History of academic computer science

Edwards Finance > Computer Engineering

Q. Does anybody know of good books/articles discussing the history of computer science in the university? I am NOT asking about histories of computer science in general, but the narrow topic of academic computer science. Ie, what book would tell me about the first Ph.D. or B.A. programs? What courses were taught? How did computer science establish itself as an academic field that was independent of electrical engineering or mathematics? etc. Etc.

A. -"In October 1962 Purdue University formed the first formal computer science department and initiated the first computer-science degree program. Courses related to computer science had been offered by Howard Aiken at Harvard University in the late 1940s, and computer science had been taught in various forms at many universities prior to 1962, but students typically received degrees in such disciplines as applied mathematics or electrical engineering. The first PhD in computer science was awarded in 1965 to Richard Wexelbla by the University of Pennsylvania." This is just one of the items I found by searching Google for the exact phrase: "The first PhD in Computer Science" If you visit the webpages of the major Computer Science Departments I think you will probably find some history. After all 1962 is not that long ago. I had the idea somehow that the first program was at Stanford. Maybe not, but see http://www-db.stanford.edu/pub/voy/museum.html which says in part: "The exhibits are being changed and updated as time permits. The first exhibit, installed November 1997, focuses on the early history of the Stanford Computer Science Department. and its founder, George Forsythe, and his students. Further exhibits are found on all floors of the building and all can be viewed on-line if you can't make it to Stanford. We are also collecting information about the PhD students, and their students+, that have graduated from the department."

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