A survey of communication skills in computerscience/software engineering (CS/SE) abet-accredited programs
The project aims to understand how communication education is typically integrated into a school's curriculum, and to determine whether they continuously integrate, utilize a dedicated communications class, or deliver in another format.
Abstract
The project aims to understand how communication education is typically integrated into a school's curriculum, and to determine whether they continuously integrate, utilize a dedicated communications class, or deliver in another format. This extension of the NC State University and Miami University project titled "CPATH II: Incorporating Communication Outcomes into the Computer Science Curriculum" aims to improve reading, writing, speaking and teaming (RWST) education for college students majoring in computer science and/or software engineering (CS/SE) nationwide. An initial survey of student outcomes in ABET-accredited CS/SE program curricula, which revealed that the largest amount of explicitly and implicitly stated communication outcomes were in capstone, senior design, and software engineering course objectives. As part of this research, our team is collecting information about how and where technical and professional communication skills are taught in the variety of ABET-accredited CS/SE undergraduate programs nationwide. Online surveys sent through email to department chairs, program heads, and undergraduate coordinators will collect descriptions of each school's CS/SE program and how they incorporate RSWT skills in their curricula. We expect to learn of any variables that affect how and when a communication outcome is incorporated into a curriculum, and to understand the amount of communication that is being taught in these programs. This is valuable because it determines the degree of communication skills that are being taught in CS/SE programs, a necessary baseline for future CS/SE curriculum research.