CS2013-final-report

including knowledge units that were formerly spread across Programming Fundamentals,
Software Engineering, Programming Languages, and Algorithms and Complexity. Similarly,
Systems Fundamentals (SF) brings together fundamental, cross-cutting systems concepts that can
serve as a foundation for more advanced work in a number of areas.
It is important to recognize that Knowledge Areas are interconnected and that concepts in one
KA may build upon or complement material from other KAs. The reader should take care in
reading the Body of Knowledge as a whole, rather than focusing on any given Knowledge Area
in isolation. Chapter 4 contains a more comprehensive overview of the KAs, including
motivations for the new additions.
Professional Practice
The education that undergraduates in computer science receive must adequately prepare them for
the workforce in a more holistic way than simply conveying technical facts. Indeed, soft skills
(such as teamwork, verbal and written communication, time management, problem solving, and
flexibility) and personal attributes (such as risk tolerance, collegiality, patience, work ethic,
identification of opportunity, sense of social responsibility, and appreciation for diversity) play a
critical role in the workplace. Successfully applying technical knowledge in practice often
requires an ability to tolerate ambiguity and to negotiate and work well with others from
different backgrounds and disciplines. These overarching considerations are important for
promoting successful professional practice in a variety of career paths.
Students will gain some soft skills and personal attributes through the general college experience
(e.g., patience, time management, work ethic, and an appreciation for diversity), and others
through specific curricula. CS2013 includes examples of ways in which an undergraduate
Computer Science program encourages the development of soft skills and personal attributes.
Core hours for teamwork and risk management are covered in the Software Engineering (SE)
Knowledge Area under Project Management. The ability to tolerate ambiguity is also core in
Software Engineering under Requirements Engineering. Written and verbal communications are
also part of the core in the Social Issues and Professional Practice (SP) Knowledge Area under
Professional Communication. The inclusion of core hours in the Social Issues and Professional
Practice KA under the Social Context knowledge unit helps to promote a greater understanding
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