Elements of Computational Science and Engineering Education

The multidisciplinary nature of computational science and engineering (CSE) and its relation to other disciplines is described. The stages through which CSE education is evolving, from initial recognition in the 1980s to present growth, are discussed. The challenges and benefits of different approaches to CSE education are discussed, as is the emergence of a set of core elements common to different approaches. The content of courses, curricula, and degrees offered in CSE are reviewed, and a survey is made of all undergraduate degree programs. The curricula of different programs are examined for the common "tool set" they define and analyzed for their relative weighting of computing, application, and mathematics. A trend toward a standard curriculum is noted.