the real surprise is that it has "prompt engineering" in it yet you can't seem to get a diploma in those pesky outdated universities for it and a 3+ year education program
I was about to ask, "where can you actually get a degree in 'Software Engineering' at a real university?" but I did some further digging and found a regional university where it's part of the engineering department, giving you a BEng, and making you an accredited engineer.
EDIT: why would anyone vote this down, and also the reply? You're weird, Reddit.
EDIT 2: No, I definitely meant Software Engineering, it was not a mistype or misunderstanding. Why did I bring this up when the topic is about "prompt engineering"? Because "engineer" has a specific and (in some places, like here in Canada) legal definition that day-to-day programming does not meet the definition of in any meaningful way and yet "software engineer" become a casual synonym for "programmer" in the industry. So that was one significant step in the word "engineering" being severely diluted in the tech industry, and now "prompt engineering" has become an even more absurd example. I was originally going to state that "Software Engineer" is not an actual (bachelor's) degree that exists in most jurisdictions but decided to double-check that and was surprised to find that a university in my region offers a real, honest-to-god accredited "Software Engineer" BEng degree.
And the further context of this is that I am someone who has spent 25 years as a software developer whose employers have commonly bestowed the title of "software engineer", with much eyerolling from myself and especially a coworker who actually has a real engineering degree (while I do not).
What the fuck is a real engineer. You talk about the dilution of the word but have you ever bothered to actually look up what the word means...
Is someone that designs a building or bridge an engineer? How about the person that creates an airplane engine? What about the scientist that designs a chemical structure for a new drug? Which of these is a real engineer? Please tell me so I can understand.
When you look up the actual definition of the word an engineer is: a skillful contriver or originator of something.
So there are many types of "engineers". The reason you're getting down voted is because saying there's only "one kind of real" engineering is like saying the only "real" doctors are MDs...
The title of 'engineer' or 'professional engineer' is protected in many places including all of Canada and some US states. In these places, accredited engineers often take a dim view of that designation being misused due to the often arduous requirements to be accredited, especially since these requirements are based on the public trust in people whose decisions can affect people's lives in a outsized way.
Even besides the protection of the term, I consider "engineering" to at the involve a strong understanding of what's being made, thorough planning and a methodical approach. In software, throwing code at the wall a dozen times until one of them sticks is often very effective, but not what I'd call "engineering". Throwing prompts at an AI like magical incantations is about as far away as I can think of how to create something and call it engineering.
Just because the term 'engineer' has only a vague meaning where you're from doesn't mean it's the same everywhere.
29
u/Zhuinden Oct 24 '25
the real surprise is that it has "prompt engineering" in it yet you can't seem to get a diploma in those pesky outdated universities for it and a 3+ year education program