Industrial engineering student perceptions of computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering

During a NSF funded (HRD-0225228) study of gender parity in the School of Industrial Engineering (IE) at the University of Oklahoma, IE students´ responses to questions about courses, experiences with faculty, and computers were noted. Over half of the students (21 out of 41) interviewed commented about Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), or Electrical Engineering. Student responses fell into three categories: perceptions of the disciplines (12), perceptions of the departments (7), and perceptions of programming courses (15). IE students perceived these disciplines as intangible, populated by cubicle dwellers, limited, and lucrative. These disciplines need to better communicate their professional context. Perceptions of the departments came mostly from former CE majors who felt unwelcome there. Of the 30 students who had taken the programming course, 4 students enjoyed it and 11 students disliked it. The absence of an accepted pedagogy for beginning programming classes is felt by these students