Required Computer Skills and Help

Overview of Required Skills

Below is the list of the minimum computer skills needed in order to help you be a successful student at the Naval Postgraduate School. You should have or acquire these skills prior to your first day of class. We are not expecting you to be a computer expert/guru but you should have a basic user proficiency in:

• Windows XP: Know how to save, copy, delete and find files using Windows Explorer.
• MS Word (in MS Office): This will be the #1 program that you will use at NPS.
• MS Excel (in MS Office): Beginner's level. Know at least the basics.
• MS PowerPoint (in MS Office): You will be making many presentations with PowerPoint.
• Internet Explorer: In some cases your primary research tool.

Several "how to books" on Windows and MS Office are available. MS Windows XP has an excellent "Help Center" (Windows Basics) and the student is urged to go through the topics. There is a course in Windows and MS Office at the Navy's E-learning web site: http://www.navylearning.navy.mil.

Prerequisite Computer Skills for the MBA Curriculum

The following identifies the standard office automation software (Microsoft Office, PC version) used at the Naval Postgraduate School and the associated basic usage skills students should have upon arrival. These skills will be needed to prepare course papers, perform statistical analysis, prepare and present classroom presentations, and access the NPS computer network to retrieve documents and communicate with your professors and/or other students.

Windows Operating System (2000 or XP)

Students should be able to:

• Properly operate the mouse to navigate and manipulate files and menu items.
• Open, move, resize, and work in multiple application windows at one time.
• Search, open, rename and save existing files.
• Cut, copy, and paste from one application to another.
• Create shortcuts and manipulate desktop icons.
• Format Zip and floppy disks.
• Select between multiple printers and print to the appropriate device.
• Use Internet Explorer
  • Access specific Web pages by entering the appropriate URL information
  • Save the location of Web pages using the “Favorites” menu.
  • Save and copy from Web pages into other applications.

Microsoft Word

Students should be able to:

• Create, save and open documents.
• Use the find and replace function.
• Check spelling and grammar.
• Change fonts and their characteristics.
• Use predefined templates.

Microsoft Excel

Students should be able to:

• Create, save and open a spreadsheet.
• Enter, copy, move, and delete data.
• Create and delete columns and rows.
• Format cells for numbers, text, dates, etc.
• Enter, modify, and use formulas.
• Customize printed output (choose landscape, portrait, fit to page, etc.)

Microsoft PowerPoint

Students should be able to:

• Create, save and open a presentation.
• Use presentation templates.
• Use clipart (add, resize, move, crop, etc.)
• Use special effects such as auto advance, slide transitions, etc.
• Adjust font properties such as size, color, etc.
• Cut, paste, move and delete objects.

Microsoft Outlook

Students should have a working knowledge of MS Outlook including:

• Sending and receiving email.
• Knowing how to organize messages into folders.
• Adding and removing contacts to the address book.
• Switch between views of various folders including the inbox, outbox, saved and deleted messages.