<p>@ Aladdin:</p>
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<p>Matlab is a technical language (if you take the general perpsective that it is a language 
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It does all kinds of mathematical objects computations.
Google matlab and look at google images to see what sorts of images you see. A lot of graphs. It can solve a lot of things for you. For example, plotting xyz space, stimulation models, and mathematic computations.</p>
<p>Knowing how to write M-file program in matlab language can be very helpful. One can write a C++ program and use matlab as a mathematic engine, as long as you know how to write such program. </p>
<p>So for civil engineering, there is no “MUST” learn language. I know civil engineers use other softwares and applications as well. MATLAB is not the only one. You should check with your upperclassmen and see what languages were they required to graduate (the courses). Most engineering school requires as least one computer science (usually Java, C, C++, Python), and languages like matlab probably counts as technical course. </p>
<p>In calculus 3 (mutli-variable), most schools that I know of use MATLAB as part of its course learning. So you probably will get to touch MATLAB anyway.</p>
<p>MATLAB is very powerful indeed. It can solve the most un-doable derivative for you :)</p>
<p>Java, C++, Python are more common today. Most people I know only recommend people to take C if they are computer science major. </p>
<p>Again, depending on your school. Moreover, after your graduate, and you get a job, your employer will tell you what exactly he wants you to know.</p>