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> I have never seen a replacement for the algorithmic study outside of a CS degree. Perhaps you've not seen it, but a lot of engineering disciplines like elect

by kyzyl 13y ago

> I have never seen a replacement for the algorithmic study outside of a CS degree. Perhaps you've not seen it, but a lot of engineering disciplines like electrical, computer, physics, mechanical, mechatronics, chemical go through the basic intro to programming + data structures and algorithms + discrete math sequence. Indeed, somebody with a CS degree is likely to be much more steeped in that material than somebody without, but don't perpetuate the false dichotomy of "took CS and can reason about algorithms, or didn't and can't" Each discipline had its strengths and weaknesses, but often they are just looking at similar problems from different angles. EDIT: Reading your comment again I see that maybe this is what you were getting at with the preference to CS/math bit.

pnathan 13y ago
What I particularly find valuable about CS graduates is (1) the algorithmic knowledge usually taught in the upper class courses and (2) the language about the theory and craft. Math people can shift into the algorithmic knowledge without going through mental twists. Some physics people too. I don't find other engineering majors as amenable to the abstraction qua abstraction that CS pushes. I in particular have had bad experiences with EEs. YMMV. The language thing is sort of a big deal: when I talk about asymptotic complexity and reason about the math underlying a difficult problem, it's good to be on the same page with my audience. CS majors are taught that, even if they forgot it since. It's not something specific and magic to CS majors: its just that higher order abstractions are sort of in the curriculum of computer science and math more than others. They can be learned online or from a textbook; it's not some sort of magic only available in a CS course can. :-) And, as you pointed out, diversity brings a great benefit. I find my colleagues with physics, music, IT, and digital media degrees to have very valuable insights, even though we do have communication difficulties occasionally.

by kyzyl 13y ago

pnathan 13y ago

What I particularly find valuable about CS graduates is (1) the algorithmic knowledge usually taught in the upper class courses and (2) the language about the theory and craft. Math people can shift into the algorithmic knowledge without going through mental twists. Some physics people too. I don't find other engineering majors as amenable to the abstraction qua abstraction that CS pushes. I in particular have had bad experiences with EEs. YMMV. The language thing is sort of a big deal: when I talk about asymptotic complexity and reason about the math underlying a difficult problem, it's good to be on the same page with my audience. CS majors are taught that, even if they forgot it since. It's not something specific and magic to CS majors: its just that higher order abstractions are sort of in the curriculum of computer science and math more than others. They can be learned online or from a textbook; it's not some sort of magic only available in a CS course can. :-) And, as you pointed out, diversity brings a great benefit. I find my colleagues with physics, music, IT, and digital media degrees to have very valuable insights, even though we do have communication difficulties occasionally.