Program Curriculum

Computer Science Program

Please keep the following hardware requirements in mind when selecting a laptop to use when taking computer or data science courses:

Lakeland University has desktop computers in the computer science classrooms that will have the recommended requirements needed for the computer science curriculum. However, most students like to bring their own laptops.

Recommended hardware specifications are below.

If you plan on using a laptop for your courses, please see the following requirements. Please note that there are items in these requirements that are listed as desirable or recommended. They are recommended because they will make your laptop more powerful and versatile, with a longer effective lifespan. Thy recommended configuration options are not required – minimum requirements will be sufficient.

Systems purchased within the past two (2) years will typically be outfitted with the recommended features. Please confirm that your laptop meets these minimum requirements.

Note that a tablet such as a Microsoft Surface, Apple iPad with a keyboard, or a Chromebook is not sufficient for the Computer Science curriculum.

Hardware Minimum Requirements Recommended Requirements
CPU Quad Core (not counting hyper-threading) 2.4Ghz, Intel VT or AMD-V (Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 or better)
VirtualBox/VMware must be supported.
Intel i7/AMD Ryzen 7
VirtualBox/VMware must be supported.
Memory 16GB More memory, or the ability to install more memory is desirable
Disk 256 GB SSD 512 GB SSD or larger
Network Internet access required
USB WiFi required for on-campus classes
USB-A required for peripheral connectivity
USB-C to USB-A adapter if the laptop does not have any USB-A ports.
Peripheral Webcam and microphone
Miscellaneous
Installs Students must be able to install software on the computer they will use for courses
Operating Systems The ability to either dual boot into Windows or Linux is necessary.
If a system can run these operating systems in VMware with only a minor performance impact is also acceptable
Microsoft Office Provided to all Lakeland University students.
Students should be able to run these programs either on their system or access the web versions
Development Software Provided at no additional cost to the student. These include many Microsoft developer tools and operating systems, as well as VMware and many open-source programs, software, security tools and Linux distributions
Service An extended warranty is recommended

Computer Science students posing for picture with Lakeland robots.

Cooperative Education

Learn From the Best

Computer Science students enrolled in Lakeland's traditional program on the main campus have the ability to gain 12-18 months of full-time work experience and academic credit for their work through our Cooperative Education program. A combination of scholarships and wages will help significantly reduce or eliminate post-graduation debt.

Experiential Education

Ready to start a career in Computer Science? Get started by filling out the contact form.

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