2024-25 Laptop Minimum & Recommended Specifications for Undergraduate Students

 

At The Master’s University we strive to provide our students with the greatest possible opportunities for education. To that end, we do require that every student bring a laptop computer to use for their classes. Below you will find minimum and recommended laptop specifications.

 

 SPECIFICATIONS
 WINDOWS PC
APPLE MACINTOSH
 Operating System
MINIMUM
Windows 10 Home
RECOMMENDED
Windows 11 Pro 
MINIMUM 
Mac OS X 10.15
RECOMMENDED
MacOS Sonoma 14 or higher
 Productivity Tools 
Microsoft Office can be downloaded for free by current students. Go to portal.office.com 
 Microsoft Office can be downloaded for free by current students. Go to portal.office.com
 Windows Emulation Software (check with academic advisor)
N/A 
Parallels Desktop for Mac
OR
VMWare Fusion 
 Processor Type
MINIMUM 
Intel Core i5 12th Gen Processor
RECOMMENDED
Intel Core i9 Processor
MINIMUM
M1 Chip
RECOMMENDED
M1 Chip or higher
 Memory
 MINIMUM
8 GB RAM
RECOMMENDED
16 GB RAM
 MINIMUM 
8 GB RAM
RECOMMENDED
16 GB RAM
 Hard Drive
MINIMUM
256 GB SSD
RECOMMENDED
512 GB SSD or higher 
 MINIMUM
256 GB SSD
RECOMMENDED 
512 GB SSD or higher
 WiFi Adapter
MINIMUM
802.11 ac adapter
RECOMMENDED
802.11ax adapter 
 N/A
Warranty/Insurnace 
4 Years parts and labor (onsite recommended) & Accidental Damage Protection 
 4 years parts and labor Apple Care+

 ***Please note that Chromebooks will not support certain required applications for class. We do not recommend this type of notebook.***


If you already have an Apple computer with an Intel processor or buy a refurbished Apple Computer with an Intel processor, that's sufficient. This is for purchasing a new Apple computer as Intel processors are no longer offered in Mac devices.  

Warranty Options

Many students purchase a high-quality notebook in their freshman year with a four-year warranty and use that laptop for the duration of their time at Master’s. An ideal warranty would run this length and include accidental damage protection. The service contract is a critical part of the computer purchase. This will ensure that the student will always have a means of support in case of a hardware failure. Many computer manufacturers sell next business day warranties which facilitate timely service.

 

Due to the breadth of laptop manufacturers today, The Master’s University does not have the necessary resources to service student computers. However, IT Operations will do their utmost to ensure that all students are able to successfully connect to and utilize university technology resources.

 

 

Accidental Damage

Warranties do not cover all repairs to your notebook computer; they are expressly written to cover manufacturers’ defects that cause system failure during the normal use and life cycle of the product. If you damage your notebook computer by dropping it, stepping on it, spilling liquids on it, etc., you are liable for the repair costs to restore the notebook to working condition. Some manufacturers offer accidental damage plans that you can purchase in addition to extended warranty plans. Although an accidental damage plan may seem expensive at first, it could be a very valuable investment considering the cost of repairs.

 

 

Service Availability

You may also want to consider the service options that are available with a particular computer. If you encounter problems or defects in your laptop, you may have to deal directly with the manufacturer by telephone, or you may have to take the computer to the store you bought it from in order to have any troubleshooting done. If there is a hardware problem with your computer, you may need to leave it at the store or ship your computer to the manufacturer for repairs. Some notebook manufacturers also offer on-site warranty repairs where they will come to your place of residence within 24 to 48 hours with the necessary replacement parts.

Students bringing their own notebooks to campus will be responsible for their own hardware troubleshooting and tech support, which can be obtained from the manufacturer or vendor where the notebook was purchased. IT Operations does not offer any hardware tech support for student-owned notebooks other than assistance in connecting to the wireless network.

 

 

Additional Resources

Popular laptop manufacturers include Dell and Apple. Student discounts may be found at the following websites: http://www.delluniversity.com/ and https://www.apple.com/us-hed/sho and http://www.microsoft.com/studentsandeducators

If you have any questions, please contact us: 661.362.2876 or servicedesk@masters.edu