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[Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- Subject: [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- From: jack at coats.org (Jack Coats)
- Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2015 13:10:54 -0500
- In-reply-to: <CAAbKA3W1ZdQU16YBm48v1dsDOc-c1zSwx67jO0d4TE4N2cxL9g@mail.gmail.com>
- References: <Pine.NEB.4.64.1504071109270.27385@panix3.panix.com> <21796.1858.282427.638341@snorkack.blazemonger.com> <CAMdng5tqyEdVrS2Gd4k3rgTWFuF4wSCqhVVJxU3uNxVeYsyyeg@mail.gmail.com> <CAAbKA3W1ZdQU16YBm48v1dsDOc-c1zSwx67jO0d4TE4N2cxL9g@mail.gmail.com>
I agree most CS majors will never 'need' calculus in their direct work. Learning Calculus, like philosophy, history, etc, makes for a well rounded education that CS, and other majors need. It helps round out the thinking process. This is from someone that was a CS major. I had calculus, and surprisingly used it a few times directly related to may job, even when others around didn't understand what I did. I worked on mainframes to micro's and embedded systems, from user support, sysadmin, programmer, and systems maintainer and designer over the years, everywhere from banking, to the oil patch, to VOIP provider and even helped design, build, and occupy a few of non-trivial data centers for companies private use and public colo's over the years. Yes a few 'never done before' multiple person-year projects that felt so good when they were over. Calculus, like sorting algorithms, are just items in the tool box that make a for better preparation for life, even if they are never used directly. The though process and philosophy of how to approach problems are invaluable again and again in personal and corporate life. I am retired now, and my GPA would have been MUCH higher if calculus wasn't in there. Still, I am glad I took, and passed, calculus and differential equations. All that said, I hope everyone takes chemistry, physics, math through calculus, mechanical design/build class (drafting & 'shop'), even kitchen science (home economics in the old terms), 'business math' (how to keep books, write checks, balance checking accounts, do interest calculations, break even and profitability analysis, and even correctly count change without a register or calculator - the basic functions needed to run a business or a household). Music (read music and play something a little bit, to be able to enjoy and appreciate, not to be a virtuoso), philosophy, public speaking (even dance), some physical education (that I was horrible at ever time I took it). Somewhere along the way I learned to 'estimate' calculations, and use a slide rule (it helped learn how to estimate). I wish I was better at foreign languages (Spanish, Chinese, some Italian and Russian would be good too) would be helpful, and more so learned earlier in life rather than later. All these things add to the wonderful tapestry of life. So yes, learning calculus, at least understanding the principles, is important in life.
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- [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- From: sronan at panix.com (Stephen Ronan)
- [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- From: dbarrett at blazemonger.com (Daniel Barrett)
- [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- From: mark at buttery.org (Shirley Márquez Dúlcey)
- [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
- From: bill.n1vux at gmail.com (Bill Ricker)
- [Discuss] OT: Do CS grads need calculus?
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