Computing Curricula: The History And Current Status Of 4 Year Computing Programs

Abstract

The invention and creation of the digital computer in the mid-20th century gave rise to a host of new industries and dramatic changes in some of the programs offered at 4-year academic institutions. The first of these was the discipline of computer science, followed by the disciplines of information systems, computer-based library science, computer engineering, software engineering, and information technology. Additionally, there are newly-emerging programs in disciplines that are heavily computer-dependent, such as animation, industrial design, bioinformatics, and others. The purpose of this paper is to present the history and current status of the five core computing academic disciplines as described in the Computing Curriculum document: computer science, information systems, computer engineering, software engineering, and information technology. The information summarized includes the number of programs in existence, the development of a standardized curriculum for each, and the development and implementation of accreditation standards for each.

Inequity in graduate engineering identity: Disciplinary differences and opportunity structures

“…The differences may reflect the interdisciplinary nature of these disciplines with strong nonengineering influences on the discipline's historical development. For instance, computer science has generally lower engineer identity, reflecting a discipline that developed from and continues to incorporate aspects of information systems/business, mathematics, and technology as well as electrical engineering (Bailey et al, 2006).…”