CCA highly recommends that all students own a personal computer to assist in their studies. Whether or not a discipline of study is driven by digital technology, students will benefit greatly from having continuous computing access to support research, communication, and studio practice. For students who have selected a major, we generally recommend a laptop computer because of their mobility.
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CCA recommends that all students wait until they have selected a major (typically, Year 2) before making a major computer purchase. The reason we recommend this is because hardware needs vary greatly depending on a student's chosen major. For example, the hardware needs of an Architecture student are far greater than the hardware needs of a Writing student. We also recommend this approach because computers are constantly improving to meet the growing demands of the newest software. Purchasing a new computer prior to entering your major will ensure you have the latest, most advanced hardware.
The following systems represent minimum hardware configurations for certain CCA Programs. You may choose to configure your laptop with larger or faster components (e.g. faster processor, additional memory, larger hard disk, larger screen, etc.).
Computer Recommendation
CCA recommends that incoming freshmen own a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for the software used in the First-Year curriculum:
*Mac OS X is needed to run Apple iLife suite, which is part of the First-Year curriculum. iLife is available for student use in all CCA shared computer labs. However, we cannot guarantee that a lab workstation will always be available, particularly during peak usage times.
Software Recommendation
The Adobe CS5 Design Premium bundle and Microsoft Office can be purchased at discounted rates through CCA's online software shop: http://technology.cca.edu/store/software.php
Apple iLife can be purchased through the CCA custom apple store: http://technology.cca.edu/store/apple.php
External Storage Device Requirement
The First-Year Program requires that all students purchase an external hard drive prior to starting classes. The First-Year curriculum expects students to create digital-based work that will require a large amount of storage. The drive will continue to be a valuable resource as a backup drive or expanded storage drive after the completion of the first year of instruction. For recommendations on specific devices, please see the External Storage Device Recommendations section below.
Mac OS X Laptop Recommendation
The Architecture (BArch and MArch), Graphic Design, Graduate Design, Interior Design, Interaction Design, and Industrial Design programs all require laptops. We recommend the following specification for use in these and most other programs where graphic-intensive work is required in the curriculum:
Apple MacBook Pro Academic Price: $2,553.00
CCA Special Discounted Price: $2,503.00
This system is only available for purchase at the discounted price in CCA's Online Apple Store.
Windows OS Alternative Laptop (for BArch, MArch, and Interior Design majors)
As the software required in the Architecture, Graduate Architecture, and Interior Design curriculums are heavily Windows-based, the following alternative custom HP laptop is offered for students who prefer to invest in a Windows-only laptop vs. a MacBook Pro laptop:
HP EliteBook 8560w Academic Price: $2,870.00
CCA Special Discounted Price: $1,549.00
This system is only available for purchase at the discounted price in CCA's Online HP Store.
Design in MBA (DMBA) Strategy Recommendations
The Design in MBA Strategy Program requires computer ownership of all students. Customized HP notebook, tablet, and netbook systems are available in CCA's HP web store at special pricing, as well as a custom MacBook Air system in CCA's Apple web store.
Film Program Recommendations
While the Film Program offers lab computers and editing suites, students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own laptop. We recommend the following minimum specification in a laptop:
The Film Program also requires or recommends the following additional hardware and software:
Selecting a Mac or a Windows Computer (for Architecture, Interior Design, and Industrial Design majors only)
CCA's computer labs run exclusively Mac hardware, with almost all lab computers able to dual-boot into either Mac OS X or Windows OS. Most of our back-end systems are also Mac-based, though CCA's networked resources can be accessed from both OSes. Most courses teach using Mac-compatible software. Because of this emphasis, the ETS computing staff specialize in Mac OS support.
For Architecture, Interior Design, and Industrial Design majors, there are a few factors to consider in the selection of a Mac vs. Windows laptop:
CCA highly recommends that students own an external hard drive for backup and storage of digital work. When working with high-resolution image files, motion graphics and video files, a great deal of storage space is needed, as well as a drive that spins fast enough to push and pull real-time data. A laptop's internal hard drive won't sufficiently compensate for the demands of some of CCA's digital-based coursework.
We recommend an external storage device that has:
Here is a list of external storage devices that suit our recommendations:
Each of these drives costs under $200 and can be purchased from various retailers, including the Apple retail store and Amazon.com.
Educational Technology Services (ETS) staff can provide troubleshooting assistance and support for student-owned laptops with:
Unfortunately, due to the variety of issues that could cause a personally-owned computer to experience problems with the campus IT services listed above, we cannot guarantee that your issue will always be resolved.
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