Purpose of this report

Page 7 PART ONE

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1. Purpose of this report

This report provides an overview of the different kinds of undergraduate degree programs in computing that are currently available and for which curriculum standards are now, or will soon be, available. Teachers, administrators, students, and parents need this report because computing is a broad discipline that crosses the boundaries between mathematics, science, engineering and business, and because computing embraces important competencies that lay at the foundation of professional practice. Computing consists of several disciplines. Many respected colleges and universities offer undergraduate degree programs in several of computer science, computer engineering, information systems, information technology, software engineering, and more. These computing disciplines are related, but are also quite different from each other. The variety of degree programs in computing presents prospective students, educators, administrators, and other community leaders with important choices about where to focus their efforts. Several questions naturally arise: What are these different kinds of computing degree programs? How are they similar? How do they differ? How can I tell what their names really mean? Which kinds of programs should our local college offer? And so on. These are all valid questions, but to anyone unfamiliar with the breadth of computing, the responses to these queries may be difficult to articulate. This report may help in articulating some answers. We have created this report to explain the character of the various undergraduate degree programs in computing, and to help you determine which of the programs are most suited to particular goals and circumstances. We intend this report to serve a broad and varied audience. We think it can be helpful to: • University faculty and administrators who are developing plans and curricula for computing-related programs at their institutions, and to those who guide the accreditation of such programs. • Responsible parties in public education, including boards of education, government officials, elected representatives, and others who seek to represent the public interest. In addition, we have included in this report A Guide to Undergraduate Degree Programs in Computing henceforth the Guide with the intent to serve: • Students who are trying to determine which path of computing study fits their interests and goals • Parents, guidance counselors, and others who are trying to assist students in their choices • Professionals who are considering how to continue their education in a rapidly changing, dynamic field • Anyone who is trying to make sense of the wide range of undergraduate degree programs in computing that are now available.

1.2. Scope of this report