Technology Requirements (Effective July 1, 2025)

Pfeiffer University emphasizes digital learning and collaboration, with a significant portion of coursework delivered online. To ensure academic success, all students are expected to have access to a reliable laptop and high-speed internet that meet or exceed the following specifications.

General Requirements for All Students

  • Broadband Internet Access: Required for all students. Residential students have access to campus Wi-Fi; non-residential and online students must secure their own service.
  • Webcam: Integrated or external, required for video conferencing.
  • Headset with Microphone: USB or Bluetooth preferred for clear communication.
  • Wi-Fi: Dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) recommended.

Laptop Specifications:

Windows Systems

  • Operating System: Windows 11 (64-bit)
    • Windows 10 will reach its end of support on October 14, 2025.
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 (12th Gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 5 (5000 series or newer)
  • Memory (RAM): 16 GB recommended
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) recommended
  • Graphics: Integrated graphics are sufficient for general use; a discrete GPU is recommended for media-intensive majors
  • Battery Life: 8+ hours recommended

Macintosh Systems

  • Operating System: macOS Sonoma (14) or later
    • macOS Ventura (version 13) is expected to reach its end of support in October 2025.
  • Processor: Apple M1 chip or newer (M2/M3 recommended)
  • Memory (RAM): 16 GB recommended
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD recommended
  • Battery Life: 10+ hours recommended

Google Systems, like Chromebooks, are not supported as they do not meet the minimum requirements to provide a reliable digital learning and collaboration experience for online coursework.  

Software and Security

  • Microsoft 365 Education Suite: Provided free to all students (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive).
    • Microsoft 365 for Mac supports the three most recent major versions of macOS.  
  • Security Software:
    • Windows: Windows Security (built-in) is sufficient.
    • Mac: Students should install reputable antivirus software.
  • Browser Compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge are supported; however, Chrome is the recommended browser.