A model for the software engineering component of a computer science curriculum

Software engineering is considered to be one of the major subareas of computer science. Therefore, regardless of what academic unit computer science is housed in, software engineering should play an essential role. Also, an increased interest in accrediting software engineering degree programs, and in licensing software engineers as professional engineers, has led to increased interest in software engineering by computer science programs. This paper examines how software engineering can be effectively integrated into a computer science curriculum. A model based on a four-course sequence is presented and discussed. This model is then compared to the software engineering component of the computer science undergraduate degree program at Texas Tech University, which implements most of the recommendations made. Finally, a discussion of how this model can be used in other types of computer science programs is included. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.