Engineers design materials, structures, and
systems while considering the limitations
imposed by practicality, regulation,
safety, and cost.
Perhaps many programmers don't do this, but many do. Engineers design materials, structures, and
systems while considering the limitations
imposed by practicality, regulation,
safety, and cost.
Perhaps many programmers don't do this, but many do.In some countries calling yourself an engineer without having an appropriate degree issued by an engineering school is a crime (although, seldom enforced in software).
Whether the school should have a software department at all was a big discussion at my school at the time. They decided to keep it.
EDIT: Sorry, to be clear, we agree: it's just adding a bit more information to your point.
That said, I think 'Software Engineer' is an acceptable title, and is more representative of the work we do in the profession than simply 'Computer Programmer'.
How much you consider yourself an engineer is irrelevant in this case: you either are one because you have a degree from an engineering school (not a university!), or you don't (it's a civilian title in Switzerland's case at least, "Eng." similarly to "Dr.")
Calling yourself a "software engineer" in Switzerland (and according to wikipedia, in a slew of other countries [1]) if you have a university degree is technically illegal - although of course, seldom enforced.
Actually, you're looking for the term "Professional Engineer" which can only be legally used if you have at least a B.S. or B.Eng. (or local equivalent) in an accredited program, have taken some kind of certifying exam, and may also require a certain number of years working in the field to obtain licensure. In the US, there is a PE certifying exam for ABET accredited Computer Science and Software Engineering program graduates.
Your Wikipedia link had no information about Switzerland, but it did have this interesting bit about the Czech Republic: "In the Czech Republic, the title "engineer" (Ing.) is given to people with a (masters) degree in chemistry, technology or economics for historical and traditional reasons." Every country is different...