Interactive Journalism Program
Download recommendations - updated March 2011
Film & Media Arts Graduate Programs
Requirements and Recommendations - updated April 2011
Computer Recommendations:
If you find that you have questions about any of the specific recommendations, please call the SOC Techline at 202-885-3570.
Equipment
Recommended Laptop
SOC recommends either the 15” or 17” MacBook Pro with the following configuration:
- 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor
- 500 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
- 8GB RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M Video Card
- Applecare Protection Plan
If you are not purchasing a new computer, the minimum computer specs for your existing computer is a 2.5 GHz MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM.
Any MacBook Pro purchased in the last year will have the right processor and video card. It is easy to determine if the computer is a MacBook vs. a MacBook Pro. RAM upgrades are available and affordable through MacUpgrades in Bethesda, Md.
Recommended Peripherals
- External Hard Drive. 7200 RPM external Firewire drive, 320 GB or larger. One example is the LaCie Rugged 500GB External FireWire 800 / FireWire 400 & Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Hard Disk Drive. For video editing, external hard drives should be Firewire capable.
- Flash Memory USB thumb drive: 4 – 16 GB
Recomended Software Applications (4)
- iLife (comes free with a new MacBook Pro)
- iWorks ($71) or Open Office (free)
- Graphics: Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium Edition
- Video Editing: Apple Final Cut Express or Final Cut Studio (includes Final Cut Pro)
If you like, you can buy the recommended hardware and software from Apple at www.apple.com/edu/ausoc where you will find pricing and offers for SOC students. Or you can visit academicsuperstore.com. If you are new to this type of technology, don’t worry - our Techline staff members are happy to answer questions.
