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From: dickey@ssc-vax.UUCP (Frederick J Dickey)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Computer Science: where it belongs
Message-ID: <1500@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Nov-87 11:49:02 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.1500
Posted: Wed Nov  4 11:49:02 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Nov-87 19:24:45 EST
References: <469@ndsuvax.UUCP> <618@hu-cap.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle WA
Lines: 17
Summary: put it in engineering college

> in article <469@ndsuvax.UUCP>, ncmagel@ndsuvax.UUCP (ken magel) says:
>> Why not view computer science as a performing art such as painting or music 
>> which has two main parts:  performance ( e.g., software engineering), and 
>> theory ( study of the phenomena underlying software engineering - why they 
>> work and how they can be improved).  Perhaps Computer Science programs should
>> be placed within Collges of Art. 

There is a serious problem with this proposal. There exist engineering firms
that in the past had certain curious hiring practices (and may still have them).
If a recent CS grad (from a school where the CS department is in the
Engineering College) applied for a job, the firm would say, "Hey! This guy is
cool, he's an engineer, let's hire him as a well-paid engineer." If a grad
from a school where the CS department is in the arts college applied for a
job, the firm would say, "Hey! This guy is not cool, he's not an engineer, let's
hire him as a poorly-paid technical aide." This is irrespective of the merits
of either the grad or the school. This is not a fairy tale, this is how it 
really happens.