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From: lamaster@pioneer.arpa (Hugh LaMaster)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Computer Science: where it belongs
Message-ID: <3355@ames.arpa>
Date: Tue, 10-Nov-87 12:06:51 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.3355
Posted: Tue Nov 10 12:06:51 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Nov-87 21:24:26 EST
References: <469@ndsuvax.UUCP> <16118@clyde.ATT.COM> <180@spock.UUCP> <4422@pyr.gatech.EDU>
Sender: usenet@ames.arpa
Reply-To: lamaster@ames.UUCP (Hugh LaMaster)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Lines: 40

In article <4422@pyr.gatech.EDU> kludge@pyr.UUCP (Scott Dorsey) writes:

>   Computer science programs for undergraduates are pretty heavy on
>technique when compared with EE programs.  An attempt is made to point
>out what programming style is.  This doesn't guarantee that it will
>make good programmers, or good scientists, and the emphasis on programming
>or science is a choice that must me made by the school.  In a similar

I have to agree with the previous posters who said that:

1) Computer Science and Software Engineering are not the same subject
   and deserve separate programs, and

2) Anyone who claims to be either a Scientist or an Engineer should have
   a knowledge of mathematics at least through "Advanced Calculus" (the second
   year after Freshman calculus), PLUS, whatever tools of Applied Mathematics
   are necessary for their particular discipline, e.g. Probability,
   Statistics, and Stochastic Processes, and/or Differential Equations, etc.

A Computer Science curriculum should focus on Algorithms, Languages,
Compilers, Numerical Analysis, and so on.

A Software Engineering curriculum should focus on software development,
management of large projects, software maintenance, operating systems,
networks, etc.

Programming is an integral part of either curriculum, but not the only part of
either.






  Hugh LaMaster, m/s 233-9,  UUCP {topaz,lll-crg,ucbvax}!
  NASA Ames Research Center                ames!pioneer!lamaster
  Moffett Field, CA 94035    ARPA lamaster@ames-pioneer.arpa
  Phone:  (415)694-6117      ARPA lamaster@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov

(Disclaimer: "All opinions solely the author's responsibility")