CSE Survey of Computing Professionals

Background: The BS-CSE program in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Ohio State University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology (ABET). One of the important accreditation requirements is that we regularly obtain feedback from various constituents and use the results to improve the program. The goal of this survey is to obtain feedback concerning the program's published objectives and outcomes from computing professionals who have an interest in our program in particular and in ensuring the quality of CSE education in general.

Thank you very much for taking the time to complete the survey.

Instructions for completing survey:

As specified by ABET, we use the term "objectives" to mean the "expected accomplishments of graduates of the program during the several years following their graduation". Similarly, the term "outcome" means "knowledge or skills that students should have acquired by the time of their graduation from the program". The intent is that if a student acquires all the outcomes specified for the program, he/she should be well prepared to achieve the objectives in the first few years of his/her career.

The CSE program has identified five objectives; these are numbered (1) through (5) below. Corresponding to each objective, a number of outcomes have been specified; they are numbered (1.1), (1.2), (1.3), and so on. We are asking you to evaluate the program with respect to each objective and each outcome.

For each objective, we are asking you to provide your evaluation of its importance for fresh CSE graduates. Using the first column of option menu selections, please indicate your assessment of the importance of the objective.

We are also asking you to tell us how well CSE programs, in general, prepare their graduates to achieve the objective. In other words, based on your experience with fresh and recent CSE graduates, we are asking you to evaluate how well the respective programs that the students graduated from prepared them to achieve the particular objectives. Using the second column of option menu selections, please indicate your assessment of the preparation level.

For each outcome, we are similarly asking you to provide your evaluation of its importance for fresh CSE graduates and your assessment of how well various programs have prepared their students with respect to that outcome.

CSE Program Objectives/Outcomes Survey

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Program Objective/Outcome Importance of
Objective/Outcome Preparation with respect to
Objective/Outcome

Objective 1. Graduates will have a thorough grounding in computing principles and practices; and will apply their skills and knowledge to the design and implementation of practical systems, consisting of software and/or hardware components, to meet customer requirements.

Outcome 1.1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the areas of software design and development, algorithms, operating systems, programming languages, information systems, and computer architecture.

Outcome 1.2. Students will demonstrate proficiency in relevant aspects of mathematics, including discrete mathematics and probability, as well as electrical circuits and devices.

Outcome 1.3. Students will successfully apply these principles and practices to a variety of problems.

Objective 2. Graduates will have an understanding of general engineering principles, and the mathematical and scientific concepts that underlie them; and will apply this understanding in analyzing and designing suitable solutions for real-world problems.

Outcome 2.1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of differential and integral calculus, and of statistics.

Outcome 2.2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of physics and at least one other laboratory-based science.

Outcome 2.3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of at least one engineering discipline in addition to computing and electrical engineering.

Objective 3. Graduates will have an understanding of human and social issues; and will be informed and involved members of their communities, and responsible engineering and computing professionals.

Outcome 3.1. Students will demonstrate familiarity with basic concepts and contemporary issues in the social sciences and the humanities.

Outcome 3.2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of social, professional, and ethical considerations related to engineering in general and to computing in particular.

Objective 4. Graduates will have appropriate communication and organizational skills; and will use and further develop these skills in their professional careers.

Outcome 4.1. Students will demonstrate an ability to work effectively in teams.

Outcome 4.2. Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.

Objective 5. Graduates will be successfully employed in the computing profession, and will be successfully adapting to new ideas and technologies as the field evolves; or will have successfully completed, or be pursuing, graduate studies in computing.

Outcome 5.1. Graduates will find suitable employment that offers the prospect of challenging and rewarding careers in computing.

Outcome 5.2. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to acquire new knowledge in the computing discipline and to engage in life-long learning.

Outcome 5.3. Graduates with an aptitude for, and interest in, graduate studies will apply to and be accepted for entry by strong graduate programs in computing.

Other comments/suggestions:

In general, what single change would you most like to see in CSE programs across the country? Explain briefly.

Thank you again for completing the survey.

Program Objective/Outcome	Importance of Objective/Outcome	Preparation with respect to Objective/Outcome
Objective 1. Graduates will have a thorough grounding in computing principles and practices; and will apply their skills and knowledge to the design and implementation of practical systems, consisting of software and/or hardware components, to meet customer requirements.
Outcome 1.1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the areas of software design and development, algorithms, operating systems, programming languages, information systems, and computer architecture.
Outcome 1.2. Students will demonstrate proficiency in relevant aspects of mathematics, including discrete mathematics and probability, as well as electrical circuits and devices.
Outcome 1.3. Students will successfully apply these principles and practices to a variety of problems.
Objective 2. Graduates will have an understanding of general engineering principles, and the mathematical and scientific concepts that underlie them; and will apply this understanding in analyzing and designing suitable solutions for real-world problems.
Outcome 2.1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of differential and integral calculus, and of statistics.
Outcome 2.2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of physics and at least one other laboratory-based science.
Outcome 2.3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of at least one engineering discipline in addition to computing and electrical engineering.
Objective 3. Graduates will have an understanding of human and social issues; and will be informed and involved members of their communities, and responsible engineering and computing professionals.
Outcome 3.1. Students will demonstrate familiarity with basic concepts and contemporary issues in the social sciences and the humanities.
Outcome 3.2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of social, professional, and ethical considerations related to engineering in general and to computing in particular.
Objective 4. Graduates will have appropriate communication and organizational skills; and will use and further develop these skills in their professional careers.
Outcome 4.1. Students will demonstrate an ability to work effectively in teams.
Outcome 4.2. Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.
Objective 5. Graduates will be successfully employed in the computing profession, and will be successfully adapting to new ideas and technologies as the field evolves; or will have successfully completed, or be pursuing, graduate studies in computing.
Outcome 5.1. Graduates will find suitable employment that offers the prospect of challenging and rewarding careers in computing.
Outcome 5.2. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to acquire new knowledge in the computing discipline and to engage in life-long learning.
Outcome 5.3. Graduates with an aptitude for, and interest in, graduate studies will apply to and be accepted for entry by strong graduate programs in computing.