A well said by digg user about what CS is

 读CS后，我最后悔的，是当初没学好数学。

当你写一条程序，程序的运算效率是质量的最关键环节。而没有数学基础和基本的数学素养，你根本没可能推导出你所设计的程序的最优路线。同样的，硬件的设计，cpu的汇编，甚至内存/硬盘的分配等所有所有计算机有关的一切，无不归纳到它的本源–数学公式上去。

这个帖子是一看就知道是某CS达人写的，抄下来激励一下自己。

 

you have to realize, computer science and IT are very very different subjects. Computer Science is the science and technology behind the computer, IT is learning to work that technology and science. If you go into grad school with a CS degree and you don’t understand advanced trig, calculus, or number theory, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble. Concepts like RSA-encryption and data storage (at the more fundamental levels, not stuff like MySQL) are based on the "computer math" that CS majors have to learn. If you want to learn to be a code monkey, IT administrator, or low-level developer, a CS degree probably isn’t designed to teach you that.

There’s also the physical side of Computer Science, stuff like electrical engineering and the applied physics that goes with it. Here you’re going to have to know even more calculus and mathematics (not to mention physics and some chemistry) to be able to do your job. Computer Science barely touches on setting up firewalls and administering linux domains. All that CS does is provide the technology to be able to create those tools, it’s the IT side of everything that deals with using the tools.

So be careful, if you’re getting a CS degree, you are not learning about being a code monkey (if that’s all you choose to do with your degree, that’s your choice). You’re learning about the science that makes the computer go.

A good analogy is that of a car. Most mechanics can’t tell you about the exact construction and function of each part of a car, but the engineer who designed it may not have the best knowledge (and I mean hands on knowledge) on how to install a new rear suspension or new transmission. Even if they were responsible for designing some of the parts and some of the components of that particular part of the car. In this case, the engineer is the computer scientist and the mechanic is the IT guy or the code monkey.

A CS degree is made to prepare computer scientists, not IT people or code monkeys. Thus the university requirements are designed with CS people in mind, not the kinds of jobs you guys are describing.