Technical Requirements for Online and Campus Students

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

The following tech requirement is needed for the BS Accounting degree program.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed

Internet Connectivity for Virtual Labs:

• Recommended: 5Mbps upload/download speed with less than 40ms latency

¹ Note that Anaconda Individual Edition includes the following software programs: Jupyter Notebook, VSCode and Python. 

In addition, a webcam and microphone that work with the student’s computer are required. An optional second monitor is recommended. 

Required Software

Adobe Creative Cloud is required for all students in the BA Communication program. Creative Cloud licenses are available at an educational discount directly through Adobe.

Adobe's terms and conditions require a full-year contract for Creative Cloud.

System Requirements

Please refer to the requirements for Adobe Photoshop, which demands the most technical requirements of the Adobe Creative Cloud and is used throughout the graphic design program. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the Adobe website.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
• Learn more about our detailed technical requirements

Help desk support: Microsoft Windows 10, limited support for MacOS (Campus only). Support for other OS is not currently available.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
• Learn more about our detailed Bongo technical requirements

Required Photography Equipment:

• Interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) either DSLR or mirrorless models with manual and semi-auto modes allowing for shooting in RAW and control of the ISO, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed. The camera must have a hot shoe center pin on the top to attach a flash unit and other compatible accessories.
• Wireless camera remote control
• Tripod
• Lighting Kit

NOTE: Phone and/or tablet cameras are not permitted for use in this course. They lack the technical functionality to properly complete required assignments.

Required Software:

Adobe Creative Cloud is required for all students in the digital photography program. Creative Cloud licenses are available at an educational discount directly through Adobe.

Adobe’s terms and conditions require a full-year contract for Creative Cloud.

System Requirements:

Please refer to the requirements for Adobe Photoshop, which demands the most technical requirements of the Adobe Creative Cloud and is used throughout the digital photography program. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the Adobe website.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
• Learn more about our detailed technical requirements

Internet Connectivity for Virtual Labs:

• Recommended: 5Mbps upload/download speed with less than 40ms latency

Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite

This package includes Maya, 3ds Max, Motion Builder and Mudbox. Students can download these products for free under an educational agreement through Autodesk.

System Requirements

• Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit operating system
• CPU: Intel i5/i7/Xeon technology or AMD equivalent
• Graphics hardware: Refer to Autodesk's recommendations for Maya and Mudbox
• RAM: A minimum of 16GB of RAM is required, but 32GB is highly recommended and will become increasingly necessary with each annual release of new versions of Autodesk applications.
• Disk space: 19GB free disk space

Note that some Autodesk products included in the Entertainment Creation Suite may be available for Apple^® Mac OS^® X operating systems. Students may elect to run non-native software (most notably 3ds Max) on Windows^® through Apple's Boot Camp^® or Parallels Desktop^® systems. Students who wish to obtain Windows^®10 may do so through Azure Dev Tools. 

Adobe Creative Cloud

This package includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat and more. Students can download these products for a reduced monthly cost through SNHU's OnTheHub store.

System Requirements

The requirements below are listed for Photoshop and Illustrator. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the Adobe website.

Required Software

Adobe Creative Cloud is required by all students in the graphic design and media arts program. Creative Cloud licenses are available at an educational discount directly through Adobe.

Adobe’s terms and conditions require a full-year contract for Creative Cloud.

System Requirements

Please refer to the requirements for Adobe Photoshop, which demands the most technical requirements of the Adobe Creative Cloud and is used throughout the graphic design program. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the Adobe website.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
• Learn more about our detailed technical requirements

The following tech requirement is needed for the BS Human Resource Management degree program.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed

Internet Connectivity for Virtual Labs:

• Recommended: 5Mbps upload/download speed with less than 40ms latency

Help desk support: Microsoft Windows 10, limited support for MacOS (Campus only). Support for other OS is not currently available.

Video Communication Platform:

• Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
• Learn more about our detailed technical requirements

Internet Connectivity for Virtual Labs:

• Recommended: 5Mbps upload/download speed with less than 40ms latency

Students enrolled in the BSN program are responsible for ensuring they have the minimum system hardware, software, and equipment. In addition to the SNHU technology requirements, BSN students should have the following:

• The ability to record (webcams and microphones are often built into laptops or computers)
• At least 5 Mbps internet upload speed
• At least 20GB of internal storage space to install and run the required software.
• Please note computers with detachable keyboards, such as the Surface Pro, are not supported.
• If using a Windows machine, at least Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen with an integrated graphics chip
• If using a Mac machine, at least Intel i5 or Apple M1 with an integrated graphics chip
• Google Chrome

Students enrolled in the MSN program courses are responsible for ensuring they have the minimum system hardware, software and equipment. In addition to the SNHU technology requirements, MSN students should have the following:

For nurse executive leadership and healthcare quality and safety tracks:

• 10Mbps or higher for ideal streaming (download)
• Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer)
• A laptop is recommended

For nursing education and population healthcare tracks:

• 20Mbps (download) and 5Mbps (upload)
• Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer)
• Assessment kit (tools specified in course syllabus)
• A laptop is recommended

For family nurse practitioner track:

• 20Mbps (download) and 5Mbps (upload)
• Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer
• Government-issued photo ID is required for proctored exams
• Browser plug-in for online proctored exams
• Assessment kit (tools specified in course syllabus)
• A laptop is required during NUR-600 and all practicum courses

Game Art and Interactive Design also requires a digital drawing tablet. For any student that is using their own laptop, they can get any brand; Huion, XP Pen, or other brands. However if they plan on using the school’s lab PCs they must get a Wacom brand tablet, any series will do. We also have Wacom pen display tablets in the lab. If they want to take advantage of those, they will need to additionally get a pen that works with them.

