Reviewing the professionalization of software engineering: can small colleges remain viable?

  • Authors:

  • J. William Cupp

  • Affiliations:

  • Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges
  • Year:
  • 2001

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Abstract

The issue of the increasing professionalization of Software Engineering is a contemporary one. Recently various jurisdictions have enacted legislation providing for Professional Engineer (PE) licenses for software engineers. There are current and recently settled lawsuits over the use of the term "software engineer." Heavyweight organizations in the software engineering domain struggle to codify a Software Engineering Body of Knowledge, prestigious universities have begun offering Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Software Engineering, and the academic accrediting bodies which govern various aspects of computing sciences are coming to terms with the longstanding accrediting body of engineering programs.Still, it is not at all universally agreed that licensure of professional software engineers is a desirable idea. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has come out resoundingly opposed to PE licensure for software engineers.Should licensure of professional Software Engineers become the norm, it is reasonable to expect that most licensing bodies will require those taking the Professional Engineer exam to have a degree in the field from an accredited academic institution. Should this come to pass, can small colleges and universities realistically hope to offer degrees for candidates for a PE license? Will undergraduate Software Engineering degree programs become the exclusive domain of larger schools with substantial engineering programs?This paper takes an early look at these topics and tries to scope out directions small colleges might take now to position themselves well in the future.