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Dean's Office
O’Connell Technology Center, Room 410
530-898-5963
ecc@csuchico.edu
Regular Hours
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Friday
Mailing Address
College of ECC
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0003
Important Dates
ECC Programs: Laptop Required
College of ECC: Laptop Requirement
Students who declare a major or minor in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management (ECC) are required to purchase a laptop for use in coursework.
| Component | Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (no Celeron) | Intel Core i7-7600 or AMD Ryzen 7 | Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 |
| RAM | 16Gb or higher | 8Gb |
| Hard Disk | 500Gb or better SSD | 256Gb or better SSD |
| Display | 15.6 inch 1080p or better | 14 inch 1080p |
| Video RAM | NVIDIA GeForce RTX | Intel HD Graphics or AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Operating System | Windows 10 (or 11, check specifics by department below) | |
| Major Program | Laptop Requirements |
|---|---|
Engineering (Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, and Mechatronic) and Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Robotics | *PC laptop with two USB ports *At least one USB port with a powered USB hub Operating System - Windows 10 |
| Computer Animation & Game Development | Video RAM: NVDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Operating System - Windows 10 |
| Computer Information Systems & Computer Science | Contact CSCI Department |
| Concrete Industry Management & Construction Management | PC not MAC (Dell, HP or equal) 14” screen or greater 10 key on key board HDMI port 3 USB Ports |
- Find a video card(opens in new window) that is recommended for Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite.
- Laptops purchased through the Chico State Wildcat Store(opens in new window) on campus can purchase an extended warranty on the computer and the Wildcat Store(opens in new window) provides some technical support.
| Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|
| 15" MacBook Pro 2.7Ghz Intel Core i7 | 13" MacBook Pro 2.9 Ghz Intel Core i5 |
Important Notes about Mac Laptops:
- Majors in Engineering (Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, and Mechatronic), Concrete Industry Management, and Construction Management require use of a PC Laptop.
- Most College of ECC software is not compatible with OS X. Due to that, additional software may need to be purchased and installed in order to run MS Windows software within OS X, or your laptop can be dual booted. This requires a significant amount of memory so you should consider this when purchasing a laptop.
- Apple products are available at a discount through the Chico State Wildcat Store(opens in new window).
Free Campus Resources & Technology Support
- Download Microsoft Office 365(opens in new window) for FREE
- Download Adobe Creative Cloud(opens in new window) for FREE
- Technology Quick Start Guide for Students(opens in new window) hosted by IT Support Services (ITSS).(opens in new window)
- Free Academic Tools(opens in new window) (calendars, project management, transcription)
- Free Software and Internet Connectivity Resources(opens in new window)
- Resources for virtual instruction on the Keep Learning site.
- Certain Microsoft Products are available via the campus Microsoft Development Network (MSDN) Academic Alliance at no charge – see msdn.microsoft.com for details and login to accounts.ecst.csuchico.edu to request access to specific software.
- Various open-source alternatives are also available – see osalt.com for details.
Financial Aid
If you are required to purchase a laptop and you are unable to afford the purchase out-of-pocket or with your current financial aid award, please contact your College of ECC department or program office. Your department will supply the Financial Aid Office(opens in new window) with a list of all majors needing a computer loan. If possible, the Financial Aid Office will increase your Cost of Attendance to include the additional computer expenses and process a new loan for you. You MUST use these loan proceeds to purchase the required computer system. Contact Financial Aid for additional information.
Quick reference: Financial Aid Laptop Loan Information (PDF)
How to Verify Compatibility (PC or MAC)
To verify compatibility with an MS Windows laptop you currently own, open System by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System. Under System, you can view the processor type and speed, as well as a variety of other information about your laptop.
To verify compatibility with an Apple Mac laptop you currently own, open About This Mac by right-clicking the Apple button, and then clicking About This Mac. You can view additional information about your laptop by clicking the More Info... button.