TITLE: Why does undergraduate discrete math require calculus?
QUESTION [14 upvotes]: Often undergraduate discrete math classes in the US have a calculus prerequisite.
Here is the description of the discrete math course from my undergrad:

A general introduction to basic
  mathematical terminology and the
  techniques of abstract mathematics in
  the context of discrete mathematics.
  Topics introduced are mathematical
  reasoning, Boolean connectives,
  deduction, mathematical induction,
  sets, functions and relations,
  algorithms, graphs, combinatorial
  reasoning.

What about this course suggests calculus skills would be helpful?
Is passing calculus merely a signal that a student is ready for discrete math?
Why isn't discrete math offered to freshmen — or high school students — who often lack a calculus background?

REPLY [3 votes]: This has been dormant for a while, but it's worth pointing out the ACM recommendations, which essentially say what J W says - but I don't have enough rep to vote up that answer or comment on it, so I provide the link here for those searching for info.  The ACM also recommended calculus in this set of recs, whereas the update is more about the core CS curriculum. It's also worth mentioning that the ACM is focused more on "sound reasoning", not "formal symbolic proof", in its guidelines.  That doesn't necessarily mean less mathematical, from what I can tell.