In the OP video, Sussman mentions that SICP was one (the first) of four core courses in EECS that introduced essential concepts in programming, circuits, signal

In the OP video, Sussman mentions that SICP was one (the first) of four core courses in EECS that introduced essential concepts in programming, circuits, signals and systems, and computer architecture. I think all four completed by the end of year two and were prerequisite for all junior/senior EECS courses thereafter. It's hard to imagine the EECS program does not still require this material to earn a BS in CS or EE, but requiring four prerequisite courses probably interfered with non-EECS students who wanted to take junior/senior level EECS courses but did not want to have to run the "gauntlet of four" before doing so.