What Math Courses Should We Teach CS Students?

Coryoth asks: "If you're taking computer science then getting as much mathematics as you can is probably a good idea. Ultimately, however, there are only so many math courses you an squeeze in. Given that, what areas of mathematics should we be teaching CS students for maximum benefit? Traditionally university math courses are structured around the needs of the physical sciences and engineering, which means calculus is what gets offered. While a decent calculus course can teach a certain amount of formality in reasoning, wouldn't CS students be better served with a course in mathematical logic and foundations with its greater degree of formal reasoning and obvious connections to fundamental concepts in computer science? Are courses in abstract algebra and graph theory going to be useful to CS students? Should courses in category theory (yes, it applies to computer science) be required of students going on in theoretical computer science? In short — what areas of mathematics are going to be the most useful and most applicable to computer science students? What courses were of the most value to you?"

Re:computational statistics

[jawtheshark]

Indeed, 87% of all computer science majors have no clue about statistics....

Re:It realy doesn't matter

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Whichever branch of maths you follow it encourages logical thought.

Except for mathematical logic. Those guys leave all semblance of logic at the door.

Re:computational statistics

[LizardKing]

What about the other 23%?

Re:I liked oenology, personally

[LizardKing]

No, but there's a strong connection between onanism and the study of Computer Science.

Re:It realy doesn't matter

[0racle]

I have yet to use n-dimensional calculus in non-cartesian space for practical business applications

Thats because your just a VP, management doesn't do anything for practical business purposes. Impractical maybe, but not practical.

Re:According to Ron Graham and Donald Knuth

[Bright Apollo]

This is the Godwin's Law equivalent for this discussion topic. We're done here.

-BA

Re:It realy doesn't matter

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

Hence my sig :-)

Re:computational statistics

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, they should be taught Latin. The plural of curriculum is curricula, not curriculae.

Re:Some Math greater than Other Math

[Aaron Denney]

> discreet mathematics.

Yes, much nicer than the showy, obvious, and unrestrained mathematics.

(The word you want is discrete)