Student, Faculty, and Staff discounts on computers are available through http://g2g.vcu.edu/ & directly from the computer manufacturers.
The VCUarts department computer requirements satisfy VCU’s general computer requirement for all students.
Art Foundation
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
•Data Storage: minimum 2 GB USB Flash Drive
Software:
•MS Office Professional 2007 or 2008
•Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended and Illustrator CS5
(Please consider purchasing Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Standard from an educational retailer. Adobe Create Suite 5 Design Standard includes Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and can sometimes be purchased for less than purchasing the software titles individually.)
Virginia Commonwealth University computer requirements.
Art Education
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Art History
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Cinema
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
First Year
15-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
• 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB
• 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
• SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Video RAM – 512MB
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Display
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
• Accessory kit
Second Year & beyond
In addition to the First Year requirements above, students are required to have a
minimum of a Firewire 800 1TB 7200RPM external hard drive.
Software:
• Final Cut Studio 3
Specifications are subject to change.
Communication Arts
The Department of Communication Arts requires all incoming sophomores and transfer students to have a laptop computer equipped with and capable of running the required software. The specifications listed below are the suggested minimum requirements for the Department of Communication Arts. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
Sophomore Year/Transfer Students –
15-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.2GHz Intel Core i7
• 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x4GB
• 750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
• SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Video RAM – 512MB
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Display
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
• Accessory kit
Software Requirements
Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium
Microsoft Office
Anti-virus software (downloadable from the University)
Craft/Material Studies
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Dance & Choreography
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Fashion Design and Merchandising
The Fashion department requires all of its students to purchase a laptop computer. Suggested computer requirements are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGN SOPHOMORES, MERCHANDISING FRESHMEN & TRANSFER STUDENTS:
PC or MacBook Pro based laptop computer (student’s choice)
13-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or i5 processor
• 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB
• 250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
Data Storage:
• 16 GB USB Flash Drive
• 2 USB Ports
SOFTWARE:
• Adobe CS5 Design Standard Version
• Anti-virus (Downloadable from University)
• Microsoft Office Suite Professional 2007 or Microsoft Office Suite 2008 for Macintosh
• Software upgrades as required
Specifications are subject to change.
Graphic Design
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
All students in the Graphic Design BFA Program are required to purchase/lease the following technology for GDES courses:
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
15-inch MacBook Pro
• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
• 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB
• 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
• SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Video RAM – 512MB
• MacBook Pro 15-inch Display
• Backlit Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
Software:
• MS Office 2008
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium
• Adobe Font Suite
• Apple Safari, Firefox
• Anti-virus software (downloadable from the University)
• Additional software packages will be required with specific GDES courses
SUGGESTED MINIMUM CAMERA REQUIREMENTS
Digital camera:
• 10 mega pixel digital SLR camera with manual shutter speed and aperture control (not automatic)
• 4 GB Flash, SD or SDX memory card
GDES students use their cameras in many of their courses, and you should purchase a camera that will grow with your skills.
Specifications are subject to change.
Interior Design
Students should not purchase upper level configurations until just prior to entering those years. The computer requirements listed below are the recommended minimum computer requirements. Specifications are subject to change.
SUGGESTED MINIMUM COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC YEAR
Sophomore Year/Transfer Students
Students in Interior Design can use either a Microsoft Windows-based laptop or a Mac OS laptop. With a Mac OS laptop, there will be an additional purchase of Microsoft Windows 7, which will need to be installed on the Mac OS laptop using Boot Camp (dual boot) or virtual machine software such as Parallels Desktop for Mac, VMWare Fusion, or Oracle VirtualBox.
Windows laptop recommendations:
Screen Size: 15-inch Processor:
Multi-Core Intel Pentium, Xeon, or i-series processor; or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology
Operating System:
Minimum – Microsoft Windows XP SP3
Recommended: Microsoft Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) Memory:
Minimum – 4 GB
Recommended: 8 GB Hard Drive Size:
Minimum – 250 GB
Recommended: 1 TB Video Card:
Minimum: display adapter capable of 24 bit color;
Recommended -Advanced Graphics: DirectX 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 (or as recommended by Autodesk at www.autodesk.com/revit-graphicshardware).
