Should I not even attempt to learn any programming languages until I reach a higher math than I'm in now?

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Why do CS and IT majors require rediculous amounts of high level math courses then? That is the only reason I will probably end up with some kind of Business major.

Honestly, I think the level of math some schools require is stupid. Your average programmer will never use a lot of the required math. I can see the argument that you might need some of it for certain things, and when you do you dont want to have to learn it on the job, and the school doesnt want its rep to be hurt when its graduates can't do their job due to insufficient math, but in many cases they really take it too far. That, and the required classes that you have to take at many universities is out of control. Many majors (engineering, programming) have become (effectively) 5 year programs, because in addition to all the technical classes you need for your major, schools tack on "diversity" classes, foreign language requirements, etc. Programmers NEED be multi-lingual... in programming languages, not Spanish and French. There is a benefit to speaking and writing a foreign language if you are a programmer, but it is not as much of a benefit as taking another 20 credits in CS classes.

 

[manly]

CS != programming

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: manly
CS != programming

manly is right, CS and programming is not the same. CS is more about understanding the backgrounds and theories behind programming, like how to program better (or we would still be stuck using C), proving code correctness, algorithms, etc... If you want to learn about programming, go get a book. In my university, it's expected of you to learn the language by yourself, where as advanced concepts are taught in classes.