We’re committed to the academic success of our students, and there are many resources available to help enhance your academic journey here at Carleton.
Best of all, we are here to help you along the way!
Resources
All other policies, forms and resources are available on the MJ Portal in Brightspace.
Getting Help
Computer and equipment purchase recommendations
What type of computer and software should I have for the program?
We recommend each student have a laptop computer. Much of the campus is wireless, and a laptop gives you flexibility in where you can work.
When on campus, you’ll work in our Mac-based Journalism labs. If you are planning to buy a new laptop for school, this does NOT mean you are required to have a Mac, although that’s our recommendation. If you prefer a PC, that’s fine, too.
For Mac users – we suggest you consider a MacBook Pro (Note: Do NOT purchase a MacBook Air or an Intel-based MacBook Pro). Here are the minimum specifications we recommend:
- Apple M3 chip
- 16 GB RAM
- 512 GB SSD hard drive
- Retina display
Please note: Apple’s Silicone-based computers have memory that is integrated with the M-chip processor and cannot be upgraded after the fact. We recommend that you NOT purchase a Mac computer with just 8GB or RAM. Tasks such as video editing are resource extensive. The more RAM you can get, the better.
For PC users – we suggest you check out Dell XPS range. (Note: Do NOT purchase a Chromebook or other basic Web-based laptop). Here are the minimum specifications we recommend:
- Intel Core Ultra 7 or newer CPU – or AMD or Snapdragon equivalent
- Windows 11 Pro
- 16 GB RAM
- 512 GB SSD hard drive
- 1920×1080 monitor resolution or greater
You will need a computer that is capable of executing processor-intensive tasks such as photo, video and audio editing, rendering video effects and transitions, and exporting/compressing video for distribution. A computer with a fast processor and ample amount of RAM will make these processes faster and more efficient.
It is imperative that you have an external hard drive with a minimum of 1 TB of space to archive and back up your files. Computers sometimes crash and maintaining a proper backup of your system and project files will ensure you don’t have substantial data loss.
We highly recommend that you have a USB flash drive (minimum 32 GB) for day-to-day file storage.
Also, purchasing a printer for home use if you don’t already have one is a good idea.
Software
Microsoft Office 365
You will need an office software suite for your class assignments. You can use Microsoft Office 365 for PCs and Mac (It’s free for all Carleton students: https://carleton.ca/its/ms-offer-students/). You can also use the free OpenOffice apps. Each of these office suites will produce and read documents in the MS Word format, which is the word processing program used by the School.
Adobe Creative Cloud
As a journalism student, you will be provided with an Adobe Creative Cloud license at the start of the second year to use while you are in the BJ program. This licence will allow you to install and use all Adobe software titles – Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Audition – on your personal computer.