Questions 2: where to learn about this stuff. I am an undergraduate philosophy major so I know some formal logic. I have very little math though, what math would help me? What classes might help me learn to do this sort of programming? I figure it can't but help me in my studies anyway.
I can summarize the math topics as such;
the signal, how much energy, etc) (first two semesters of calculus)
physics, espcially electronics, courses)
That's just the basics...
You can learn this stuff in physics and statistics also. In physics it might be more 'to the point' because physics is about modelling, not theory.
As for the formal logic, it might help your understanding but most math classes don't use it until you get into the advanced topics.
andy