I’m looking at a list of few top-tier computer science programs such as UIUC and Purdue, and then some less stellar ones such as Michigan State and Indiana University Bloomington.
I just noticed IU Bloomington doesn’t show up in the list of accredited schools on the ABET website. Will this have a significant impact on my career prospects and educational experience if I were to consider it?
Also, what advantages would I have at UIUC or Purdue as compared to lower ranked programs such as Michigan State? The lower ranked schools have been interesting me much more than my in state UIUC and OOS Purdue, but my dad really wants me to go to a top ranked school. Two of my options come in the top 10, and two come near 50.
I’m a strong student but not outstanding, so I’ll be in the top quarter of students at my safeties, but probably lower half of the top 10 programs which would probably make me feel intimidated and obviously wouldn’t help me stand out.
I’m also considering Grinnell if that matters. It isn’t accredited either.
Per se, ABET accreditation in CS specifically matters for the patent exam; CS graduates from non-ABET-accredited majors need to include specific course work specified in http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/exam/OED_GRB.pdf . Note that the courses include some non-CS science, which is also required for ABET accreditation in CS.
Otherwise, ABET accreditation in CS indicates meeting a specific minimum standard of quality, so an ABET accredited CS major can range from decent to excellent. A non-ABET-accredited CS major can range from poor to excellent (excellent ones include those at CMU, Stanford, and Berkeley L&S CS). However, for lesser known non-ABET-accredited CS majors, it is best to review their courses and curricula to see that the CS and math courses would meet the standards for either the patent exam or ABET accreditation (as opposed to some low quality “CS” majors that are more like business-based MIS majors, or where there are too few CS courses offered on a regular basis).
In most parts of industry, or admission to CS PhD programs, ABET accreditation per se is not an issue, assuming that the CS courses and curricula are of good quality. The extra non-CS science courses are likely only to be applicable in specific areas where CS is applied to those fields (e.g. computational biology, computing in physics, computer software in scientific instruments, etc.).
I’ve been a programmer since 1983, and never has the issue of CS accreditation come up. I didn’t even know CS programs could be accredited until 2 or 3 years ago, after reading it here.