Towards a Better Understanding of the Different Computing Disciplines

The field of computing has undergone significant differentiation over the past twenty years, resulting in several distinct computing sub-disciplines. After extensive consultation with experts and industry stakeholders, the ACM [1] defined five distinct sub-disciplines within the computing field: computer science (CS), information systems (IS), computer engineering (CE), software engineering (SE), and Information technology (IT). While these areas are unique, they are not completely discrete, and there seems to be ambiguity around which tasks fit into which sub-discipline. The ACM has made significant efforts to define these in terms of expected program content and by the outcomes and skills required to prepare students for the dynamic labor market. Nonetheless, research [4,5,6,9] shows that there is a need for an even clearer understanding of these sub-disciplines by the academic community, by guidance and career counsellors, and by, of course, prospective students. This panel will address some of the issues and problems involved with communicating how the computing disciplines overlap and diverge. The panelists straddle several computing disciplines as well as provide insight into the advising issues faced by non-computing guidance and career counsellors. We hope that through a lively dialog between the audience and the panelists, all participants will come away with improved understanding and techniques for communicating the differences between the different computing disciplines