Student Computer Requirements and Recommendations

2024 Academic Recommendations

Students should consult with their advisor for program requirements or recommendations.

The following academic degree programs require or recommend students have access to a computer that meets these minimum specifications. For specific technical recommendations, match minimum specifications on the academic majors chart with the recommended configurations chart. These requirements are subject to change. Check with your academic advisor before making a final decision on a computer!

Academic Major
Requirement / Recommendation Applies:
Minimum Specifications
School of Allied Health Sciences
   
 Physicians Assistant StudiesRequiredWhen admitted to the Physicians Assistant programMidrange PC* or Midrange Mac
 Health Information ManagementRequiredWhen accepted into the HIM BS programBasic PC* or Midrange PC*
 Health Services ManagementRequiredWhen accepted into the HSM BS programBasic PC* or Midrange PC*
School of Art and Design
 Concentrations:
Animation, Film and Video Production, Illustration, Graphic Design and Photography
RequiredWhen admitted to the individual concentrationMidrange PC* or Midrange Mac
School of Music
 Music EducationRecommendedWhen accepted into Music Education graduate programMidrange Mac
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

If your major is not explicitly listed, see recommendations for "All other undergraduates" and "All other graduate students."

 AnthropologyRecommendedWhen declared as Anthropology majorBasic PC* or Basic Mac
 AnthropologyRecommendedWhen accepted into Anthropology graduate programBasic PC* or Basic Mac
 BiologyRequiredAll declared majors and intended majorsBasic PC* or Basic Mac
 Criminal Justice
RecommendedWhen formally accepted as a Criminal Justice major Basic PC* or Basic Mac
Geography, Planning and EnvironmentRequiredWhen entering the programProgram computer requirements
 PhysicsRecommendedWhen declared as Physics majorBasic PC* or Basic Mac
All other undergraduatesRequiredWhen declared as a major in a college programBasic PC* or Basic Mac
All other graduate studentsRequiredWhen declared as a major in a college programBasic PC* or Basic Mac
College of Business
   
 All UndergraduateRequiredWhen declared as a Business MajorMidrange PC*
 All MastersRequiredWhen accepted into Graduate ProgramMidrange PC*
College of Business students should check with their advisors before making a decision. NOTE: Microsoft Office, Project and Visio are required for Business students. Office is FREE to download through your ECU Microsoft 365 subscription, Project and Visio are also FREE for Windows users through their ECU Azure Dev Tools. Currently no Mac license is offered by ECU for Project or Visio. Students utilizing Macs for their classes need to work with their instructor to determine a suitable alternative.
College of Education
   
 Business Education-UndergraduateRequiredWhen declared as Business Education majorMidrange PC*
 Business Education - GraduateRequiredWhen accepted into Business Education Masters ProgramMidrange PC*
 Education Graduate ProgramRecommendedWhen enrolled in the Graduate programBasic PC* or Basic Mac
 Science EducationRequiredWhen accepted into MAEd programBasic PC*
 Teaching FellowsRecommendedWhen accepted into Teaching Fellows program and enrolled in schoolBasic PC* or Basic Mac
 Theatre EducationRecommendedWhen accepted into Upper Division of the College of EducationBasic PC* or Basic Mac
College of Health and Human Performance


 Interior DesignRequiredAll declared majors/minors and intended majors/minorsGraphic Design PC* w/OpenGL
 MerchandisingRecommendedAll declared majors and intended majorsGraphic Design PC* w/OpenGL
School of Medicine



 MedicineRequiredWhen enrolled in School of MedicineMidrange PC* or Tablet
College of Engineering and Technology

 Construction ManagementRequiredWhen declared as Construction Management majorGraphic Design PC (preferred)* or Mac
 Computer Science
Design
Required

Required
When declared as Computer Science major

When Declared as BS in Design
Graphic Design Mac

Graphic Design PC*
 EngineeringRequiredWhen accepted into the Engineering programMidrange PC*
 Industrial Distribution and LogisticsRequiredWhen declared as Industrial Distribution majorGraphic Design PC* or Mac
 Industrial Engineering TechnologyRequiredWhen declared as Industrial Engineering Technology majorGraphic Design PC*
 Industrial TechnologyRequiredWhen declared as Industrial Technology majorGraphic Design PC*
 Information and Computer TechnologyRequiredWhen declared as Information and Computer Technology majorGraphic Design PC* or Mac (16 GB w/ability to upgrade to 32 GB)
College of Nursing
All UndergraduateRequiredWhen enrolled in the Nursing program Basic PC* or Basic Mac
All GraduateRequiredWhen enrolled in any Graduate Nursing programBasic PC* or Basic Mac

Purchasing a computer is OPTIONAL for students NOT enrolled in one of the programs listed here. However, any student can take advantage of the special pricing and available support.

