The Department of Communication requires incoming Communication majors to purchase certain technology and equipment necessary for production and presentation of projects within departmental courses.
All incoming students are required to purchase a personal laptop computer and software. Each concentration in the Department provides specific guidelines for hardware and software and a suggested timetable for purchases. The required computer and software must be selected from an approved departmental list of minimum hardware and software requirements available on the Department of Communication web site.
Financial aid that includes this requirement may be available by contacting the MSU Student Financial Aid and Scholarship office.
Additionally, upon enrollment in CO 3403 Photographic Communication, students will be required to purchase a digital single-lens reflex (dSLR) camera. The required camera must be selected from an approved departmental list of minimum specifications. The approved list is available on the
Department of Communication web site.
Additional fees associated with class materials and technology are associated with certain classes in the Department and are automatically assessed to the students upon enrollment in those courses.
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS STATEMENT
The Department of Communication Computer and Camera Requirements component found within the Mississippi State University Catalog covers all Communication majors and goes into effect immediately upon students' enrollment into their first semester courses in Communication.
Students wishing to pursue a minor in Communication, along with students pursuing a GLA (General Liberal Arts) or BSIS (Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies) degree program with a Communication component will be required to meet the equipment, computers, and software requirements set for majors. Non-majors taking classes in the Department that utilize these technology requirements in class will also need to meet these requirements.
The specifications for all of the required technology will be updated and located on our website, as well as in print form in the main office (130 McComas Hall), and in PDF (emailable) format.
These requirements reflect those found at other competitive institutions of higher education.Students within the Department of Communication will utilize this technology in the production of classroom projects and assignments. These requirements will help students excel in their courses while at Mississippi State and as professionals in their respective fields after graduation.
Computer Requirements (updated every spring semester)
The Mississippi State University Department of Communication requires that all incoming and transfer communication majors purchase a personal computer. The Department strongly recommends that students purchase one of the recommended systems below to guarantee compatibility and smooth operation with the required software packages.
Students will need to bring these computers to certain classes in the Department for use during class time to work on and to complete assignments. For this reason, laptop computers are required. Desktop systems will not be acceptable in terms of meeting the Departmental requirements.
The Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) software package is available by subscription only at this time. Subscriptions are based on yearly terms with educational pricing and subscriptions allow access to the entire suite of applications. Students are strongly encouraged to prioritize scheduling of classes to take advantage of their subscription terms. Adobe subscription plans can be found at
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html.
Microsoft Office is available with the Microsoft Student Advantage Program. Information about this can be found at https://servicedesk.msstate.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=1371.
A list of classes in the Department that require the use of laptops in the classroom can be found following the hardware requirements. This list is updated every spring semester and is organized by concentration area.
Due to their prevalence in the fields associated with communication industries, the Department of Communication recommends the purchase and use of Apple computers. All relevant demonstrations and handouts will also be produced with software running on the Mac OS X platform. For students who are unfamiliar with the Mac OS X environment, there are several software packages that will allow Microsoft Windows programs to operate within the Mac OS X environment.
Students should carefully consider their budgetary needs throughout the entire course of their studies when making a computer purchase selection. Options such as additional RAM, larger hard drives (SSD storage), and faster processors can add to the original cost of a machine but can also extend its useful lifespan and prolong the need for replacement. You may also need adapters (for Ethernet and storage) if your MacBook utilizes USB-C technology
Options such as an external display or Apple TV (which can project from an Apple computer to a HDTV) may be useful to some students but are not required. The AppleCare Protection Plan (3 year extended warranty) is also an option some may find useful.
Options listed below are sourced from the online Apple Store for Education (April 2019) and reflect available educational discounts on current models. Price ranges begin at the base model(s) and the upper end would include many but not all available upgrades.
Current versions of the Adobe Creative Cloud require macOS 10.12 Sierra (or higher).
Please note: The MacBook Pro is the recommended laptop computer for students in
Broadcasting, Journalism, or Public Relations. The MacBook and MacBook Air models are not recommended for students in those concentrations. MacBook and MacBook Air models tend to have older and/or slower processors and are not optimized for graphics intensive programs They are designed for extended battery life and/or for word-processing applications and general
use.
Please note: Computers older than three model years may not adequately run the Adobe Creative Cloud due to older processors and other hardware issues. The majority of classes requiring the Adobe Creative Cloud are Upper Division (junior/senior level) classes. It is suggested that students purchase their recommended laptop once they begin the sequence of classes requiring the Adobe Creative Cloud software.
Option 1 (recommended for most students):
- 13" MacBook Pro (2.3 GHz dual-core 7th generation i5 processor)
- Prince Ranges for 13": 1249-2499
*Upper end includes all upgrades to processor, memory and storage
Option 2 (higher-end; recommended for students interested in
working more with video and/or photography):
- 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID
(2.2 GHz 6-core 8th generation i7 processor) - 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID
(2.6 GHz 6-core 8th generation i7 processor) - Prince Ranges for 15": 2249-2599 base models; 3589-3899 upgraded
*Upgrades to processor, memory, graphics and storage to 1TB
Specifications for Hardware & Software – By Concentration:
Broadcast and Digital Journalism (new curriculum effective Fall 2019 for
freshmen and new transfer students):
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 2413 Intro to News Writing
• CO 3313 News Writing for Electronic Media
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 2333 TV Production
• CO 3333 Advanced TV Production
• CO 3403 Photographic Communication
• CO 3713 Digital Communication
• CO 4343 Backpack Video Journalism
• CO 4713 Digital Communication II
• CO 4394 Broadcast Capstone
Broadcasting (previous curriculum):
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 2413 Intro to News Writing
• CO 3313 News Writing for Electronic Media
• CO 3343 Writing for the Media
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 2333 TV Production
• CO 3333 Advanced TV Production
• CO 4373 Practicum in Television News
Communication Studies:
No specific courses require a laptop to be brought to class to complete course projects and/or assignments. No software outside of the Microsoft Office Suite is required.
Journalism (previous curriculum):
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 2413 Intro to News Writing
• CO 3423 Feature Writing
• CO 3443 Advanced News Writing
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 2423 Editing and Typography
• CO 3403 Photographic Communication
Print and Digital Journalism (new curriculum effective Fall 2019 for freshmen
and new transfer students):
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 2413 Intro to News Writing
• CO 3423 Feature Writing
• CO 3443 Advanced News Writing
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 2333 TV Production
• CO 3403 Photographic Communication
• CO 3443 Editing and Design
• CO 3713 Digital Communication
• CO 4713 Digital Communication II
• CO 4494 Bulldog Online Newsroom
Public Relations:
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 2413 Intro to News Writing
• CO 3853 PR Writing
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 2333 TV Production or CO 3403 Photographic Comm or CO 3713 Digital Comm
• CO 3863 PR Production
• CO 4813 PR in Organizations
Theatre:
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 4504 History of Theatre
• CO 4583 Playwriting
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 4573 Theatre Management
Classes requiring MS Office, Adobe CC, and Sketchup/Autocad*:
* Free Student Versions
• CO 2524 Stagecraft and Lighting
• CO 2544 Makeup and Costuming
Elective Courses – not required in any specific concentration:
Classes requiring MS Office only:
• CO 3343 Writing for the Media
Classes requiring MS Office and Adobe CC:
• CO 4423 Advanced Photographic Communication
CAMERA REQUIREMENTS STATEMENT
The Department of Communication Computer and Camera Requirements component found within the Mississippi State University Catalog covers all Communication majors and goes into effect immediately upon students' enrollment into their first semester courses in Communication.
Students wishing to pursue a minor in Communication, along with students pursuing a GLA (General Liberal Arts) or BSIS (Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies) degree program with a Communication component will be required to meet the equipment, computers, and software requirements set for majors. Non majors taking classes in the Department that utilize these technology requirements in class will also need to meet these requirements.
The specifications for all of the required technology will be updated and located on our website, as well as in print form in the main office (130 McComas Hall), and in PDF (emailable) format.
These requirements reflect those found at other competitive institutions of higher education. Students within the Department of Communication will utilize this technology in the production of classroom projects and assignments. These requirements will help students excel in their courses while at Mississippi State and as professionals in their respective fields after graduation.
Camera Requirements (to be updated every spring semester)
The Mississippi State University Department of Communication requires that students purchase a 35mm style digital single-lens reflex (dSLR) camera upon enrollment in CO 3403 Photographic Communication. Photographic Communication is a beginning photography class that emphasizes learning the manual functions of the camera in order to create effective imagery in visual communication for use in journalism, public relations, mass media, and related fields.
The Department recommends that students purchase a camera that meets the minimum specifications below. The list has been structured to meet all of the technical requirements for CO 3403: Photographic Communication. Students wishing to pursue photography further (via a class such as CO 4423: Advanced Photographic Communication) or wishing to explore dSLR video should purchase a camera meeting the specifications from the higher-end options list. It is permissible for students to purchase a camera that exceeds the minimum specifications listed
below.
All students should also purchase an appropriate memory card for their camera. Students should retain the user manual for their camera, along with any download cables, batteries and chargers. A tripod is not required although students may find one useful.
NOTE: Almost all new dSLR cameras offer the ability to shoot HD video and will match the minimums for the Advanced Camera Specifications. Students purchasing a used camera or those that already have an older dSLR should make sure their camera meets the Basic Camera Specifications for use in CO 3403: Photographic Communication.
NOTE: Mirrorless camera systems are becoming more popular and some mirrorless camera systems would be acceptable to purchase to fulfill the camera requirements. Please contact Associate Professor Wendy Roussin (wroussin@comm.msstate.edu) for more information if you would like to pursue this option.
Advanced Camera Specifications:
Type: dSLR
Manual Override: Yes
Pixels: 15 megapixels or higher
Sensor: CMOS, DX or FX format
File Types: RAW, JPG
Basic Lens: 18-55 mm (DX) or 50mm 'prime' lens (FX) or 24-85mm (FX)
HD Video: Yes, Required
Sample Brands / Models:
Canon Rebel / EOS (FX: most D series)
Nikon D3300-7500, (FX: D610-850)
Pentax K models, (FX: K-1)
Sony Alpha / SLT, (FX: A-99 II)