The Seminary  has a standard set of technology requirements for online courses. I am simply duplicating them here, although if you cannot meet these please be in touch with me before you give up on the idea of taking one of my online courses.

Obviously you will need regular access to a computer. You may use either a Mac or a PC, but the recommended system requirements are as follows:

Operating System: Mac OSX 10.4 or higher, Windows XP or Vista

Processor Speed. 1.6 Ghz

RAM: 1.0 GB or more

Hard Drive Space: 60 GB or more

Internet Connection

In order to access your online courses you will need an internet connection. It is strongly recommended that you have a broadband (DSL or cable) connection. A dial-up connection will be extremely slow and may not allow you to view some course content. Frankly, it’s just too frustrating to try these courses without high speed access.

Web Browser

To access your course you will need a current web browser. You must have one of the following in order to interface with MyLutherNet properly:

Firefox 3.5 (Free to Mac and PC)

Safari 3.0 (Free for Mac and PC)

Internet Explorer 7.0 (Free to PC only)

Other browsers such AOL or Opera or older browsers such as Firefox 1.5 or Internet Explorer 6.0 will not work properly with your online course. Your current browser version can be found by opening your browser, going to Help, and clicking About.

Enabling Pop-up Windows

Most modern browsers block pop-up windows as a default setting. In order to view all of your course content, you will need to set your browser to allow pop-up windows from Luther Seminary.

Luther Seminary Server Certificate

Luther Seminary uses its own Certificate of Authority to provide secure connections across the Internet. To effectively use this system, you need to install the Root Certificate. If you do not install the certificate you can still accept the certificate for the web site, but you may receive a security certificate or warning prompt each time you revisit the web site.

Some kind of office program

iWork (Mac) - Available from Apple.

Open Office - Available on their web site.

Microsoft Office (Mac & PC) - Available for $10 for Luther Seminary students

Other Required Software

Flash Player

Will allow you to see web based video and animation (lectures and such).

Quick Time (Mac or PC) or Windows Media Player (PC)

These play video files and are often pre-installed on your computer.

Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader

PDF files are common ways of sharing documents over the internet. To view these documents you will need this reader.

Java

This allows certain items to work properly on websites.

HomeLab

HomeLab allows you to interact with the Luther Seminary network and access campus resources, such library databases, library e-reserves, your campus file storage, and BibleWorks. As a remote desktop connection, HomeLab runs through your web browser and allows you log in and work from your home as if you are on a campus PC. HomeLab will work with either a Mac or a PC. HomeLab does have some limitations, however. You cannot hear audio and printers and other peripherals attached to your computer will be unavailable to you.

Luther Seminary Email

Every student is provided with a Luther Seminary email address such as "mluther001@luthersem.edu". All Luther Seminary email communication will come to you at this address so it is required that you check it on a regular basis.

Computer Use Policies

Please be sure that you’re familiar with the following Luther Seminary Policies computer use:

Computer Services Policies & Luther Seminary's Electronic Communications Policy

Student Lab Policy