Student Computer Requirements and Recommendations
2026 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 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Allied Health Sciences | ||||
| Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies | Required | When accepted into the ARS program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Clinical Laboratory Science | Required | When accepted into the CLS program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Communication Sciences & Disorders | Required | When admitted into the MS CSDI program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Health Information Management | Required | When accepted into the HIM BS program | Basic PC* | |
| Health Informatics and Information Management | Required | When accepted into the HIIM progam | Midrange PC* | |
| Health Services Management | Required | When accepted into the HSM BS program | Basic PC* | |
| Occupational Therapy | Required | When admitted into the OT program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Physical Therapy | Required | When accepted into the DPT program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Physician Assistant Studies | Required | When admitted into the PA program | Midrange PC* or Midrange Mac | |
| Rehabilitation Sciences | Required | When accepted into the PhD program | Midrange PC* | |
| Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences If your major is not explicitly listed, see recommendations for "All other undergraduate and graduate students." |
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| Anthropology | Recommended | When declared as Anthropology major or accepted into graduate program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Biology | Required | All declared majors and intended majors | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Criminal Justice and Criminology | Recommended | When formally accepted as a Criminal Justice and Criminology major | Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
|
| Earth, Environment and Planning | Required | When entering the program | Program Computer Requirements | |
| Physics | Recommended | When declared as Physics major | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| All other undergraduate and graduate students | Required | When declared as a major in a college program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| College of Business | ||||
| All undergraduate and graduate students | Required | When declared as a Business Major | Midrange PC* COB Student Computer Requirements |
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| 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 the ECU Azure Dev Tools for Teaching website. 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 | ||||
| Education Graduate Program | Recommended | When enrolled in the Graduate program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Science Education | Required | When accepted into MAEd program | Basic PC* | |
| Teaching Fellows | Recommended | When accepted into Teaching Fellows program and enrolled in school | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| College of Engineering and Technology | ||||
| Construction Management | Required | When declared as Construction Management major | Graphic Design PC (preferred)* or Mac | |
| Computer Science | Required | When declared as Computer Science major | Graphic Design Mac or Graphic Design PC* |
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| Engineering | Required | When accepted into the Engineering program | Midrange PC* | |
| Distribution and Logistics | Required | When declared as Industrial Distribution major | Graphic Design PC* or Mac | |
| Industrial Engineering Technology | Required | When declared as Industrial Engineering Technology major | Graphic Design PC* | |
| Industrial Technology | Required | When declared as Industrial Technology major | Graphic Design PC* | |
| Information and Cybersecurity Technology | Required | When declared as Information and Computer Technology major | Graphic Design PC* or Mac (16 GB w/ability to upgrade to 32 GB) | |
| Software Engineering | Required | When declared as Software Engineering major | Graphic Design Mac or Graphic Design PC* |
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| College of Health and Human Performance | ||||
| Interior Design | Required | All declared majors/minors and intended majors/minors | Interior Design and Architecture Computer Guidelines | |
| Merchandising | Recommended | All declared majors and intended majors | Graphic Design PC* w/OpenGL | |
| College of Nursing | ||||
| All Undergraduate | Required | When enrolled in the undergraduate or graduate Nursing program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| School of Art and Design |
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| Concentrations: Animation, Film and Video Production, Illustration, Graphic Design and Photography | Required | When admitted to the individual concentration | Midrange PC* or Midrange Mac | |
| School of Medicine | ||||
| Medicine | Required | When enrolled in School of Medicine | Microsoft Surface Laptop See Technology Requirements | |
| School of Music |
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| Music Education | Recommended | When accepted into Music Education graduate program | Midrange Mac | |
| School of Theatre and Dance | ||||
| Educational Theatre | Recommended | When accepted into the program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
Purchasing a computer is OPTIONAL for students NOT enrolled in one of the programs listed here.
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 for web, video and light multitasking | General use for multitasking, heavier productivity and light creative workloads | General use for creators, developers and media production | General use for web, video and light multitasking | General use for multitasking, heavier productivity and light creative workloads | General use for creators, developers and media production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Type | Basic PC | Midrange PC | Graphic Design PC | Basic Mac | Midrange Mac | Graphic Design Mac |
| Platform |  | | |  | | |
| Laptop or Tablet | Laptop or 2-in-1 | 15" Widescreen Laptop | 13" MacBook | 13" MacBook | 15" MacBook | |
| Operating System | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or higher | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or higher | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or higher |
| Processor | Intel Core™ i5/Ultra 5 AMD Ryzen™ 5 | Intel Core™ i7/Core Ultra 7 AMD Ryzen™ 5/7 | Intel Core™ Ultra 9 AMD Ryzen™ 7/9 | Apple M3 | Apple M4 | Apple M4 Pro |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB | 16 GB (w/ the ability to upgrade to 32 GB) | 8GB | 16GB | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB - 1 TB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB - 1 TB SSD |
| Video Graphics Card | Integrated video | Integrated or dedicated video | Integrated or dedicated video | Integrated video | Integrated or dedicated video | Integrated or dedicated video |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 |
| Wireless Card | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be | 802.11 n/ac/ax/be |
| USB Ports | USB 3.2 recommended | USB 3.2 recommended | USB 3.2 recommended | USB 3.2 recommended | USB 3.2 recommended | USB 3.2 recommended |
| Bluetooth | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Camera NOTE: Webcam required | 720p or higher | 720p or higher | 720p or higher | 720p or higher | 720p or higher | 720p or higher |
| Battery Life | 5+ hours | 5+ hours | 5+ hours | 5+ hours | 5+ hours | 5+ hours |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year AppleCare Recommended** | 4 Year AppleCare Recommended** | 4 Year AppleCare Recommended** |
| Accidental Damage Insurance | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year AppleCare+** | 4 Year AppleCare+** | 4 Year AppleCare+** |
| Antivirus Software | Windows Security (included with Windows 11) or any reputable vendor | Windows Security (included with Windows 11) or any reputable vendor | Windows Security (included with Windows 11) or any reputable vendor | XProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendor | XProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendor | XProtect (included with macOS) or any reputable vendor |
**Additional charges apply with AppleCare+ accidental damage claims, please see https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac for details.