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Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

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Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#21

Post by protomyth »

clavalle wrote: post #15
protomyth wrote: post #6

Shouldn't they create a Software Engineering program and then leave Computer Science alone?

I would guess that even Software Engineering students would have to go through Calculus (just because it is a good weed out if for nothing else) and other math heavy, theoretical practice -- just like other Engineers. What they want is almost a Software Technician degree. Someone that can put together apps and know how to troubleshoot but who are not working on the bleeding edge but putting together technology that o…

I wouldn't call it a "Technician" since that gets a little confusing with certificates and such, but I take your meaning. Basically these folks are looking for what a technical college would teach but they want a university name on their diploma.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#22

Post by jawns »

tompccs wrote: post #3
Quizz wrote: post #2

The process of learning to program is more vocational than lecture hall. Most colleges and their deans don't get it.

In my opinion, if you want to learn how to be a software engineer you should take a degree in Software Engineering (which is a natural descendent of Electrical Engineering). If you want to be a computer scientist then do a degree in Computer Science (a natural descendent of mathematics). The problem is that the courses in many universities are misleadingly named.

How do you see software engineers and computer scientists differentiated in the job market? It seems like there's a ton of bleed.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#23

Post by robotresearcher »

clavalle wrote: post #15
protomyth wrote: post #6

Shouldn't they create a Software Engineering program and then leave Computer Science alone?

I would guess that even Software Engineering students would have to go through Calculus (just because it is a good weed out if for nothing else) and other math heavy, theoretical practice -- just like other Engineers. What they want is almost a Software Technician degree. Someone that can put together apps and know how to troubleshoot but who are not working on the bleeding edge but putting together technology that o…

> Calculus (just because it is a good weed out if for nothing else)

Nothing should be in the curriculum as a 'weed out'. Every class should justify itself in technical content. CS needs calculus absolutely, but for the ideas, not as a hurdle.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#25

Post by humanrebar »

autokad wrote: post #20
protomyth wrote: post #6

Shouldn't they create a Software Engineering program and then leave Computer Science alone?

then nobody, like almost nobody would major in computer science. the article started off as a good look at where computer science is / needs to go and then disintegrated into a 'why aren't there more women engineers?' ok... why aren't there more women garbage men? erm, garbage people? anyways, I think computer science programs have come a long long way since the early 2000s. I think the major thing computer science m…

> then nobody, like almost nobody would major in computer science.

OK. For the sake of argument, let's say that's true. What's the harm? Computer scientists aren't required to deliver babies or anything. Even if they were, do we have a shortage of them?

I feel that most of the interesting computer science should happen at the graduate level anyway. Take mathematics or software engineering as an undergrad, go back to do computer science once you know what you're getting into.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#26

Post by protomyth »

autokad wrote: post #20
protomyth wrote: post #6

Shouldn't they create a Software Engineering program and then leave Computer Science alone?

then nobody, like almost nobody would major in computer science. the article started off as a good look at where computer science is / needs to go and then disintegrated into a 'why aren't there more women engineers?' ok... why aren't there more women garbage men? erm, garbage people? anyways, I think computer science programs have come a long long way since the early 2000s. I think the major thing computer science m…

"then nobody, like almost nobody would major in computer science."

That's actually fine. If Computer Science goes more theory and math that would be a good thing. Its really time we start rethinking the vocational part and separating it out. Computer Science isn't a job training program.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#27

Post by protomyth »

noddingham wrote: post #24
protomyth wrote: post #6

Shouldn't they create a Software Engineering program and then leave Computer Science alone?

I think that already exists, you can go for "computer programming" in various technical schools.

Yeah, it looks like we have a "want a technical degree with a university seal on the diploma" situation.

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#28

Post by JoeAltmaier »

jawns wrote: post #22
tompccs wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion, if you want to learn how to be a software engineer you should take a degree in Software Engineering (which is a natural descendent of Electrical Engineering). If you want to be a computer scientist then do a degree in Computer Science (a natural descendent of mathematics). The problem is that the courses in many universities are misleadingly named.

How do you see software engineers and computer scientists differentiated in the job market? It seems like there's a ton of bleed.

The computer scientist is theoretical. The software engineer is practical - like the difference between a mechanical engineer, and a mechanic?

Re: Why this woman dropped out of Temple’s computer science program

#29

Post by larrik »

I've spent a lot of time helping to hire coworkers for a rather good remote position, and having worked with the ones that passed all of our filters and also accepted the position. It's still a bit early, but I've found that the difference between someone who actually got a proper CS degree, and someone who learned to "code" on their own is pretty stark.

The fact is that calculus, algorithms, data modelling, and the like are often very relevant to programming once you are past the entry level positions.

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