[Background: This set of objectives and outcomes was approved by the faculty on April 26, 2004. This is a slight revision from the previous set of objectives and outcomes which are available on-line. The changes were motivated by the changes in EC 2000 Criteria; the revised EC 2000 Criteria provides precise definitions of the terms objectives and outcomes. The definitions of these terms were left to the discretion of the individual programs when we were evaluated in Au '99.

This set of objectives and outcomes was arrived at after extensive discussions in the CSE Undergraduate Studies Committee (UGSC), in faculty meetings, and posts on student newsgroups. Draft statement of the objectives and outcomes were also presented to the departmental Industrial Advisory Board at its Jan. '04 meeting.

CSE Program Objectives and Outcomes

Preamble

In this document, the term Objective denotes, as specified in the (proposed revised) EC 2000 Criteria (see ABET web site), the expected accomplishments of graduates of the program during the several years following graduation. Outcomes, again as specified by EC 2000, are statements that describe what students are expected to know or be able to do by the time of graduation from the program. (Achievement of the outcomes should "foster attainment of the objectives".)

There are five objectives, numbered (I) through (V). The outcomes are classified into five groups, with the outcomes that correspond most closely to each particular objective being collected into the corresponding group.

CSE Program Objectives

The objectives of the CSE program are:
  1. Graduates will have a thorough grounding in the key principles and practices of computing, and will have applied their software development skills and knowledge of foundational principles to the design and implementation of practical systems consisting of software and/or hardware components to meet customer requirements.

  2. Graduates will have an understanding of additional engineering principles, and the mathematical and scientific concepts that underlie them, and will have applied this understanding, as appropriate, in analyzing real-world problems and designing suitable solutions.

  3. Graduates will have an understanding of human and social issues, and will be in the process of becoming informed and involved members of their communities, and responsible engineering and computing professionals.

  4. Graduates will have appropriate interaction and organizational skills, and will be routinely using and further developing these skills in their professional careers.

  5. Graduates will be successfully employed in the computing profession, and will be actively engaged in learning, understanding, and applying new ideas and technologies as the field evolves; or will have successfully completed, or be actively pursuing, graduate studies in computing.

CSE Program Outcomes

There are five groups of outcomes, one corresponding to each of the five objectives:
  1. Students will:
    1. Demonstrate proficiency in the areas of software design and development, algorithms, operating systems, programming languages, information systems, and computer architecture.
    2. Demonstrate proficiency in relevant aspects of mathematics, including discrete mathematics and probability, as well as electrical circuits and devices.
    3. Successfully apply these principles and practices to a variety of problems.

  2. Students will:
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of differential and integral calculus, and of statistics.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of physics and at least one other laboratory-based science.
    3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of at least one other engineering discipline in addition to computing and electrical engineering.

  3. Students will:
    1. Demonstrate familiarity with basic concepts and contemporary issues in the social sciences and the humanities.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of social, professional and ethical considerations related to engineering in general and to computing in particular.

  4. Students will:
    1. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in teams.
    2. Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.

  5. Graduates will:
    1. Find suitable positions in industry and government that offer the prospect of challenging and rewarding careers in computing.
    2. Demonstrate an ability to acquire new knowledge in the computing discipline and to engage in life-long learning.
    3. [Graduates with an aptitude for, and interest in, graduate studies will] Apply to and be accepted for entry by strong graduate programs in computing.

If you have comments, questions, or suggestions on this document, please e-mail neelam@cis.ohio-state.edu.