Laptop Requirements

Laptops are integrated into CPH curricula, and all students are required to have a laptop for full participation in class activities; online class sessions; online exam proctoring; and the use of special software, which is used to reinforce the learning objectives and program student learning competencies in certain classes. A laptop that meets the minimum device specifications defined below IS REQUIRED across the board for all undergraduate and graduate students in CPH.

  • If you already own a laptop, please check to be sure that it meets the technical specifications below. In particular, it is important that you have a camera and microphone to be able to participate in online course offerings. Headphones are recommended but not required. It is important to make sure your laptop has sufficient processor speed, memory and hard drive capacity for the software packages required, particularly, if you are in the MPH and HIM programs.
  • Financial aid may be able to be used for laptop purchases. Consult Financial Aid Services for information concerning financial aid. Options for Temple students to rent or borrow laptops may also available.

Device Specifications

  • Operating System:
    • Windows laptops: Windows 11
    • Mac laptops: MacOS 10.12 or higher with Windows 10/11 64-bit via Bootcamp (or other Virtual Machine software)
  • CPU: Intel i5 Dual Core or greater/equivalent
  • RAM Memory: 8GB or greater
  • Hard Drive: Solid state drive - 256 GB or larger
  • Audio and video: Integrated webcam and microphone for online conferencing and collaboration
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 g/n (or greater)
  • Ethernet port or USB-to-adapter: 2+ USB ports
  • Screen Size: 13” or larger (15” is recommended)
  • Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p Full HD) or higher
  • Video out:
    • Windows laptops: HDMI or USB-C adapter
    • Mac laptops: USB-C to HDMI
  • Warranty: 3 years or the length of your degree program; Accidental Damage and Extended Warranties are recommended

Important Notes

  • Chromebooks are not acceptable as they do not meet the specifications.
  • Apple M1/M2 Macs will not run Bootcamp, so therefore cannot run SAS, or any other program that only runs on Windows.
  • Please review the section on Program-specific software requirements to see if you require any Windows-only programs. This should heavily guide your decision on whether to purchase a Windows or Apple device.
  • Although a solid state drive is not required, solid state drives offer significant performance improvements and stability. If a system without a solid state drive is selected, the drive speed should be 7200 RPM. Larger drives are normally 5400 RPM and are not recommended.
  • Some laptops come with a 1366x768 display resolution. This will not be sufficient for viewing dataset and multiple items on the screen at the same time. A 1080p display should be the minimum. 1080p is sometimes classified as FHD or Full High Definition. A 4k or Ultra HD display is higher resolution than 1080p and is acceptable.
  • HDMI: Not all laptops include a standard size HDMI output (some are Mini-HDMI/Micro-HDMI, Mini-DisplayPort, etc.). If this is the case, an HDMI adapter will be needed and will not be provided by Temple University.
  • An Accidental Damage and Extended Warranty with rental coverage is strongly recommended. Your laptop is critical for coursework, and downtime will negatively impact your ability to complete in class activities and assignments.

Sample Systems

Suggested Vendors

The Temple OWLtech store offers discounted pricing on systems configured specifically to meet CPH requirements.

Other Vendors also offer educational discounts to Temple students

Rentals and Loaners

Options for Temple students to rent or borrow laptops are listed below.

  • Long-term rentals: The OWLtech offers low-cost rental options in one-week, one-month, and one-semester increments.
  • Short-term loaners: Laptops are available to borrow in 4-hour increments at the TECH Center and in Laptop Share Kiosks at various locations on campus.

Program-specific software requirements

For a list of all software installed instructions maintained by CPH IT, please see here: Software Installation Instructions

Health Information Management (HIM)

  • If you have a Mac, Bootcamp and Windows are required. Apple M1/M2 Macs will not run Bootcamp
  • Some required programs only run on Windows; instructions are available on the Installing Windows with Boot Camp web page
  • Microsoft 365 including Access: Download and installation information is available at Office 365
  • Microsoft Power BI: Download and installation information is available at Office 365
  • MySQL: Installation instructions are available on the MySQL Installation web site
  • Proctorio: Access via your Canvas course
  • SPSS: Available on the Software Download Site
  • Tableau and Tableau Prep: Your instructor will provide you with your license key. For installation instructions, see the Tableau and Tableau Prep instruction pages.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

  • If you have a Mac, Bootcamp and Windows are required. Apple M1/M2 Macs will not run Bootcamp
  • Some required programs only run on Windows; instructions are available on the Installing Windows with Boot Camp web page.