What are the long term prospects for CS education, given the rapid rise of IT?

Richard Wyatt Like most Computer Science departments, mine has witnessed for a last decade or so a number of seemingly long-term trends, such as: students increasingly focusing on the courses they perceive to be the vocationally relevant ones (C++, Java, GUIs, Sys Admin, Networking, and so on); a corresponding decrease in interests in other areas (theory, programming languages, math, and so on); weakening standards from ABET in CS accreditation along with the introduction of accreditation in IT and probably IS; the growth in the outsourcing of CS together with the fact that CS is easier to outsource than IT and IS. The efiects of these and other trends on Computer Science curricula are unclear but are potentially dramatic. Will the trends continue, with more and more CS Departments migrating - voluntarily perhaps, or as a result of student and marketplace pressures - to CS/IT hybrids or even to straight IT and/or IS? Might CS, in the form most envisioned 10-20 years ago, wind up as the province of only the more elite institutions? Will industry continue the trend towards jobs based on the using, rather than the developing, of software? These and many related issues will be discussed by the five panelists. Ernest Ackermann As computing has become a pervasive part of the personal and professional life of a large segment of the population, the curriculum has been adapted to meet the sometimes difiering needs of out students. This has a significant impact on the what is taught in computer science departments. It is becoming more common for departments to ofier a variety of programs or tracks in the areas of atraditionalo computer science, software engineering, computer information systems, or information technology. Institutions of su-cient size have dealt with this problem by establishing separate programs. Smaller institutions have had to develop ways to deal with a variety of demands with a limited number of faculty, as well as address the ubiquitous situation of low enrollments in computer science courses. This brings into focus again the need to develop a clear understanding of a core of courses for students majoring in programs ofiered by a single department, and to also develop strategies to allow students to select from among alternative programs. Lawrence DAntonio All computer science faculty share concerns over long-term enrollments in the major. There are several factors contributing to this situation. A major problem is the perception by parents and guidance counselors that computer science is a risky field. The dot-com bust and outsourcing have played significant roles in shaping the attitudes of the adults that students turn to for advice. Another factor is that students no longer see taking CS courses as necessary to becoming good at computers. Computer science is now seen as one option among several majors that have a focus on computer technology. Many students consider majors such as IT and Web Design to be viable alternatives to computer science. These other majors generally require fewer mathematics courses and put less emphasis on programming skills when compared to computer science. How should computer science try to fight this trend? One option would be to lower standards to try to attract and retain majors. However tempting this might be in the short-term, it is clearly self-defeating. The problems of the computer science major cannot be solved by destroying the core of its curriculum. Scott McElfresh At Carnegie Mellon, there are two undergraduate programs - one in Computer Science and one in Information Systems, ofiered in the school of Social Sciences. There are students who switch from CS to IS because there is less math, while others switch because they see IS as being more relevant and useful. Scott teaches a course called Technology Consulting in the Community taken by both CS students and IS students, which introduces students to computing in context, with an academic slant. Elaine Milito The Computer Science Discipline is always changing. Today there is an increase of courses being ofiered in Information Technology. More and more students, if given the choice, seem to prefer these courses to the standard computer courses which are usually more rigorous and theoretical. Our Department, which is in the process of going for accreditation, has decided to ofier two tracks, one in Computer Science (CS) and one in Information Technology (IT). One problem I see with this is that the majority of our students will choose the IT track leaving the courses which are in the CS track sparsely populated and unable to be ofiered at a satisfactory frequency. Another problem occurs when an advanced course has students from both the IT track and the CS track. Will those courses sufier by having their content watered down because of insu-cient preparation? The students in the IT track are not required to take as much math and foundation courses as the CS students. What will happen if the IT students wish to later on pursue a Masters degree in Computer Science? They will have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science but will they prepared to enter a graduate program without having to take additional prerequisite courses?