[learc83]

What CS degree requires physics and chemistry ?

Also I don't think a degree without calculus can really be called CS. How are you going to understand analysis of algorithms without at least a basic grasp of the concepts of calculus. A person who failed out of calculus definitely wouldn't have survived the rest of my CS program.

I wouldn't advise anyone to do a CS degree with all the math stripped out. Sure you can build CRUD apps all day long without an understanding of math, but you don't need a degree to build CRUD apps.

I think people who are happy doing that kind of work should skip college all together (or get a degree in something other than CS) and learn on their own or maybe do some kind of bootcamp.

[logn]

Personally I think you can understand algorithms knowing only algebra and finite math. However, I should clarify the BA programs I'm aware of still required a semester or so of calculus versus others which require a few semesters.

At my college, almost every CS major ended up being 1 credit short of a minor in Math. I don't think that much math is necessary.

[learc83]

>Personally I think you can understand algorithms knowing only algebra and finite math.

How are you going to understand the growth rates of algorithms without calculus?

Are you just going to keep it at the level of: in f(n) = n^2 + n, n^2 grows much faster, so it's like comparing an elephant to a goldfish.

Intuitive explanations work fine as an introduction, but again I don't think you need a college degree to understand algorithms at this level.

It seems like what you're looking for would be better implemented as a 2 year programming degree at a community college.

[Kalium]

> What CS degree requires physics and chemistry ?

Uh. Mine did, actually. Calculus too.

[learc83]

Yeah, they pretty much all require calculus, and most require 2 semesters of physics. Some let you take another science class instead physics.

Mine required 2 semesters of physics + labs and then a semester of any other science class.

But yours required physics and chemistry? I can't imagine why chemistry is required for CS.

[Kalium]

Artifact of organization. My degree came through the college of engineering, which required physics and chemistry for all grads. And some technical breadth electives, too.

[learc83]

That makes sense. My CS department came out of the math department, I wasn't thinking of the ones that emerged from engineering.

[Kalium]

Yeah, my alma mater has one of those too.

Michigan is a... unique beast. Anything worth doing is worth doing a minimum of twice, preferably with no knowledge of other attempts. This is why there are two entirely separate radio stations.