A Purdue University Course in the History of Computing
Saul Rosen · Purdue e-Pubs (Purdue University System) · 1991
COUISes in the history of computing are still quite rarc.This paper is a discussion of a one-semester course that I have taught during the past few years in the Department of Computer Sciences at Purdue University.The amount of material that could be included in such a course is overwhelming, and the literature in the subject has increased at a great rate in the past decade.A syllabus and list of major references are presented here as they are presented to the students.The course develops a few major themes, several of which arc discussed briefly in the paper.The coume has been an interesting and stimulating experience for me.and for some of the students who took the course.I do not foresee a rapid expansion in the number of uniVcCiities that will offer courses in the history of computing.I hope that this paper will give some help and encouragement to olhers in Computer Science who may wish to undertake to teach such a course.