Abstract

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recognizes five computing disciplines: Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), and Software Engineering (SE). Founded in 1947 the ACM is the world's largest society for computing educators, researchers, and professionals. While Computer Science has been a degree program since 1962, the other four are relatively new. This research focuses on understanding the graduate research in four of the five ACM disciplines (CS, CE, IT, and IS) using a large body of thesis and dissertation metadata. SE is not found in the metadata and graduate work in SE is not included. IS is no longer officially found in the metadata so its representative ProQuest replacement, Information Science although not an ACM recognized discipline is used based on the commonality of the associated ProQuest Classification code. The research is performed using co-word and graph analysis of author-supplied Classifications, Departments, and keywords. Similarities and differences between the disciplines are identified. Whether the computing discipline is the primary or the secondary focus of the research makes a large difference in the connections it makes with other academic disciplines. It was found that the Departments from which computing research originates varies widely but the majority come from computing-related Departments. Finally, gaps are apparent from the practitioners' views of the computing disciplines versus the public's view.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Technology

Rights

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