A proper appeal: computer science curricula
I was going to call this "An Immodest Proposal" or "A Proper Rant", but as you well know, I'm too much of a pragmatist not to get straight down to brass tacks on this subject.
I've been thinking - not just this morning, nor only this past week, but really this whole semester - about what we need to get some foundations of mathematics and ( Read more... )
I've been thinking - not just this morning, nor only this past week, but really this whole semester - about what we need to get some foundations of mathematics and ( Read more... )
Create SE (Software Engineering) track (which is the current program),
Let CS = SE + Math Degree
Seriously, force students that want to don the title of Computer Scientist to get a Math degree.
Why?
In Computer Science, you should know how to write a “proof”. At KSU, there are only two required "proof” courses (570, 575). (301 not listed because it is trivially easy in the same manner that Calc III is trivially easy). In math, there are five. Only two more? no, 575 and 570 had assignments (of 4-6 problems per) every two weeks. Math had assignments (5-15 problems per) every week. So, in effect, 5 math proof courses = 10-15 CS courses. Thus, CS students are deficient by many “proof” courses. Keep in mind, I treat CS and Math majors the same in how they should learn, by doing. Thus, each problem should be rewarding in some regard.
Wah-Wah-Wah, I am a programmer, I don’t need to prove things
This thinking is simply wrong; yet, I heard it all the time before and after class. I hear in the halls of Cardwell for Math 510.
The lucid know that a proof is not difficult nor out of reach, but it requires one thing. The ability to think clearly and understand the subject matter. If you can not prove, then how well do you think you can program? If you refuse to prove, then how sound will your software be? Writing code and writing proofs are the same save the language.
You elitist bastard! you’re saying math majors are better than cs majors
Sadly, yes. Math and Computer Science should be two sides of a coin. The education, at KSU, for math majors is far better than that of the CS dept.
Wah-Wah-Wah, I want practical experience
What isn’t practical about proving theorems? Once you learn the deep theories, the elusive arguments, the technique of convincing another human; it is almost a trivially matter to convince a computer. Theory tests the metal of a person to their very core, practical experience takes but 21 days to gain once you understand the theory.
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As long as CIS remains damned to the Dept. of Engineering at KSU, it's going to be proof-deficient. It went to Engineering from Arts & Sciences the semester after I dropped back to a single-major in Math, rather than dual-major Math/CIS (as undergraduate). The theoreticians like Myron Calhoun ["Today is the last day to drop with a W"] and Marten Van Swaay [normal curve grading...cool until you realize that all grades are recomputed when anyone drops the course....] were less than popular in short order.
Dept. of Engineering is voc-ed :( Pricey voc-ed that requires moderate intellect to survive and highly trained intellectual reflexes, but voc-ed.
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