Computing as a general education requirement

ABSTRACT

It has been about fifty years since the computer age began, and it is clear that the computer has had and will continue to have a strong, multifaceted, influence on every person in this nation. The computer is effecting a profound change in society; some say the scope of this change rivals that of Gutenberg's movable type. Yet many college students are not currently required to study the computer, computing, and their societal impact. This paper discusses the need for computer course in the general-education requirements for a baccalaureate degree. It also addresses the issues of where in that curriculum such a course might be listed (humanities, mathematics/natural science, or social science) and who should be entrusted to teach it.

REFERENCES

• 1: Appalachian State University, 1999--2001 General Bulletin, pages 91--92.
• 2: B. J. Fogg, Persuasive technologie301398, Communications of the ACM, v.42 n.5, p.26-29, May 1999 [doi>10.1145/301353.301396]
• 3: Valdosta State University, 1999-2000 Undergraduate Bulletin, page 94.