The impact of computing courses for non-majors
Robert Bryant, Judith Bayard Cushing, Jenny Orr, Matthew T. Dickerson, RICHARD S. WEISS · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2014
With a projected shortfall of over 1 million computer scientists in the next 10 years [1] many institutions are looking towards solutions to attract more students to the computing field. Most colleges and universities offer computing courses for non-majors with goals ranging from providing students with basic computing fluency, to supplementing non-computer science major content, to providing a complete CS0 course intended to prepare students for further computer science studies. Some of these courses satisfy general university core requirements while others are purely electives. Factors in student success in courses designed specifically for non-majors include motivation, the welcoming environment of computing naive students, and openness to stereotype myth busting including gender, career, and engagement issues [2, 3]. Panelist will share their goals and experiences of computing courses for non-majors offered at their institutions and provide perspective on the benefits and disadvantages of such courses.