mitguy

I do like the idea of an internship!

Real-world experience can not be overvalued. That being said, I'm still working with the parameters in my original post. Small. Liberal Arts. College. This isn't a huge program, I've consistently had between 12 and 20 students in the major, of all grade levels and wide differences in skill levels, experience, exposure, and mathematical prowess.

I know it may be hard for others to understand what my student landscape looks like, but after more than a decade, I feel I understand them. But a year of strictly theoretical CS, and I'm looking at 2 to 7 students in the major, and filling out my teaching schedule with writing classes.

Looking at a newly built house, you see that all levels of craftsmanship have been employed. If every contractor is a framer, because it's the fundamentals of building, your interiors look pretty basic, and let's not even mention plumbing made out of lumber!

What I'm trying to say is that I've tried my own version of CS snobbery and highmindedness, and it isn't working. I'm looking to design a computing major that isn't producing only framers.

I appreciate your input, please reread this post and my original post, and try to put yourself in my position, then send me some more suggestions!!

As much fun as Org/Arch is, I'm thinking we can leave most of that and ASM behind, as well.

Not totally behind, but committing a semester to them as a course is what hasn't been working.

I think .NET seems a bit heavy for what I've got in mind. I also probably don't understand .NET as well as I should either.

Can I get some more clarification why .NET should (or shouldn't) be included in a modern, practical curriculum?

Yes, I think web apps is a significant part of it. Looking at projections of software sales, web apps and web app support are on the horizon for almost everyone.

Agreed!

But I'm looking for a hybrid. I don't want to abandon my theoretical roots, but I'm missing more than I'm hitting, with my students as of late.

Plus, you can have Computer Science without Software Engineering, but the reverse isn't true.

Yes, this is definitely a course type on the radar!

It echoes some other responses, and also some of my thoughts.

MIT Press makes it that much cooler!

Thanks! Good points, CG.

I know the "Give a man a fish" adage, but trying to teach my students to be Global Anglers hasn't worked well for a decade (given our students, numbers, faculty, and facilities). I'm not shooting for trade school either, just something that's very mindful of your iceberg analogy.

Tip: - Come, learn some skills, peek at the landscape.

Iceberg: - Go get a job(s), learn the rest of what you need to build the solutions that keep your company/manager happy.