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 Studies | Required | When admitted to the Physicians Assistant program | Midrange PC* or Midrange Mac | |
| Health Information Management | Required | When accepted into the HIM BS program | Basic PC* or Midrange PC* | |
| Health Services Management | Required | When accepted into the HSM BS program | Basic PC* or Midrange PC* | |
| School of Art and Design |
||||
| 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 Music |
||||
| Music Education | Recommended | When accepted into Music Education graduate program | Midrange 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." |
||||
| Anthropology | Recommended | When declared as Anthropology major | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Anthropology | Recommended | When accepted into Anthropology graduate program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Biology | Required | All declared majors and intended majors | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| Criminal Justice | Recommended | When formally accepted as a Criminal Justice major | Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
|
| Geography, Planning and Environment | Required | When entering the program | Program computer requirements | |
| Physics | Recommended | When declared as Physics major | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| All other undergraduates | Required | When declared as a major in a college program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| All other graduate students | Required | When declared as a major in a college program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| College of Business | ||||
| All Undergraduate | Required | When declared as a Business Major | Midrange PC* | |
| All Masters | Required | When accepted into Graduate Program | Midrange 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-Undergraduate | Required | When declared as Business Education major | Midrange PC* | |
| Business Education - Graduate | Required | When accepted into Business Education Masters Program | Midrange PC* | |
| 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 | |
| Theatre Education | Recommended | When accepted into Upper Division of the College of Education | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| College of Health and Human Performance | ||||
| Interior Design | Required | All declared majors/minors and intended majors/minors | Graphic Design PC* w/OpenGL | |
| Merchandising | Recommended | All declared majors and intended majors | Graphic Design PC* w/OpenGL | |
| School of Medicine | ||||
| Medicine | Required | When enrolled in School of Medicine | Midrange PC* or Tablet | |
| College of Engineering and Technology | ||||
| Construction Management | Required | When declared as Construction Management major | Graphic 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* |
|
| Engineering | Required | When accepted into the Engineering program | Midrange PC* | |
| Industrial 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 Computer Technology | Required | When declared as Information and Computer Technology major | Graphic Design PC* or Mac (16 GB w/ability to upgrade to 32 GB) | |
| College of Nursing | ||||
| All Undergraduate | Required | When enrolled in the Nursing program | Basic PC* or Basic Mac | |
| All Graduate | Required | When enrolled in any Graduate Nursing program | Basic 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, email | General use photo editing, playing movies, music | General use graphic design video production | General use word processing web surfing, email | General use photo editing, playing movies, music | General use graphic design video 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 10 or 11 | Windows 10 or 11 | Windows 10 or 11 | macOS 12 or Higher | macOS 12 or Higher | macOS 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 | 8GB | 16GB | 16 GB (w/ the ability to upgrade to 32 GB) | 8GB | 16GB | 16 GB (w/ the ability to upgrade to 32 GB) |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB solid state drive | 512 GB solid state drive | 512 GB solid state drive | 256 GB solid state drive | 512 GB solid state drive | 512 GB solid state drive |
| Optical Drive | External drive, if needed | External drive, if needed | External drive, if needed | External drive, if needed | External drive, if needed | External drive, if needed |
| 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 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac |
| USB Ports | USB 3.0 recommended | USB 3.0 recommended | USB 3.0 recommended | USB 3.0 recommended | USB 3.0 recommended | USB 3.0 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 | 3 Year AppleCare Recommended** | 3 Year AppleCare Recommended** | 3 Year AppleCare Recommended** |
| Accidental Damage Insurance | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 4 Year Recommended | 3 Year AppleCare+** | 3 Year AppleCare+** | 3 Year AppleCare+** |
| Antivirus Software | Windows Security (included with Windows 10/11) or any reputable vendor | Windows Security (included with Windows 10/11) or any reputable vendor | Windows Security (included with Windows 10/11) 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 |
**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.