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Computer science is such a broad field that it would be impossible for a college to teach you every thing about it in 4 years. The idea is to teach you the theory or the science of computers (hence the name) its not a computer programming degree. The goal of most computer science undergraduate programs is to prepare you for graduate school and/or research. Not to prepare you for the job market. I'm not saying this is how it should be, just the way it is.
Most accredited computer science programs CANNOT teach you much that is too practical. The accredidation boards (ABET in particular) see to it that a class cannot be too practically oriented. My school was forced to discontinue a good systems administration class by ABET, mainly because it did not contain enough theory to qualify for upper level credits.
The idea is to teach you theory. Programming is simply a means to an end. While in a data structures class you don't delve too deeply into them, you may end up coding a linked list. Hell, in my data structures class we had to do it in Java. You will likely never code your own linked list. Especially not in Java. But i understand whats going on every time i include java.util.LinkedList.
Assembly is not taught to teach you assembly. It is taught to teach you how registers work and how the computer executes programs on a very low level. If you ever find yourself needing assembly in your job, run away. run away fast and run away screaming (kidding). But if you see it or need it you will understand the basic syntax and will probably have the ability to pick it up if you need it.
The only way to become an expert in a programming language is to use it every day. I must say though that the main thing that has frustrated me about my school is in the first two years there I got very good at Java. I also had an internship for a summer working for a company doing J2EE programming which certainly helped. For the last couple years, none of my classes would even allow us to use Java.
If you want to get out of school and know how to program, get an internship or a job while in school. Many companies will hire you for part time work while in school. In my current job, i dont make nearly what i am worth to the company. But I get the flexibility to come and go when i want, I am learning quite a bit about web programming, and I am building my resume. I am optimistic for my career opportunities when i finish school (next month!!) since i have been offered my boss' job at the end of each of my three summer internships (all at different companies).
If you want a good solid understanding of how computers work get a computer science degree. If you want to learn to program, go to tech school. If you want both, get a computer science degree and learn how to program on your own or through an internship.
And if you learn nothing while you are in school this is likely your own damn fault.
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