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From: dan@digi-g.UUCP (Dan Messinger)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.flame
Subject: Re: Software Engineers
Message-ID: <333@digi-g.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Oct-84 13:03:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: digi-g.333
Posted: Tue Oct 23 13:03:35 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 24-Oct-84 19:10:53 EDT
References: <737@u1100a.UUCP> <1436@vax2.fluke.UUCP> <1195@hao.UUCP> <> <304@digi-g.UUCP> <>
Reply-To: dan@digi-g.UUCP (dan)
Organization: DigiGraphic Systems Corp., Mpls.  MN
Lines: 35
Summary: 

In article <> betsy@dartvax.UUCP (Betsy Hanes Perry) writes:
>RARF!  snarl snarl snarl...
> 
>I don't mind Mr. Messinger's two categories, but I disagree with
>his assumption that liberal-arts colleges are reduced to teaching
> COBOL.  My liberal-arts college goes to the opposite extreme:
>it considers COBOL and keypunches beneath notice, possibly because
>they're too job-oriented.  (-;

I apologize to Betsy and anyone else who felt insulted by my insinuation
that liberal arts colleges can not provide a full CS education. I did not
intend to categorically define ALL liberal arts schools as providing a
lower level of CS education. 

I admit that there are some four year liberal arts programs that provide
most, if not all, the CS technical classes. I used "liberal arts" only
because I am aware of some liberal arts colleges that offer BA and AA
degrees in computer programming that do fit my "programmer" model.
I ask you to please use my descriptions of the type of educational
program provide rather than the names I attached to them.  No mater what
names I attach to these catagories, there will be some school out there
that uses these names, and doesn't fit my model. 

However, the background provided by a liberal arts education is different
than that provided by an engineering education.  This is only a reflection
of the person's interests and areas of expertise, and not necessarily on
their programming abilities.  These areas of expertise are important to
an employer.  For this reason, I do not feel that a liberal arts CS education
is equivalent to an engineering CS education.  For some jobs, the liberal
arts CS education may be more appropriate.

And, of course, there is no substitute for real world experience.

Dan Messinger
ihnp4!umn-cs!digi-g!dan