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Computer Requirements

Computer Requirements
(Main Page):

Computer Literacy

Computer literacy is an entry requirement for all School of Nursing programs.

You will not be able to complete your coursework/curriculum without a solid foundation in basic computer skills, which we define as confidence in using:

  1. (Microsoft Office) Microsoft Word, including extended features such as styles and notes.
  2. (Microsoft Office) Excel and PowerPoint
  3. Web browsers:  Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer
  4. Adobe (Acrobat) Reader
  5. Anti-virus software (including self-updating subscription)
  6. E-mail

To meet these requirements, you must be confidently able to perform the following tasks without assistance:

Microsoft Word
  1. Create a new document in Microsoft Word, and enter text into it.
  2. Cut and paste text.
  3. Format text using bold, underline, italics, superscript, subscript.

    ◊  Learn more about Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel
  1. Create a new Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and enter data into it.
  2. Create graphs and charts in Microsoft Excel using the spreadsheet data.
  3. Insert tables from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet into a Microsoft Word document.
  4. Insert graphs and charts from Microsoft Excel into a Microsoft Word document.

    ◊  Learn more about Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint
  1. Create a presentation with at least 3 slides.
  2. Begin the slide show.
  3. Stop the slide show.

    ◊  Learn more about Microsoft PowerPoint

World Wide Web
  1. Connect to a Web site with a Web browser and print a Web page to a printer.
  2. Open a .pdf document on a Web site,
    then view and print it using Adobe/Acrobat Reader.

    ◊  Learn more about World Wide Web, or
    ◊  Learn more about Adobe Reader

Anti-Virus Software
Note:  most anti-virus software requires that you obtain a continuing subscription which entitles you to daily automatic checking and updating of your a-v software components. This convenient updating service is necessary "immunization" for any computer that is routinely connected to the internet, where new threats and virii appear almost every day (often hidden within web pages or spam-email). Rapid and routine updating is the only way for your anti-virus software to successfully detect and deflect these attacks.
  1. Check a computer for viruses ("scan") using anti-virus software.
  2. Install updated virus definitions for the anti-virus software
    (necessary to detect newly-circulating threats).

    ◊  Learn more about computer viruses

E-mail
  1. Create and send an e-mail message to a given e-mail address.
  2. Open and read an e-mail message that someone has sent you.
  3. Know how to recognize and reject "spam" and "phishing" messages.
  4. File received e-mails in folders according to topic.

    ◊  Learn more about e-mail

Trouble Meeting These Literacy Requirements?

If you are not yet able to complete these tasks with confidence, you are responsible for obtaining the required training before the first day of classes. Unfortunately, UCSF cannot provide support to help you meet this requirement. We suggest that you consider free tutorials on the Web as well as courses available at community colleges and adult education centers.

Resources/Links

Home Page for these documents

UCSF Campus Resources

Technology Resources (listed for information purposes only)



Revised:  May, 2008
© Copyright 2008 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved.