Objectives

• Productive & Engaged Learning Environments - The amount and variety of digital work are continually increasing over time. This policy fosters a strong learning environment by ensuring that each student has the digital tools that they need at the studio desk and in the classroom.
• Competent and Self-Sufficient Graduates - The increasing role of digital technologies in all aspects of professional and academic life means that technological competency and self-sufficiency will likely be necessary for the success of our graduates. This policy places ownership and responsibility for their personal computing environment into the hands of the student so that they can develop the skills, habits, and proficiencies that they will need to navigate the technological aspects of their future.

Funding

Students can submit a request to Student Financial Services for a one-time $4,000 increase in the estimated cost of attendance to cover computer and software purchases.

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

The hardware requirements are functional. Students are required to provide hardware capable of running any software required by their program or syllabi. The School of Architecture Technology staff will provide annually updated hardware recommendations for design and non-design students to aid students in selecting appropriate hardware. In addition to the minimum and recommended components, the Technology staff also offers a detailed page of recommended models and how to purchase them.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Lists of the software can be found below. Information on pricing and availability of all software packages can be found in Software Purchasing Resources.

Design Students

Undergraduate students enrolled in the B.Arch, BSAS, and BSID programs and graduate students enrolled in the M.Arch, MLA, MID, SD, UD, and HP programs are required to have a laptop computer and legally licensed CAD, presentation, and productivity software for use in their courses and studios. Core courses in these degree programs may include software packages in their syllabi that are required for the student to purchase and install on their computers.

UTSOA requires that each design student provides on his or her required laptop computer the following types of legally licensed software:

1. CAD Software - Computer-Aided Design Software
2. Presentation Software - Imaging, Desktop, and Web Publishing
3. Productivity Software - Word Processing, Spreadsheet, & Digital Presentation
   
   

Due to the necessary intersection between specific software applications and the curriculum of core design courses, the School of Architecture currently mandates the following software applications to fulfill the requirements above.

Non-Design Students

Students enrolled in a degree program that does not have a studio component are required to have a computer but have the option to meet the requirement with either a desktop or laptop. Core courses in these degree programs may include software packages in their syllabi that are required for the student to purchase and install on their computers. 

The software requirements for non-design students are handled on a course-by-course basis.