Student Resources

Hardware & Software Systems Requirements

December 19, 2024 | Tech Support

Every student is required to have a personal computer to successfully complete their coursework. To support your career readiness, the hardware and software requirements are designed to mimic equipment that you are likely to use in the workforce. Successful completion of coursework, virtual labs, certification exams, and coding assignments require a personal computer that meets the minimum hardware and software requirements outlined.

Minimum Specifications:​

     

    ITEM DEFINITION RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATION
    Hardware The physical computer on which you will perform the tasks for the courses.
    • PC Laptop, Notebook, or Desktop with USB, Ethernet ports, & 100GB of free hard drive space
    • Macs, Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, or mobile devices are NOT supported
    Processor (CPU) The CPU is the brain of the computer where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system.
    • Intel i5 or better
    • AMD A12 or better
    Operating System (OS) The operating system manages all the software and hardware on the computer and is a platform for applications like Microsoft Office, Cisco Packet Tracer, etc. 
    • 64-bit Microsoft Windows 10 or newer (Mac OS and Linux are not supported)
    RAM (Memory) Random Access Memory (RAM) is the main memory in a computer and provides the temporary data storage place that a computer needs run. 
    • 8 GB or higher
    Browsers A web browser is a software application for accessing the information on the internet. These browser versions are recommended for accessing your CIAT coursework.
    • Chrome 83 or newer
    • Firefox 78 or newer
    • Edge 83 or newer

     

     

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