Recommendations & Computer Requirements

College and Program Specific Computer Requirements


Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Geography / GIS Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / 4GB dedicated Graphics memory Core i7 / 32GB RAM / 512GB SSD / 8GB dedicated Graphics memory Core i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD / 8GB dedicated Graphics memory Windows
All other Liberal Arts Departments Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD
Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Windows & MacOS

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 16gb RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 /16gb RAM / 512GB SSD Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32+ gb RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Journalism, Art & Design, Music M1 / 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD M1 Pro / 32 GB RAM / 1TB SSD MacOS
Theater Core i5 / 16 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD
Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Windows

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Engineering & Computer Science Core i7 / 16 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7-i9 /16-32 gb RAM / 1TB SSD / 2GB dedicated GPU card Core i7-i9 / 32+ gb RAM / 1TB SSD / 4GB+ GPU card Windows
Computer & Information Tech.
Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TBSSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Core i9 / 64GB RAM / 1 TB SSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Windows

 

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Core i7 (Gen 10+) or M1 / 16 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD Core i7 (Gen 13+), Ultra 7, or M2+ / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i9 (Gen 13+), Ultra 9, or M5 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows 11 & MacOS 14
Criminal Justice and Mathematics
Core i7 (Gen 10+) or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i7 (Gen 13+), Ultra 7, or M2+ / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Core i9 (Gen 13+), Ultra 9, or M5 Pro / 64GB RAM / 1 TB SSD
Windows 11 & MacOS 14
Cyber Forensics & Security, Geology, Natural Resources & Earth Sciences
Core i7 (Gen 10+) / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i7 (Gen 13+), Ultra 7, / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Core i9 (Gen 13+), Ultra 9 / 64GB RAM / 1 TB SSD
Windows 11

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core Ultra 5, AMD Ryzen 5, Apple M5, Apple A18 Pro / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core Ultra 7, AMD Ryzen 7, Apple M5, or A18 Pro / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core Ultra 7 or 9, AMD Ryzen 7 or 9, Apple M5 Pro or Max, / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core Ultra 5, AMD Ryzen 5, Apple M5, Apple A18 Pro / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core Ultra 7, AMD Ryzen 7, Apple M5, or A18 Pro / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core Ultra 7 or 9, AMD Ryzen 7 or 9, Apple M5 Pro or Max, / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Aviation Maintenance Technology Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows
Commercial Pilot: Fixed Wing 11th Generation Core i5 or AMD Equivalent / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
12th Generation Core i5 or AMD Equivalent / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / Direct X 11 Capable Graphics
12th Generation Intel i7 or AMD Equivalent / 32+GB RAM / 1+TB M.2 SSD / NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 590 or Better
Windows

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
University College is not a degree granting college. Once students declare their major, additional, more specific requirements may be preferred.
Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

Your Current Windows or macOS Device

If you already own a notebook computer that is less than four years old and meets the minimum specifications below, it should perform well for most academic programs at Marshall University. If you are unsure whether your device is sufficient, please consult your academic advisor or contact the IT Service Desk for guidance.

Minimum Requirements


Component Minimum Recommended Specification
Processor Intel Core Ultra 5, 7, or 9
Operating System Windows 11 Pro (21H2+) OR macOS Catalina 10.15+
Memory 16 GB
Storage 256 GB
Display 1080p
Ports USB port(s)
WiFi Wi‑Fi 5 or newer
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.x or newer
Camera & Audio 720p webcam with microphone and headset/earbuds

MUIT Device Recommendations


Component Preferred Specification
Processor Intel Core Ultra 5, 7, or 9 OR Apple M3/M4 or newer
Memory 16GB – 32GB)
Storage Type NVMe SSD
Storage Capacity 512GB+ recommended
Display 1920×1080 FHD IPS or 4K (13–15”+)
Ports USB 3.x (3.2 Gen 2 preferred), USB‑C preferred
Charging USB‑C preferred
Thunderbolt Thunderbolt 3 preferred
WiFi Wi‑Fi 5 minimum, Wi‑Fi 6 preferred
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.x minimum, 5.x preferred
Cellular LTE/5G optional
Video Output HDMI port or external adapter
Webcam 1080p minimum, 4K preferred
Audio Headset or earbuds with microphone

Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphones and tablets using Apple iOS and Android operating systems have become essential tools for students, faculty, and staff. They are widely used in daily academic life for communication, accessing course materials, and supporting learning activities.
To fully utilize campus services, it is recommended that devices support NFC (Near Field Communication), which enables features such as building access, ID scanning, and point-of-sale transactions.
Marshall University provides the following mobile apps and services at no cost:

  • MUMobile – Access to university services and resources
  • Marshall Mobile ID Card – Building access, TTA bus use, and Herd Points transactions
  • Transact eAccounts – Mobile payment using Herd Points
  • Blackboard App – Access to courses, materials, and grades
  • Microsoft 365 – Includes Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive (1TB storage), SharePoint, and Exchange email
  • Mobile Credential – Digital ID for access, dining, attendance, and purchases
  • Cameyo – Cloud-based access to software across devices

Built-in cameras and internet connectivity also support scanning documents, accessing learning materials, and storing digital content.
For mobile security guidance, use the FCC Smartphone Security Checker.