I hate to admit but this is essentially how some people look at computer science. In fact, there are graduates of computer science who skipped courses in theory of algorithms, theory of computation, and even discrete mathematics -- they say they don't need these courses to create software. Their goal anyway is to become a software developer in some high paying company. Hence, what is needed is just learn the software development languages like C++, Java, or C#. It is noteworthy that most popular integrated software development systems (e.g. Visual Studio.Net in windows for example) provide most of the library routines you need. You don't have to implement a sorting algorithm or a data structure like in the early days. Current compilers for programming languages usually provide a comprehensive library of implementations of algorithms and data structures.
It is good that in recent years, computer scientists are compelled to think beyond established theories in computer science in order to solve new problems in emerging fields like bioinformatics. Programming skills are required but not enough to tackle these new problems.
3 comments:
Interesting, I didn't know this. The parallel for us is somebody who would skip macroeconomics and still get an MS/MA. No skipping though for PhDs.
In some CS subdisciplines like Human-Computer Interaction, theory of computation is not required -- even if you are on a PhD program. :)
You gotta compose a song about multi-modal networks!
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