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From: lamaster@pioneer.arpa (Hugh LaMaster)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: What is Computer Science?
Message-ID: <3386@ames.arpa>
Date: Thu, 12-Nov-87 19:47:35 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.3386
Posted: Thu Nov 12 19:47:35 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Nov-87 21:11:12 EST
References: <933@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> <719@devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV> <3597@uw-june.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ames.arpa
Reply-To: lamaster@ames.UUCP (Hugh LaMaster)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
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In article <3597@uw-june.UUCP> pattis@uw-june.UUCP (Richard Pattis) writes:

>No flames here, but I am happy to be called a programmer;  I teach an

>Now, I understand that when one says computer scientist, the world thinks
>programmer; and we all know that it's not true. But this is common: a friend

I am sometimes given to wonder, though, about the supposed shortage of
programmers and computer scientists.  It seems to me that there are enough
computer scientists, (at each level of BS MS and PHD); most research teaching,
and "creative" fields have "enough" practitioners because many people enjoy
doing such thinggs.  It also seems to me that there are plenty of programmers
being turned out by lower tier "computer science" programs.  At least, I
haven't noticed the great programmer shortage that the papers keep talking
about.  (I think it lasted for about two years, 1977-1978 or so).  But I have
noticed a significant shortage of what I call software engineers, and I wish
more good quality engineering schools would take software engineering more
seriously.

On the same subject, namely, engineering, are there any schools left which
follow the once popular 5-year plan?  I see many complaints in this newsgroup
about the fact that most computer science and EE programs don't have enough:
Math, Physics, Humanities, etc., but 8 semesters is not really enough time to
cover all the Science and Humanities material AND provide depth in an
engineering discipline.  Back in the fifties and sixties, many schools had
five year programs for engineers, but I never seem to hear about them anymore.
Ten semesters would make it lot easier to fit it all in.



  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")