Chromebook devices are currently not a recommended choice by any academic programs at ECU due to several limitations: 1) Many required software applications cannot be installed on a Chromebook; only apps available through the Google Play Store for Chrome OS and Chrome browser extensions through the Chrome Web Store are compatible, 2) Microsoft (Office) 365 limitations – You can only run the Microsoft 365 web apps on a Chromebook by navigating to pirate365.ecu.edu through a browser. You cannot install the full offline versions of these apps and the standalone Android apps cannot be installed on Chromebooks, 3) LockDown Browser limitations – Some Chromebooks have had issues running the LockDown Browser extension for the Chrome web browser.

Students should consider their intended major and contact that department for information before making a decision on a new computer.
*For programs requiring a PC, this means a Windows PC and NOT a virtualized/dual-booting Mac.

Minimum Recommended Configurations

It is recommended that all students have access to a computer that meets the minimum specifications of the recommended Basic PC or Basic Mac listed here. Students should purchase computers that meet or exceed these recommendations

Activity
General use word processing web surfing, emailGeneral use photo editing, playing movies, musicGeneral use graphic design video productionGeneral use word processing web surfing, emailGeneral use photo editing, playing movies, musicGeneral use graphic design video production
Computer Type
Basic PC
Midrange PC
Graphic Design PC
Basic Mac
Midrange Mac
Graphic Design Mac
Platform
Laptop or TabletLaptop or 2-in-115" Widescreen Laptop13" MacBook13" MacBook15" MacBook
Operating System
Windows 10 or 11Windows 10 or 11Windows 10 or 11macOS 12 or HighermacOS 12 or HighermacOS 12 or Higher
Processor
Intel Core™ i3/AMD Ryzen™ 3

2+ Cores
1.5 GHz
Intel Core™ i5/AMD Ryzen™ 5

4+ Cores
2.0 GHz
Intel Core™ i7/AMD Ryzen™ 7

4+ Cores
2.5 GHz
Apple M1

2+ Cores
1.5 GHz
Apple M1/M2

4+ Cores
2.0 GHz
Apple M1/M2

4+ Cores
2.5 GHz
RAM
8GB16GB16 GB (w/ the ability to upgrade to 32 GB)8GB16GB16 GB (w/ the ability to upgrade to 32 GB)
Hard Drive
256 GB solid state drive512 GB solid state drive512 GB solid state drive256 GB solid state drive512 GB solid state drive512 GB solid state drive
Optical Drive
External drive, if neededExternal drive, if neededExternal drive, if neededExternal drive, if neededExternal drive, if neededExternal drive, if needed
Video Graphics Card
Integrated videoIntegrated or dedicated videoIntegrated or dedicated video Integrated video Integrated or dedicated video Integrated or dedicated video
Ethernet
10/100/100010/100/100010/100/100010/100/100010/100/100010/100/1000
Wireless Card
802.11 b/g/n/ac802.11 b/g/n/ac802.11 b/g/n/ac802.11 b/g/n/ac802.11 b/g/n/ac802.11 b/g/n/ac
USB Ports
USB 3.0 recommendedUSB 3.0 recommendedUSB 3.0 recommendedUSB 3.0 recommendedUSB 3.0 recommendedUSB 3.0 recommended
Bluetooth
RecommendedRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedRecommended
Camera
NOTE: Webcam required
720p or higher720p or higher720p or higher720p or higher720p or higher720p or higher
Battery Life
5+ hours5+ hours5+ hours5+ hours5+ hours5+ hours
Manufacturer Warranty
4 Year Recommended4 Year Recommended4 Year Recommended3 Year AppleCare Recommended**3 Year AppleCare Recommended**3 Year AppleCare Recommended**
Accidental Damage Insurance
4 Year Recommended4 Year Recommended4 Year Recommended3 Year AppleCare+**3 Year AppleCare+**3 Year AppleCare+**
Antivirus Software
Windows Security (included with Windows 10/11) or any reputable vendorWindows Security (included with Windows 10/11) or any reputable vendorWindows Security (included with Windows 10/11) or any reputable vendorXProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendorXProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendorXProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendor

**4th year not available with AppleCare+ | Additional charges apply with AppleCare+ accidental damage claims, please see https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac/ for details.