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!
College of Allied Health Sciences
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies |
Required |
When accepted to 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 programs |
Midrange PC* |
Health Services Management |
Required |
When accepted into the HSM BS program |
Basic PC* |
Occupational Therapy |
Required |
When admitted to the OT program |
Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
Physical Therapy |
Required |
When accepted to the DPT program |
Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
Physician Assistant Studies |
Required |
When admitted to 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 undergraduates” and “All other graduate students.”
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
|
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 |
|
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
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.
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
All undergraduate and graduate students |
Required |
When declared as a Business Major |
Midrange PC* |
College of Education
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
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
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
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 |
Design |
Required |
When declared Design major |
Graphic Design PC* |
Distribution and Logistics |
Required |
When declared as Industrial Distribution major |
Graphic Design PC* or Mac |
Engineering |
Required |
When accepted into the Engineering program |
Midrange PC* |
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 |
College of Health and Human Performance
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Interior Design |
Required |
All declared majors/minors and intended majors/minors |
|
Merchandising |
Recommended |
All declared majors and intended majors |
Graphic Design PC* w/OpenGL |
College of Nursing
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
All Undergraduate and Graduate |
Required |
When enrolled in the undergraduate or graduate Nursing program |
Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
School of Art and Design
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Concentrations: |
Required |
When admitted to the individual concentration |
Midrange PC* or Midrange Mac |
Brody School of Medicine
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Medicine |
Required |
When enrolled in Brody School of Medicine |
|
School of Music
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Music Education |
Recommended |
When accepted into Music Education graduate program |
Midrange Mac |
School of Theatre and Dance
Academic Major |
Requirement/Recommendation Applies |
Minimum Specifications |
|
Educational Theatre |
Recommended |
When accepted into the program |
Basic PC* or Basic Mac |
*For programs requiring a PC, this means a Windows PC and NOT a virtualized/dual-booting 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.
To view minimum recommended configurations, please visit the ITCS website on computer requirements.
Microsoft Office is FREE for students to download through their ECU Microsoft 365 subscription.
My daughter is getting into the nutritional and dietetics program, what computer should she get?