[SIGCIS-Members] History courses in CS departments

[Evan Koblentz]

Our students started taking it partially because they thought it would 
be "easy" and partially because the ACM chapter leaders knew me (through 
my daytime job here, as a writer in the university communications 
office), so they recommended the course to their peers. Now it's in the 
third semester and the course has been very popular. For the current 
semester, the course is full at 43 students, and there were two dozen on 
the waiting list.


On 2/15/23 1:44 PM, Len Shustek via Members wrote:
> I am currently teaching a short course in the history of computing at 
> Stanford, but in the "Continuing Studies" (adult education) department.
>
> I had previously pitched it to both the EE and CS departments. My 
> conclusion after those discussions was that the faculty would be 
> interested but, sadly, it was unlikely that the students would be. 
> They are too focused on creating the next unicorn to be bothered with 
> history.
>
> Len Shustek
> Founding Chairman Emeritus
> Computer History Museum
>
>
> At 09:40 AM 2/15/2023, Evan Koblentz via Members wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I've been teaching a special topics course in computer history for 
>> three semesters here at NJIT. The university policy is three 
>> semesters maximum, then the course must be made permanent or 
>> cancelled. So I'm going through the process of trying to make it 
>> permanent.
>>
>> The department administration supports it, but it has to be voted on 
>> by the rank-and-file faculty, many of whom don't seem to understand 
>> the value of a history course -- or at least not of a history course 
>> in a technical department, rather than through our humanities college.
>>
>> It would help if I can show them other examples. Can anyone point me 
>> existing examples of history courses in CS, EE, or other technical 
>> departments at U.S. universities?
>> -- 
>> Evan Koblentz
>>
>> New Jersey Institute of Technology
>> - Senior Writer, Office of Strategic Communications
>> - Adjunct Instructor, Ying Wu College of Computing
>> - Faculty/Staff Advisor, NJIT Lego Club
>>
>> evank at njit.edu
>> (973) 596-3065
>> https://web.njit.edu/~evank
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-- 
Evan Koblentz

New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Senior Writer, Office of Strategic Communications
- Adjunct Instructor, Ying Wu College of Computing
- Faculty/Staff Advisor, NJIT Lego Club

evank at njit.edu
(973) 596-3065
https://web.njit.edu/~evank
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