<p>I’m curious to know because I hear many people say that CS majors don’t need much math skills.</p>
<p>Is that true?</p>
<p>CS <em>is</em> math. But if you mean most computer programmers don’t use much math, that is correct. And most CS majors go on to become programmers, rather than actual computer scientists (computer science is a branch of math).</p>
<p>However, if you are going into writing software that involves scientific simulations or high-end graphics, for example, “higher math” (by bachelor degree standards) is required.</p>
<p>Yes and no. Today most CS curriculum only require math up to linear algebra I believe. In our school engineers take “linear algebra & vector analysis”. We simply combine two courses together. The math major and science people take “linear algebra” only. </p>
<p>Here is a sample curriculum from our school
<a href=“http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/gsoe/computer_sci/upload/CSC-Curriculum-Fall-2009-Spring-2010.pdf[/url]”>http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/gsoe/computer_sci/upload/CSC-Curriculum-Fall-2009-Spring-2010.pdf</a></p>
<p>Discrete Mathematics and Structures is a math course alike. In DMS the instructor covers the fundamental stuff a math major take in one course, briefly: graph theory, number theory, combinatorial, and etc. </p>
<p>As Tom pointed out, you have stimulation, probability, data structure, algorithm, numerical science, and theoretical stuff (like arithmetics, benchmark, data relation) in CS are applied mathematics.
Average programmers don’t deal with “calculations” that often. But the Google lecture in our school that I attended, the google guy said he done a lot of math stuff beside coding. It’s obvious because he does networking and diagnostics for google (he works for the google labs).</p>
<p>In short, computer science can be described as “numbers mathematics”, because everything you do is based on numbers (base 2, base-8, base-16, base-10, or base-k).</p>
<p>[Google</a> Answers: Software Engineering and Maths](<a href=“http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/15320.html]Google”>Google Answers: Software Engineering and Maths)</p>
<p>I think somebody who said CS majors don’t require math skills probably didn’t understand what a computer science major entails.</p>
<p>Maybe they were confusing IT with CS.</p>
<p>Web development: little to no math
Enterprise development (90% of business apps): little to no math
Game development: Basic linear algebra, Calculus
Scientific Programming: Depends on domain… usually in depth Linear Alg, Diff Eqs
Database stuff: Some discrete math / set theory background makes you look like you know what you’re doing
Defense/Govt: Crypto(number theory), Embedded systems(logic?), discrete things in general. Other parts of Govt work can be similar to web dev or enterprise dev.</p>
<p>As a CS major, you should take discrete math at least, since the logical thinking will help you in the future. It will also prepare you to be a code monkey at a top place like Goog or MS, which is somewhat more glamorous than an average code monkey position.</p>
<p>You don’t need to know linear algebra and calculus in game development. Trust me!</p>
<p>You DO need to know it if you’re one of the very few people who are developing the actual graphics libraries such as OpenGL and DirectX.</p>
<p>I will say this…</p>
<p>Although I did my computer science emphasis via the math major, I know there are CS majors who attended Michigan State back in the late 80’s/early 90’s who are probably MAD when they look at the math requirements of most CS programs today.</p>
<p>“You DO need to know it if you’re one of the very few people who are developing the actual graphics libraries such as OpenGL and DirectX”</p>
<p>Your wrong here. You have to use calculus to make a sample casual games like Luxor or Zuma…try making a ball follow a path on a curve without it…I have also worked on 4 released casual video games. </p>
<p>You have to use some linear algebra for making a 3D…I have made a small mini-golf game, and a blowing game…so I know.</p>