Elliott School Laptop Requirement FAQ
The Basics:
Who? All Elliott School communication majors are required to have a personal laptop computer.
What? Personal laptops are a personal choice. Students should just keep in mind that you should buy the most powerful machine you can afford with as much RAM and as large a hard drive as possible. Your laptop will need to run certain high-end software like the Adobe Creative Cloud.
Where? Students should bring their laptops to all ESC classes. There are outlets available to charge laptops in all classrooms and student lounge and study areas.
When? If you are registered in a 200-level or higher Comm class and are a declared Comm major, you should have a laptop.
Why? While we do have student labs available, we find most students prefer to work on a personal laptop. Elliott School courses often involve in-class software demo and group work. Having the ability to work in class, on-the-go, or anywhere else is a huge benefit for students.
How? Laptops can be affordable, but they also can be very expensive. They are, however, a required tool of the trade as a student and as a communication employee. The good news is that our laptop requirement is an opportunity for you to get something you need anyway since required laptops can be included in your Cost of Attendance for financial aid. Since we require a laptop, you can visit with the WSU Office of Financial Aid about re-evaluating your financial aid eligibility to include the laptop purchase.
Mac or Windows?
If you are trying to decide between a Mac or Windows machine. This page discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each and their capabilities.
Other questions?
What about non-majors who take our courses? While our research indicates that non-Comm majors are just as likely (90 percent or better) to have their own laptop already, we do have a few loaner laptops in the ESC Gear Room that students can check out for a single class period and return when they’ve finished.
What about printing? Our instructors already limit the amount of required printing in ESC courses (it’s a digital world, after all). If you need to print, though, we make a printing service available through the front desk in Elliott Hall 102.
Who will provide technical support? If you have questions about purchasing hardware, we will help you, but if you have basic technical support questions, there are many resources outside of Elliott Hall that you can consult. We recommend Googling the problem first. Then contact the support services for your hardware or software companies. Then, there is the university Help Desk available by phone at 978-HELP.
What software do you need? That depends on the course. All WSU students have access to a Microsoft 365 account and you will likely use many of those software programs in your classes. Another program you may need is the Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro and many other industry-standard tools. WSU has a site license that allows students to access Adobe CC for free or at a discounted rate of $30 per academic year, depending on each student’s individual financial need. Your instructor will have more information if your class requires the use of Adobe CC.
What specific hardware requirements are there? The only requirement is that the computer you choose should run the software that you’ll need for class. Note: Chromebooks will not run the Adobe Creative Cloud software. Whatever you choose, try to include as much RAM (8 gb minimum, 16 gb or higher preferred) and the largest hard drive you can find (500 Gb is typically a good choice).
Is there anything else I might need? You might consider purchasing an external hard drive or large flash drive for backup, long-term storage, and sharing files with fellow workgroup members. Students also have access to 1 TB of cloud storage using Microsoft OneDrive through their WSU Microsoft 365 account.