capstone: Master of Business Administration students will pay a one-time fee of $50.00 as part of GB 601 (Marketplace Strategy and Business Policy Simulation).
    • IX536: Design and Development Tools: You will need to access CourseSites by Blackboard™ at https://www.coursesites.com/
    • IX542: Multimedia Development and Implementation: Media production software. Additional information is given in the course.
    • IX564: Design of Learning Environments: Quicktime™
    • IX565: Design of Learning Environments: Quicktime™
    • IT504: Critical Concepts and Competencies for the IT Professional: Students must have a microphone for this course.
    • IT510: System Analysis and Design: Microsoft Project 2010 & Visio recommended. Available from the Microsoft Imagine™ account.
    • IT511: Information Systems Project Management: Microsoft® Project® 2013 is required. It is available at no cost via your Microsoft Imagine™ account.
    • IT523: MS SQL Server Enterprise or Developer Version with MS SQL Server Management Studio, MS Visual Studio and MS SQL SQL Server Data Tools.
      MS SQL Server Data Tools includes Analysis Services, SQL Server Reporting Services, and Integration Services.
    • IT527: Foundations in Data Analytics: Students will need to download and install two free software applications, in order:
      R base system: https://cloud.r-project.org/
      R Studio: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download
    • IT528: Students will need to download and install two free software applications, in order:
      R base system: https://cloud.r-project.org/
      R Studio: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download
    • IT599: Applied IT Master Project: MS Project® 2010. Note that MS Project is available by creating a Microsoft Imagine™ account.
    • LS621: Federalism and the Health Care Delivery System: Real Media Player® (to listen to audio summaries)
    • MM570: Applied Statistics for Psychology: IBM® SPSS® Statistics Base GradPack for 6 months or 1 year, SPSS Grad Pack (Stand.) 23.0 for 1 Year (Sw)2015 Cost: $98.50
    • MT434: Logistics and Distribution Management: Requires downloading and installing the most current corporate version of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
    • MT437: Strategic Warehouse Management: Requires downloading and installing the most current corporate version of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
    • PU699: Master of Public Health Capstone: A Microsoft® PowerPoint® add on called Office Mix® is required. Office 2013 or Office 365 will be required to install Office Mix. Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus is available as a free, renewable subscription to active, enrolled students at Purdue Global.
    • SC540: Biology of Pollution: Adobe Acrobat Reader®; Java™; Adobe Flash Player®

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