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The College of Arts and Sciences includes the following majors:
A platform of which the student feels most comfortable is generally recommended.
In order to complete their coursework, students will often find it necessary to use computers in their residence, around campus, in classes, or when meeting with project groups. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students purchase a laptop as they will be disadvantaged without one.
The use of netbooks, chrome books, tablets, iPads, or other low-end systems as a primary device are strongly discouraged. A desktop computer is also discouraged as it will create an undesirable limitation on the student's productivity.
A student studying a major from the above list will find that a computer that meets the following specs (regardless of platform) will be suitable for their major:
A selection of models sold at TechZone that meet these requirements are found at the end of this page. For a complete listing of models return to the home page by clicking the TechZone logo above and browsing by brand. This list is by no means exhaustive and provides only a small example of the models available.
TechZone does not recommend primary computing devices with the Android, Chrome OS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows RT, or Windows 10 S operating systems.
The university provides the Microsoft Office365 suite of software, in both online and locally installable versions, plus the equally paramount Adobe Creative Suite, at no extra cost. The result is that potential employers know our graduates will have experience with these two industry-leading platforms.
Office365 is a service, available to all faculty, staff and students at Illinois State University. It allows you to:
Need assistance installing Microsoft Office? Visit TechZone Service Center in the Bone Student Center for in person assistance or watch either of the following videos: Windows or MacOS
Adobe Creative Cloud is available to students, request access at Adobe at ISU
Following the “New Advanced” specifications should adequately meet a student’s needs throughout their academic program. A computer should include a built-in webcam as video conferencing and the need to record video is being increasingly utilized in coursework.
The department highly recommends purchasing your computer through TechZone, which offers academic discounts and the TechZone Service Center. The service center is authorized to troubleshoot and repair Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo computers. A computer that is less than four years old and under-warranty is highly recommended. Maintaining warranties greatly reduces the potential downtime and inconveniences that a student may experience.
