Exactly, the language I programed while I learned about basic data structures (java) has changed a quite a bit since 1998, but the linked list is still the same

Exactly, the language I programed while I learned about basic data structures (java) has changed a quite a bit since 1998, but the linked list is still the same. So are recursion, and the binary tree, and a dozen other simple concepts from that class. Similarly, I don't touch C++ or Oracle databases any more, but I still understand joins and how to go over data (fairly) efficiently - those really haven't changed either. If anything, I wish they had used a simpler language, and as a result gotten rid of the wasted hours of going over the languages (except maybe one in depth language course in something like java or C), and instead put more general problem solving (and solutions) into the material. That stuff is invaluable.