It is essential that graphic design students have industry-standard hardware and software equipment. Student discounts are available.

Required Software

• Annual subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud design suite
• Office Suite

We recommend that you bring your laptop to class the first week. Your instructors will discuss the use of laptops within your classes. In general, avoid distracting other students by turning off instant messaging, email, games and other unnecessary applications before class begins. 

When using laptops and other computers, be aware of SNHU's Network Acceptable Use Policy and File Sharing Policy. Information Technology Solutions monitors illegal downloading of music and other files from campus sites and will restrict network usage for anyone found violating this policy. 

We strongly recommend that you avoid downloading unnecessary programs, utilities and games onto your laptop. These programs can create problems with other software on your computer. It is best to keep your computer clean. 

You may purchase any laptop brand that you wish and from any location/reseller but SNHU students can take advantage of discounts from Dell and Apple.  

Software: Microsoft Office is required for all students. Office 365 is available to all students for free.  

Extended Service: The Dell laptops in this program come with a 1-year limited warranty, plus 1 year of accidental damage service. We strongly recommend that you purchase the 4-year warranty and the 4-year accidental damage service or choose a plan that matches the length of time you expect to keep the laptop. The accidental damage service can take care of items not covered under the warranty including drops, power surges, screen breaks and spills. The top three repairs on campus tend to be broken screens, malware/virus removal and liquid damage like spills. Broken screens and liquid damage are not covered under a regular warranty but require accidental damage coverage. 

If you purchase a brand other than Dell, accidental coverage may be available under a different name. Ask the reseller you are dealing with for details. 

If your laptop requires service, bring it to the Technology Help Desk in the Wolak Library Learning Commons. Help Desk staff are certified to perform warranty repairs on Dell and Apple computers. For other brands, the Help Desk can perform limited service and any warranty repairs would be your responsibility to arrange. 

Order By: Order your laptop by the first week of August to ensure it arrives in time for the fall semester. 

Resident Students: When you come to campus, bring the following with copy of the paperwork that comes with your laptop, including the invoice, warranty, product registration and any manuals. 

International Students: If you reside outside of the United States and prefer to have the laptop shipped directly to your SNHU campus address, provide Dell with the following ship to address: 

Southern New Hampshire University 
2500 North River Road 
Manchester, New Hampshire 03106 
Attn: (Your Name), Incoming Student 

Then send an email to the mailroom supervisor at mailroom@snhu.edu to alert them that you have ordered a laptop computer and that it will be shipped to your campus address before your arrival. 

All undergraduate day students are required to have a laptop computer for use in classes and other academic activities.

Additional Information:

If you are a game design or graphic design student, refer to the other sections on this page for additional or different equipment requirements.

Office 365 is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation, you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion.

Antivirus software is required for on campus students and will be provided if needed. Antivirus is strongly recommended for everyone. Check with your ISP as it may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.

Optional Accessories:

Many people find it useful to have a second power cord: one for home and one for your bag.

When seeking a more affordable alternative to PC or Apple laptops, select minimalist laptop models can perform the online coursework for most SNHU classes. A Chromebook is not recommended for SNHU coursework. (Note: Minimalist laptops are NOT recommended for computer science, construction management, engineering, game programming and development, graphic design or other processing-intensive programs.)

While PC (Windows OS) or Apple (Mac OS) laptops are recommended to provide optimal experiences for SNHU students, we recognize that students may benefit from having more affordable computer options available.

Affordable Minimal Recommended Model:

• Laptop Dell Latitude 3310
• Windows 10, 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel® Celeron DC, Pentium DC, Core i3
• Memory (RAM): 4GB RAM
• Storage:  64GB eMMC
• Display: 13.3" HD (1366 x 768) Non-Touch Anti-Glare, Camera & Microphone, WLAN Capable
• Graphics Card: Intel® HD Graphics
• Battery: 3-Cell/42-WHr ExpressCharge^TM Capable Battery

Service 

If your laptop requires servicing, bring it to the Technology Help Desk in the Wolak Library Learning Commons. 

International Students 

If your laptop requires service while you are outside of the United States, call the manufacturer's support line directly. 

Support 

If you have questions or problems with your computer, visit the Technology Help Desk in the Wolak Library Learning Commons, login to mySNHU and create a case online, or call 1.855.877.9919. Support is available via the Help Desk from 8 am to 8 pm. (The schedule is published each fall with exact times.) 

If you have questions about the information on this page or purchasing a laptop, email instructionalsupport@snhu.edu.

Training 

Consider enrolling in the IT-100 (Introduction to Information Technology) course early in your academic schedule for an introduction to the software on your laptop. 

You may also access self-paced lessons through Infobase for your PC or Mac. 

The Wolak Learning Center periodically offers workshops to better use the software on your laptop. 

Laptops are particularly vulnerable to theft. Take the following precautions: 

• Be sure that your laptop is covered under your homeowners insurance. The warranty that comes with the Dell laptop does not cover theft. 
• Consider purchasing a PC Theft Recovery Service from Dell or another vendor. This service tracks the location of your computer and reports its location to a monitoring center when it connects to the Internet. 
• Do not leave your laptop unattended. 
• Record your laptop's serial number. 
• Purchase a security cable available at the Dell Laptop Purchase site.