BYOD Options for Students
Montgomery County Community College offers several options for students to secure a laptop for academic use. Please review the options below to find the best fit for your needs.
1. Borrow a Laptop from the Library
If you only need a laptop for a few hours at a time, borrowing one from the library is a great option. Laptops are available for short-term use during library hours.
2. Use PC Workstations in the Library
You can use one of the PC workstations located in the library during normal operating hours. This is a convenient option if you need access to a computer but do not have your own device.
3. Purchase Your Own Device
Through our preferred partnership with Dell, you can purchase a quality laptop at discounted pricing. This device can be used throughout your academic journey and beyond and is yours to keep! Please note that you may also be eligible to purchase your new laptop through the use of financial aid.
4. Laptop Loaner Program
Montgomery County Community College is happy to provide a loaner device through our Laptop Loaner program. Learn more about how to secure a loaner device.
Important Notes
- Use of a Chromebook or cell phone is NOT recommended.
- Please review the technical requirements needed for your personal device and check
to see if your program requires advanced hardware and/or software.
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum technical requirements for standard coursework:
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode) or Mac OS 12 Monterey or newer
- Intel or AMD equivalent processor for Windows / Intel or Apple processor for OSX
- 4 GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- 64 GB solid state storage (128GB or more recommended)
- Wireless networking: 802.11 a/g/n/ac/ax
- Webcam
- Embedded microphone and speakers (headset preferred)
- 4- to 6-hour battery life
- Access to high-speed internet
Regardless Of Which Option You Choose
As a registered student, Montgomery County Community College will provide you with access to:
- Install the Microsoft Office Suite on up to 5 personal devices.
- Access to more than 30 different productivity applications via Microsoft 365.
- Navigate to the Microsoft 365 Apps portal
- Log in with your mc3 credentials
Special Program Requirements
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Computer Networking and Cyber Security
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=512GB SSD
- Dedicated GPU with >= 4GB VRAM
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Refer to course syllabus.
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes, on-campus computer labs are only available for students in CIS 171 and CIS 172
Computer Science
General Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Refer to Course Syllabus
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Specific Course Requirements
- CIS 111, CIS 111B, CIS 112, CIS 137: Require a Mac or Windows Computer (No Chromebooks)
- CIS 177, CIS 214, CIS 276:
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=512GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Electrical Engineering Science
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Solidworks
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Review Course Syllabus
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Fine Arts
Hardware requirements
- Mac OS 12 Monterey>=i5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- GPU with at least >=2GB of VRAM
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes
Information Technology
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- SQL
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Interactive Media - Game Design
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=512GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Autodesk Maya
- ZBrush Core
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes
Mass Media – Media Production
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=512GB SSD
- Dedicated GPU with >= 4GB VRAM
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite with Adobe Premiere Pro
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes
Mass Media – Media Studies
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=512GB SSD
- Dedicated GPU with >= 4GB VRAM
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite with Adobe Premiere Pro
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes
Software Engineering
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Refer to course syllabus.
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Sound Recording and Music Technology
Hardware requirements
- MacOS 12
- Intel >=i5 processor
- >=16GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Avid ProTools
- Apple GarageBand
- Reason
- Melodyne
On-campus computer lab access
- Yes
Web Development and Design
Hardware requirements
- Windows 11 (non S-Mode)
- >=Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- >=8GB RAM
- >=256GB SSD
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Speakers
Software requirements
- Refer to course syllabus.
On-campus computer lab access
- No
Special Course Requirements
/
ART Courses
| Courses | Computer Type | Additional Software | Additional Suggested Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art 130 2D Design | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
Wacom drawing tablet |
| ART 131 2D Design/Color Theory | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
Wacom drawing tablet |
| Art 138 Digital Art I | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
Wacom drawing tablet |
| Art 139 Digital Art II | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
Wacom drawing tablet |
| ART 180 Intro to Visual Communication | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 182 Typography | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 171 Printmaking I | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop and Illustrator Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 271 Printmaking II | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop and Illustrator Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 272 Printmaking III | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop and Illustrator Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 155 Digital Photography I | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 156 Digital Photography II | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 285 Illustration I | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 286 Illustration II | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 238 Animation I | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, ToonBoom Harmony
Advanced, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 240 Animation II | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, ToonBoom Harmony
Advanced, DragonFrame StopMotion, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
|
| ART 241 Animation III | Apple OSX based computer | Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, ToonBoom Harmony
Advanced, DragonFrame StopMotion, Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
CIS Courses
| Courses | Computer Type | Additional Software | Additional Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIS 110 Computer Information Systems for Management | Microsoft Windows based computer | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 1101 Programming for Everyone | Microsoft Windows based computer |
Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) Visual Logic |
|
| CIS 111 Computer Science I: Programming and Concepts | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer (No Chromebooks) | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 111B Computer Science II: Object-Oriented Programming | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer (No Chromebooks) | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 112 Computer Science III: Data Structures & Algorithms | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer (No Chromebooks) | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 113 IT Hardware Essentials and Support | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | TestOut Software | |
| CIS 126 Computer Architecture & Organization | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | Computer must support Java JDK (V8 or later) to execute MARS MIPS assembly language emulation software. | |
| CIS 137 The Language of Digital Media | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer (No Chromebooks) | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 141 Introduction to Linux | Microsoft Windows, Linux or Apple OSX based computer | May need to purchase external drive or USB | |
| CIS 155 PC Applications on Networks | Microsoft Windows based computer | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 171 Switching, Routing and Wireless Essentials | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | May need to purchase a network cable or adapter | |
| CIS 172 Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | May need to purchase a network cable or adapter | |
| CIS 177 Introduction to 3D Modeling | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | Autodesk Maya/System and video card requirements for Autodesk Maya |
|
| CIS 207 Introduction to Computer Forensics | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer | NDG Online Forensic software | |
| CIS 214 Advanced 3D Modeling | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer |
|
|
| CIS 245 Database Management Systems Using SQL | Microsoft Windows based computer | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) | |
| CIS 276 Game & Simulation Programming Foundations | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer |
|
EGR/ EGT Courses
| Courses | Computer Type |
Additional Software | Additional Suggested Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| All EGR Courses | Microsoft Windows based computer (Windows 11) | Refer to Course Syllabus | |
| EGR 115 | Microsoft Windows based computer (Windows 11) | Solidworks | |
| All EGT Courses | Microsoft Windows based computer (Windows 11) | Refer to Course Syllabus |
NUR Courses
| Courses | Computer Type |
Additional Software | Additional Suggested Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUR Courses | Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX based computer (No Chromebook or IPAD) | Refer to Course Syllabus |
RAD Courses
| Courses | Computer Type |
Additional Software | Additional Suggested Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAD Courses | Microsoft Windows based computer (Windows 11) | Microsoft Office Suite (Office is free to enrolled students) |
IT Support HoursLive Service |
|
| Mon-Thurs: | 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. |
| Friday: | 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| Saturday: | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
| Sunday: | CLOSED |
Phone Support215-641-6495 |
|
Walk-Up ServiceBlue Bell:Available during live service hours - Weekends Closed |
|
| Pottstown: Mon-Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
|
