It is very important to us that you succeed as a student at FNU. As a distance learning program, we rely heavily on technology, which is why it is so important to have the right equipment for your student endeavors. FNU requires that all students own a laptop and a mobile device, and have a high speed Broadband Internet connection. Although it is suggested that students obtain the highest quality products available to them, the following are the minimum technology requirements for the program.
To purchase a new computer you can click one of the links below to take advantage of Dell, Microsoft’s, and Apple’s Higher Educational discounts:
Dell
Microsoft Store for Higher Education
Apple Store for Higher Education
Laptop Hardware Requirements
The "Minimum" requirement is for a student who may already own a laptop.
Processor
- Intel Pentium / Core 2 Duo Processor or higher
- AMD Athlon II / Turion processor or higher
Memory
- 4 GB or more
Hard Disk
- 20 GB of Free Space
Video Card
- 1024x768 resolution or higher;
16-bit color depth or higher
with connector for stand-alone display
Laptop Display
- 11-inch or better
CD/DVD-ROM
- CD-RW and/or DVD
Sound Card
- Any type with microphone and speakers
Headset
- Analog headset with microphone
Webcam
- 800x600 resolution; 30 frames per second (fps)
Mouse & Keyboard
- Any type
Network Hardware
- 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Wireless
- 802.11g
Operating System**
- Windows 7 or newer
- Apple Mac OSC 10.6 or newer
- Up-to-date ChromeOS
Other Software:
- Microsoft Office 2010 or higher including Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac or higher including Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Please visit the Microsoft Store for educational discount prices - Adobe Acrobat Reader
Get Acrobat Reader - Adobe Flash Player
Get Flash Player - Windows Media Player 11 or higher
Get Windows Media Player - Apple Quicktime Player
Get Quicktime - Apple iTunes
Get iTunes - Please be sure to protect your investment with Antivirus Software! Free Virus and Malware protection options are available:
The "Preferred" specificiation is for the student who is purchasing a new laptop.
Processor
- Intel Core i5 or higher
- AMD Phenom II or higher
Memory
- 8 GB or more
Hard Disk
- Solid State Drive with 20 GB of Free Space
Video Card
- 256 MB dedicated to video memory with connector for stand-alone (extended desktop) display
Laptop Display
- 15-inch or better
CD/DVD-ROM
- DVD-RW/Bluray
Sound Card
- Any type with microphone and speakers
Headset
- USB headset with microphone
Webcam
- HD or 720p resolution; 30 frames per second (fps)
Mouse & Keyboard
- Any type
Network Hardware
- 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Wireless
- 802.11g
Operating System**
- Windows 7 or newer
- Apple Mac OSC 10.6 or newer
- Up-to-date ChromeOS
Web Browsers that can be utilized:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 or higher
- Google Chrome Browser
Get Chrome - Mozilla Firefox Internet Browser
Get Firefox - Apple Safari
Get Safari
Internet Connection Requirements:
Broadband Internet connection (DSL or cable modem); upload/download speeds of 1.5Mb down/768Kb up minimum (the faster, the better). Please test your internet speeds by running a speedtest at SpeedTest.net to determine if your internet service meets this requirement.
Screen Readers:
Macintosh: VoiceOver (latest version for Safari)
PC: JAWS (latest version for Internet Explorer)
PC: NVDA (latest version for Firefox)
There is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome
Mobile Requirements:
Courses at FNU are enhanced with media enhanced with media that can be downloaded to your mobile device. Additionally, your coursework will involve using applications on these devices, and they will be utilized in your clinical rotation. Therefore it is required for students to own a mobile device so that they may take advantage of these offerings. Devices that satisfy this requirement are:
Android
Versions 2.2 or later
16GB or higher
iPhone
Version 4; 16GB or higher
original (first generation) and 3G iPhones cannot be supported
iPad
Second Generation; 16GB or higher
iPad Mini
16GB or higher
What’s the difference?
All devices offer internet browsing and handheld computing with third-party applications (“apps.”). The iPhone, of course, also offers wireless phone service. With an iPhone, users can access the Internet over the cellular network, but must pay a monthly data fee along with the phone bill. With a standard tablet, users must be connected to a wireless network in order to access the Internet, but there is no monthly fee. The iPad has an option for either.
Which one should I get?
Good question. It really depends on your personal preference towards an Android or Apple device. FNU supports both Apple and Android mobile devices and these mobile devices will be used throughout your educational career at the university.
Please bring both your laptop and mobile device with you to Frontier Bound. Both will be used in various sessions. You will have a hands-on, small group session with the IT Staff where you can ask technology questions and troubleshoot any problems with the devices.
We look forward to helping make your student experience memorable and rewarding. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please send us a support request.