Recommendations: Computer Requirements for All Students

Essential Technology for Academic Success

Norwich University is committed to providing a learning environment that prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century. As part of this commitment, we have integrated technology into our core curriculum courses in innovative ways.

Below you will find the computer requirements for various programs. These are the minimum and recommended specifications that students should use to make the decision on what laptop they should bring to Norwich for their studies. You are highly encouraged to purchase a four year service plan that includes accidental damage as there are limited repair facilities in Vermont. Norwich highly discourages purchasing a touch screen computer due to issues students have experienced in the past.

Click the links below to go directly to the requirements for those programs, or for general studies. 

Norwich recommends purchasing from the Dell or Apple Education Stores.

In addition to one of the below laptops, the purchase of a drawing tablet is recommended.

Many of your core curriculum courses, including writing, mathematics, and lab sciences, will utilize digital materials and require the ability to take notes and complete documents electronically using a stylus. This approach enhances the learning experience by allowing for:

  • Interactive Note-Taking: Annotate lecture slides, diagrams, and texts directly within digital documents.
  • Real-time Collaboration: Work with peers on group projects and assignments seamlessly.
  • Enhanced Engagement: Participate in interactive exercises and simulations within the course materials.

Minimum Requirement: At a minimum, students will need a Bluetooth "drawing tablet" with a stylus, such as the Wacom Intuos. This will ensure you have the necessary tools to engage with the digital components of your core courses.

Students are also encouraged, but not required, to invest in an Android tablet or iPad.

David Crawford
School of Engineering
  • Operating System:
    • Windows 11 
    • macOS is NOT recommended
  • Processor:
    • Intel Core i7 or Core Ultra 7 or better
    • AMD Ryzen 7 or better
  • Memory (RAM):
    • 16GB minimum
    • 32GB recommended *
  • Storage:
    • 512GB minimum
    • 1TB recommended
  • Dedicated Graphics Card (NOT INTEGRATED):
    • NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher model NVIDIA required *
      • NOTE: The computer specifications must specifically state that an NVidia RTX 3060 model (or higher is installed in the system).

Notes From The Faculty:

Civil Engineering and Construction Management students run Autodesk’s AutoCAD (system requirements) and Revit (system requirements), while Mechanical Engineering students run Dassault Systèmes’ SOLIDWORKS (Windows PC only - recommended hardware) and MathWorks MATLAB (system requirements).

Apple computers are not compatible with all engineering software and will not be able to have software used in classes installed, and should not be purchased.

 *Additional RAM and a Dedicated Graphics Card may better serve your needs if your major requires graphic-intensive software.

School of Architecture and Art
  • Operating System:
    • Windows 11 
  • Processor:
    • Intel Core i7 or Core Ultra 7 or better
    • AMD Ryzen 7 or better
  • Memory (RAM):
    • 16GB minimum
    • 32GB recommended
  • Storage:
    • 512GB minimum
    • 1TB recommended
  • Dedicated Graphics Card (NOT INTEGRATED):
    • NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher model NVIDIA required *
      • NOTE: The computer specifications must specifically state that an NVidia RTX 3060 model (or higher is installed in the system).

Notes From The Faculty

Students may also choose to purchase, or may already have, an Apple laptop  (a MacBook Pro with, at minimum, an M3 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage) but students should be aware that they are often more expensive and sometimes do not support desired software! Check with your degree program admin, or faculty adviser for assistance with making the decision.

 *Additional RAM and a Dedicated Graphics Card may better serve your needs if your major requires graphic-intensive software.

Senator Patrick Leahy School of Cybersecurity and Advanced Computing
  • Operating System:
    • Windows 11 
    • macOS is NOT recommended
  • Processor:
    • Intel Core i7 or Core Ultra 7 or better
    • AMD Ryzen 7 or better
  • Memory (RAM):
    • 16GB minimum
    • 32GB recommended *
  • Storage:
    • 512GB minimum
    • 1TB recommended
  • Dedicated Graphics Card (NOT INTEGRATED):
    • NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher model NVIDIA required *
      • NOTE: The computer specifications must specifically state that an NVidia RTX 3060 model (or higher is installed in the system).

Notes From The Faculty:

Students may also choose to purchase, or may already have, an Apple laptop  (a MacBook Pro with, at minimum, an M3 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage) but students should be aware that they are often more expensive and sometimes do not support desired software! Check with your degree program admin, or faculty adviser for assistance with making the decision.

*Additional RAM and a Dedicated Graphics Card may better serve your needs if your major requires graphic-intensive software.

General Requirements for all other programs
  • Operating System:
    • Windows 11 
    • macOS Sonoma or higher 
  • Processor:
    • Intel Core i5 or Core Ultra 5 or better
    • AMD Ryzen 5 or better
    • Apple M2 or better
  • Memory (RAM):
    • 16GB minimum
  • Storage:
    • 512GB minimum
    • 1TB recommended

Notes from the Faculty:

Students may also choose to purchase, or may already have, an Apple laptop  (a MacBook Pro with, at minimum, an M2 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage) but students should be aware that they are often more expensive and sometimes do not support desired software! Check with your degree program admin, or faculty adviser for assistance with making the decision.

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