CS 3111 Syllabus

CS 3111 Course Description

CS 3111 Course Outcomes

Textbooks and Materials

• (Quinn) Ethics for the Information Age, 3rd ed. , by Michael J. Quinn
• (S&T) Readings in CyberEthics, 2nd ed. , by Richard A. Spinello and Herman T. Tavani

Course Objectives

This course encourages students to reflect on the humanitarian, social, and cultural aspects of computer and information technology. These aspects include important issues: intellectual property, privacy, security, reliability, and professional ethics. We will also examine possible impact on the economic world and the way people work.

Course Organization

The course meets four times a week. Three of the meetings are devoted to lecture and discussion. In these meetings class participation is expected. The fourth meeting is devoted to in-class writing assignments based on selected readings from S&T.

Topics and Readings

• Catalysts for Change, Quinn Chapter 1
• Introduction to Ethics, Quinn Chapter 2
• Networking, Quinn Chapter 3
• Intellectual Property, Quinn Chapter 4
• Privacy, Quinn Chapter 5
• Computer and Network Security, Quinn Chapter 6
• Computer Reliability, Quinn Chapter 7
• Professional Ethics, Quinn Chapter 8
• Work and Wealth, Quinn Chapter 9

For each of these topics, appropriate readings will be selected from S&T. The selected readings will be announced in the course calendar at least one week in advance. The Wednesday 8:00 class meetings will be devoted to writing papers on the selected readings.

Grading Basis

Exam Dates

Policies

• Assigned reading should be done before coming to class on the assigned date.
• Philosophy in general, and ethics in particular, is an activity involving civilized dialog with points and counterpoints, examples and counterexamples. For computer ethics, examples and counterexamples often come from recent news.
• Writing assignments are to be done in the Wednesday 8:00 class meeting on the due date. You should have read the assigned reading in advance. You may bring a 3" by 5" card with handwritten notes. Assignments will be hand written. No notebooks or handheld computers.
• Midterm exams will be given in lecture. No makeups will be given except for dire emergencies, in which case you should contact your me as early as possible.
• Exams will not be given early, and makeups are not allowed except in very dire circumstances, e.g., severe illness or death in the family. In any case, I must be informed in advance of the scheduled exam time.
• Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, that might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the quarter. Adaptation of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.