[constantx]

I have to disagree. Both statistics and economics requires understanding of Math, which lives on the same side of the brain that's needed for understanding logic, thus coding falls into the same bucket. Though I suspect you're refering to "understand coding" as "understand complex algorithm". In which case, I agree because there are many type of coder, and some of which doesnt neccessarily needs to "understand and/or write complex algorithm".

[mathattack]

Here's the context... Someone with moderate statistics can take a Microeconomics class and with a few hours a week of studying can get conversational, and apply it. With only introductory calculus, they can take a second and third class, and know enough to be professionally employed in the field. 90% of the folks who start the first class can take the 2nd and 3rd.

3 classes isn't enough for competence in coding, and much less than 90% get out of the first class.

[Jtsummers]

That's because we have 12 years (in the US) of general math studies to prepare us for stats and calculus. Integrate programming into the sciences and math courses (physics and geometry have obvious points for integration, I'm less certain about the others) and a first course in programming will actually be able to get students much further than they often do today.