I too had to learn FORTRAN (it was v77 then) as part of my undergraduate degree as did my now wife. We were both studying Environmental Engineering. There are many US Federal government agencies (e.g. EPA) who have mathematical models that are programmed in FORTRAN as per the federal regulations mandate. For those students who will be studying to work in this field it makes perfect sense for them to study FORTRAN. There are no plans I am aware of to update these environmental modeling programs from FORTRAN to a 'better' language. For the non-computer science students / environmental engineers it is a good place to start with computer programming and will add to their skills required for the work place. If they have the desire to enhance their computer programming skills they should be encouraged to minor in CS etc. For anyone else, dear God NO! Do not subject them to this language. My $0.02.

MO' Sunapple

The logo is already designed and posted at http://www.suck.com/daily/96/01/26/sunapple.gif

Yes this is a rip off from 1996. Couldn't resist.