1. Software Usability and Design
Science & Engineering
Jeff Offutt
SWE 205
Software Usability and Design

2. Comparing Computing Fields
Software Engineering A b s t r a c i o n
Calc-1, discrete math-2
design, test, maintenance, programming, web apps, …
How to design, test, maintain
& build large, high quality programs
Computer Science
Calc-2, discrete math, CS theory
Programming, …
How to make computers work
Algorithms, programming, …
Computer Engineering
Calc-3, discrete math (logic, algebra)
3-4 programming / CS
Computer components
Chips, memory, cpu, …
Electrical Engineering
Anything that uses power
Transistors, batteries, transformers, …
Calc-4
1-2 programming
Calc-4, real analysis, …
1 programming
Physics
How the world works …
10-Nov-18
© Offutt

3. Computing Areas (2025) Software Engineering Artificial Intelligence
programming, algorithms,
analysis, design, teamwork
programming,
algorithms, creativity
Artificial Intelligence
Games & Graphics
math, programming,
algorithms
Computer Science
theory, algorithms,
programming
Information Technology
Information Systems
Networking
little math
little programming
analysis, design,
programming
analysis, problem
solving, design
10-Nov-18
© Offutt

4. Goals of Science and Engineering
Behaviors
observe
achieve
find and
describe
Science
Engineering
design and
develop
Structures
10-Nov-18
© Offutt

5. Computing Doesn’t Quite Fit
Behaviors
Science
Engineering
find and
describe
Structures
design and
develop
achieve
observe
Behaviors
achieve
Computing
design and
develop
imagine
model
Structures
10-Nov-18
© Offutt

6. Summary (Opinion!)
The traditional Computer Science curriculum is a mix of :
Science
Engineering
Technology skills
Tens of thousands of students study Computer Science to obtain jobs as Software Engineers
Very few students major in Physics to become Mechanical Engineers
10-Nov-18
© Offutt