in reply to (OT) Should math (or adv. math) be required in CIS degrees?
Longer answer - for the very reason you cite - analytical skills.
Real answer:
To learn how to think. Personally, I think that Philosophy, especially Logic, should be required for any sort of
degree, let along CIS. But, it's especially important in CIS. Math, at least, is a quasi-related field that has logic pedagogy built in to the fabric of the subject.
You'd think that this would be the case in a CIS degree, but it's not. In fact, I've noticed that analysis and design is the weakest skill for most CS professionals.
This results in a "code-first, maybe-figure-things-out-later" attitude (for both coders and managers) that leads to demolished productivity and a bad name for the profession. In fact, a number of programmers I've met are afraid of analysis/design work. We fear what we do not understand. Had they taken Math, even something as simple as Linear Algebra or Advanced Calculus, they would be more secure in their capabilities to attack and solve problems.
The reason why Philo would be better is that, unlike Math, you have to be able to handle problems expressed in English and parse them to their logical equivalents. This is the exact skill I use when handling customer-written requirements. Without that training, I would be lost.
(For the record, I have a double major in both Math and CompSci, with a should've-been-completed minor in Philosophy.)
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We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.
Don't go borrowing trouble. For programmers, this means Worry only about what you need to implement.
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Re: For CIS, Math is good, but Philo is better.
by sean23007 (Initiate) on Jul 29, 2002 at 01:49 UTC |