CS is an underpinning to software engineering. Knowing how code is translated to assembly to then machine language is helpful to engineering. It is helpful to know how to analyze algorithms, to have studied and implemented algorithms.
Though.. in software engineering, being able to write well is perhaps the single most important skill. Communication, documentation, very important.
Are we going to then say English majors are the best programmers? If they later become dev managers or director - then perhaps. Does a person learn English really well by also learning Latin and the origins of english and it's great works? I believe yes, and that is why I think knowing the theory and underpinnings of CS are very useful foundational knowledge. Required? No, but nor is touch typing or anything else that makes a person extremely competent.
Though.. in software engineering, being able to write well is perhaps the single most important skill. Communication, documentation, very important.
Are we going to then say English majors are the best programmers? If they later become dev managers or director - then perhaps. Does a person learn English really well by also learning Latin and the origins of english and it's great works? I believe yes, and that is why I think knowing the theory and underpinnings of CS are very useful foundational knowledge. Required? No, but nor is touch typing or anything else that makes a person extremely competent.