Anyways, SOME amount of programming should be mandatory. There are too many programs with macro languages that can be customized for your own specific needs, so some basic programming understanding would be beneficial.
It really does depend on the level of programming. Programming is mainly logic. If you're not very logical it is really difficult. If you see abstract patterns easily you'll find programming quite simple to pick up. It can even be addictive. I was addicted from the beginning. Took 14 years to kick the habit.
Some write programs to solve problems (solving PDEs)
Some write programs to control machines (fly by wire?)
Some write programs to make life easier (word processors etc)
For solving problems, it is just encoding what you would have done manually. That is quite easy to master. The complex bit is just translation of your technique to the chosen language.
Controlling machines can be fairly complex. Depends on the machine and how the interfaces are written.
Programming to make life easier is the most difficult one. You have to do a lot of research into requirements and making sure human interaction doesn't cause problems. Actually you spend more time doing the requirements than actual programming.
Basically, the less human interaction there is, the easier the system is to program.
