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 t

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.