Optical Drive: Yes
External Mouse: any 3 button scroll-wheel mouse
Network Connection: WiFi network adapter and 10/100 BaseT Ethernet (built-in) External Data Storage: any 16GB USB Flash Drive
Mac OS laptop recommendations:
Model: MacBook Pro
Screen Size: 15-inch
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or i-series processor Memory:
Minimum: 4 GB
Recommended: 8 GB Operating System:
Minimum: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Recommended Operating System: OS X Lion (10.7) Hard Drive Size:
Minimum: 250 GB
Recommended: 1 TB Optical Drive: Yes
External Mouse: any three-button scroll-wheel mouse External Data Storage: any 16GB USB Flash Drive
Software: Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) installed via dual boot (Boot Camp) or virtual machine (Parallels Desktop for Mac, VMWare Fusion, or Oracle VirtualBox)
Other: minimum 2 USB Ports
11″ x 17″ inkjet printer – highly recommended to defer cost of outside printing
Software:
Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Standard (includes Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Acrobat) Sophos Anti-virus (Downloadable from University)
Internet browser: Internet Explorer, Apple Safari or Firefox
Microsoft Office Home and Student
Google SketchUp (free download from Google)
The required software below can be downloaded for free from this link: http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity
You will need an official VCU email address to register and install the required software below.
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013
Autodesk AutoCad Architecture 2013
Kinetic Imaging
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Students in the Kinetic Imaging BFA Program are required to purchase/lease the following technology for KI courses:
Video camera
Students entering Kinetic Imaging are required to have a camera, preferably one that records to disc or hard drive, not tape. The camera can be any brand, however, you should ensure that it is compatible with your video editing software and computer.
Computer (Mac or PC, desktop or laptop).
- Macintosh Intel Core 2 Duo with two gigabytes of RAM, or Windows system with the Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor
- two gigabytes of RAM
- 4 GB of available hard-disk space plus 2 GB of space for optional content; these should be 7200rpm.
- It is highly recommended that you purchase an external hard drive to store your data.
- 1280 x 1024 display with OpenGL 2.0–compatible video card
- 4 GB of available hard-disk space plus 2 GB of space for optional content;
- 64-bit operating system preferred
Software requirements
- MS Office 2008
- Adobe CS5 Production Premium
- Final Cut Studio 7
- Anti-virus software (downloadable from the University)
- Additional software packages may be required with specific KI courses
*Adobe Production Premium CS5 includes After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere, Encore, SoundBooth, Illustrator and more. Be sure you are getting the educational discount through ordering at the VCU Bookstore or online at JourneyEd.com!
For students interested in 3D animation, we recommend that you talk to the 3D instructors before you buy any 3D animation software. Currently we are using Autodesk Maya.
Recommended
Audio recording
- sound recorder such as the H4 Zoom Recorder or the H2 Zoom.
Specifications are subject to change.
Virginia Commonwealth University computer requirements.
………..
Music
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Painting & Printmaking
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Photography & Film
The university requires that all students have a personal computer. Please wait to purchase a desktop or laptop computer until your first class meeting when computer requirements will be discussed. At this time, Photography majors use the latest version of Adobe Photoshop and Filmmaking majors use the latest version of Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid, and Adobe After Effects. Our departmental computer lab is equipped with computers with the latest operating system.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
To see other departmental requirements visit this website: http://www.arts.vcu.edu/photofilm/undergraduate/
Sculpture + Extended Media
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
Theatre
Although this department does not require its students to purchase a computer for its classes, the university does require that our students have a computer while attending VCU. Please visit http://www.vcu.edu/sci/ for the university’s recommended minimum configurations. Specifications are subject to change. Specifications are subject to change.
To directly purchase a VCU recommended system visit this link to get started: http://g2g.vcu.edu/getit/
