Hardware & software requirements for Arts and Humanities online courses
Required hardware for all classes
- A computer with microphone input
- Sound output
- Camera input or attached web camera.
NOTE: If your computer doesn’t have a microphone or camera you could use a smart phone or tablet for the video conferencing.
- A high speed internet connection.
Recommended Student Computer Specifications
| Specification | Good Choice | Better Choice | Best Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is this for? | Graphic design students primarily using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. | Students doing graphic design plus photography, video, or more demanding projects. | Students doing video, animation, 3D, Maya, or other demanding work. |
| Processor | Modern Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5, or Apple M-series | Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7, or Apple M-series Pro | High-performance Intel Core i7/i9, AMD Ryzen 7/9, or Apple M-series Pro/Max |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16–32 GB | 32 GB or more |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD | 1 TB SSD | 1 TB SSD or larger |
| Graphics (GPU) | Integrated graphics or Apple Silicon GPU | Dedicated GPU with 4 GB or more of VRAM, or Apple Silicon | Dedicated GPU with 8 GB or more of VRAM, or higher-end Apple Silicon |
| Display | 1920 × 1080 or better | 1920 × 1080 or better | 1920 × 1080 or better |
| Operating System | Windows 11 or recent macOS | Windows 11 or recent macOS | Windows 11 or recent macOS |
| External Storage | Optional | Recommended: 1 TB external SSD | Recommended: 1–2 TB or larger external SSD |
| Best for | Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, typography, and graphic design | All of the previous uses, plus photography, video, and larger Photoshop files | All of the previous uses, plus Premiere, After Effects, 3D, Maya, and animation |