One would need logical thinking, the ability to read + exercise + memorize and execute the knowledge. If you take CS courses, you learn from "other" in a compr

One would need logical thinking, the ability to read + exercise + memorize and execute the knowledge. If you take CS courses, you learn from "other" in a compressed way and get some nice explanations. Also, the exams you write in courses foster the memorization and execution. So, it's perfectly legit to learn from books/websites. But you need problem solving abilities, which is you mostly learn while studying - no matter if its CS, physics or any other subject. The only thing you learn is problem solving:)