CS 399-1
Social, Ethical and Professional Issues in Computer Science
Catalog Description
The issues facing the computer professional in society and industry. Social impact of information technology. Ethical responsibilities of computer professionals. Professional organizations: availability, membership, meetings, codes of conduct. Professional communications: written reports on case studies dealing with ethical decision making, term paper and an oral presentation.
Prerequisite:
CS 220 with a grade of C or better. Restricted to CS majors.
Objectives
1. To foster the students' understanding of the critical social issues in the computing field.
2. To increase the students' awareness of their ethical responsibilities as computer professionals.
3. To deepen the students' appreciation for what a professional organization can offer.
4. To improve the students' writing skills through written reports on a series of weekly case studies.
5. To develop students' research skills by requiring a written report on a technical area in the computer field.
6. To improve the students' oral communication skills by requiring oral reports on their areas of research.
Course Outline
| Lectures | ||
| 1. | Introduction to CS 399
What are the major social, ethical and professional issues in computer science? Readings: Code of Conduct for Bob's Software House Assignment: A written assignment on the Code of Conduct for Bob's Software House. |
1 |
| 2. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Discussion on preparing a resume and a cover letter Readings: Handouts on preparing a resume and a cover letter Assignment: Prepare a resume and a cover letter |
1 |
| 3. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Critiques of resumes and cover letters Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 1 (Unwrapping the Gift) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 4. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 2 (Privacy and Personal Information) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 5. | Class discussion of prior week's readings List of admissible term paper topics (Assignments next week) Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 3 (Encryption and Interception of Communications) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 6. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Assignment of term paper topics Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 4 (Can we Trust the Computer?) Assignment: Essay question and Outline of term paper |
1 |
| 7. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 5 (Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 8. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 6 (Intellectual Property) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 9. | Class discussion of case studies Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 7 (Computer Crime) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 10. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 8 (Computers and Work) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 11. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 9 (Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 12. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Gift of Fire - Chapter 10 (Professional Ethics and Responsibilities) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 13. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Readings: Codes of Ethics: ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility IEEE Code of Ethics Software Engineering Code of Ethics Corporate Codes of Ethics (Bob's Software House Code of Conduct) Assignment: Essay question |
1 |
| 14. | Class discussion of prior week's readings Assignment: Term paper due next week Regarding Professional Organizations ACM IEEE - Computer Society CPSR |
1 |
| 15. | Class discussion of benefits of professional organizations | 1 |
| 16. | Oral Presentations | 1 |