The role of courses like Discrete Math and Formal Languages in CS education?

[SmokeMonster]

It seems to me that in my school (and probably in most schools in canada) pretty much every semster or every other semester there is a required CS course that everyone hates but has to hold their nose and take due to degree requirements, for example two courses which in particular illicit groans and set fear in the hearts of undergrads are Discrete Math and Formal Languages. What is the point of having courses like this as "required" part of a CS degree? Required courses should be courses that are completely indispensible to a CS graduate. I believe that most programmers can go their entire career without knowing anything about Discrete Math or formal langauages At best courses like these should be optional and availabe to those who are interested as most CS courses are instead of forcing everyone to take these.

[Brightguy]

SmokeMonster @ Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:52 am wrote:

Required courses should be courses that are completely indispensible to a CS graduate.

Exactly why mandatory programming or hardware design courses should have no part in a CS degree. After all, a computer scientist could go their entire career without ever using a computer.

OK, that was tactless. The point is a programmer is not a computer scientist.

...Welcome to progsci.ca.

[Insectoid]

Tell my why I need to take History, and I'll tell you why you need discrete math.

For the record, Discrete is my favorite class.