Professors said this week that the strengthening of electrical engineering will be similar to efforts about five years ago to cast Harvard into computer science, an area previously considered unworthy of the University's devotion.

"If 20 years ago I said we should have a department in computer science, [the administration] would have said 'why not have a department in automotive technology as well,"' said McKay Professor of Computer Science Harry R. Lewis '68, who was largely credited with bringing computer science into mainstream academia at Harvard.

"We have since recognized the intellectual integrity of such fields," he said.

Neither computer science nor electrical engineering constitute departments in themselves, but undergraduates and graduates can concentrate in the areas.

Martin said the re-organization effort has two components. Harvard will have to build and purchase equipment for expensive research laboratories, and compete with other universities and eager industries to attract qualified faculty.

He said that in the area of equipment, "it's a question of degree. We are not bereft of equipment, but we certainly need to extend what we have."

Martin said faculty appointments will present a challenge because of intense competition, but added that Harvard's program should be sufficiently attractive to lure some experts.

Eventually, some 15 senior and junior faculty, some brought from other areas of applied science at Harvard, will be associated with electrical engineering, according to Wallace Professor of Applied Physics R. Victor Jones.

In addition to procurement and recruitment, professors in the field said they have established a five-part core program for concentrators. But they said that graduate programs are still very limited, and will have to be gradually expanded as equipment and number of faculty warrant.

The field is also connected with other academic areas, including material physics, computer hardware, economics, psychology and business programs and will be developed to accomodate those interests, said Jones