Not sure how convincing it would be to your particular audience, but you might consider looking around for similar courses in other science or engineering departments. For instance the University of Washington department of Earth and Space Sciences has a course listed with both undergrad and grad course numbers called "Great Geological Issues," with description "History and development of geological and paleontological theories and controversies; philosophy and methodology that have driven scientific inquiry in the earth sciences." I know these kinds of courses tend to be popular with undergrads, so focusing on enrollments might be a way to argue for putting the course in the CS department rather than letting those students go somewhere else.

On Wed, Feb 15, 2023 at 9:41 AM Evan Koblentz via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> 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@njit.edu
(973) 596-3065
https://web.njit.edu/~evank

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