Transcript Science & Engineering Jeff Offutt SWE 205

Science & Engineering
Jeff Offutt
http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~offutt/
SWE 205
Software Usability and Design
Comparing Computing Fields
Calc-1, discrete math-2
design, test, maintenance,
programming, web apps, …
Calc-2, discrete math, CS theory
Programming, …
Calc-3, discrete math
(logic, algebra)
3-4 programming / CS
Calc-4
1-2 programming
Calc-4, real analysis, …
1 programming
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Software
Engineering
Computer
A
b
Science
s
t
r
a
c
t
i
o
n
How to design, test, maintain
& build large, high quality
programs
How to make computers work
Algorithms, programming, …
Computer
Engineering
Computer components
Chips, memory, cpu, …
Electrical
Engineering
Anything that uses power
Transistors, batteries,
transformers, …
Physics
© Offutt, 2004-2013
How the world works …
2
Computing Areas (2020)
programming,
algorithms, creativity
Software
Engineering
programming, algorithms,
analysis, design, teamwork
Artificial
Intelligence
Games &
Graphics
Computer
Science
Information
Technology
no math
little programming
1-Jul-16
theory, algorithms,
programming
Networking
analysis, problem
© Offutt, 2004-2013
solving, design
math, programming,
algorithms
Information
Systems
analysis, design,
programming
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Goals of Science and Engineering
Behaviors
observe
achieve
Science
Engineering
find and
describe
design and
develop
Structures
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© Offutt, 2004-2013
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Computing Doesn’t Quite Fit
Behaviors
observe
achieve
Science
Behaviors
Engineering
find and
describe
design and
develop
Structures
imagine
achieve
Computing
model
design and
develop
Structures
1-Jul-16
© Offutt, 2004-2013
5
Summary (Opinion!)
• The traditional Computer Science curriculum is a
poorly thought-out mix of :
– Science
– Engineering
– Technology skills
• Tens of thousands of students study Computer
Science to obtain jobs as Software Engineers
• Very few Mechanical Engineers studied Physics in
college
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© Offutt, 2004-2013
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