Syllabus: CS 3111 Computer Ethics

Course Web Page

http://www.d.umn.edu/~tcolburn/cs3111

Course Texts

Ethics for the Information Age, 2nd ed., by M. J. Quinn
Readings in CyberEthics, Second Edition, edited by R. A. Spinello and H. T. Tavani (Website for this collection)
Various online sources to be determined.

Course Content and Objectives

After completing CS 1511, CS 1521, and CS 2511, UMD students have a solid technological foundation on which to complete their degrees and build successful careers. This course is intended to give students a chance to reflect on the humanitarian, social, and cultural impact of computer technology by focusing on ethical issues faced by and brought about by computing professionals, including those related to networking and the internet, intellectual property, privacy, security, reliability, and liability. We will also focus on changing attitudes toward work and wealth related to the open source phenomenon, as well as issues raised by the possible emergence in the future of highly intelligent machines. We will consider these matters through reading, writing, discussion, and presentation.

Grading Basis

Grades will be based on the total points earned on exams, writings, presentations, and classroom participation. These points are broken down as follows:

item number points each total
Exams, including final 3 75 225
Writing Assignment 10 20 200
Presentation 1 100 100
Classroom Participation 90
Grand Total 615


The final grades will be based on the 615 point total.

Course Organization

We will meet in a small lecture setting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when new material will be presented and discussed. Although it is a lecture setting, class participation will be expected. Accompanying readings from the text and web sources will be indicated on the course term schedule. The midterm exams and final exam will also be given in the small lecture setting. During the last three weeks, class periods will be devoted to student presentations.

On most Mondays the class will engage in writing assignments. During the last two weeks, Mondays will be devoted to student presentations.

Exams

Exams will cover all lecture and reading material, and possibly news events that are covered in class. Coverage and topics will be given on the course web page well before the time of the exam. Exams must be taken on the hour they are scheduled. They will not be given early, and can be made up only if documented evidence of medical emergency or death in the family is presented before the time of the exam.

Note: The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 4:00 p.m. It will not be given early. If you are an international student, do not make travel plans before this date.

Writing Assignments

Ten of the Mondays will be devoted to in-class writing assignments. During the week before, a topic will be posted along with instructions on how to approach the issue involved. On the day of the assignment, you may bring a 3 x 5 handwritten index card of notes to guide your writing. However, all writing will be done in class by hand. Sorry, no laptops. More Info

Student Presentations

The last part of the course will be devoted to individual student presentations. A list of presentation topics will be compiled from which to choose. Guidance concerning presentation format and style will also be provided. More Info

Classroom Participation

This course is unique among computer science offerings in that it is conducted like a philosophy course. Indeed, ethics is an area of philosophy. Philosophy does not take place in a vacuum, but in a setting marked by civilized dialog, point and counterpoint, example and counterexample. So, 15% of a student's grade is based on the quality of his or her classroom participation. Note quality and not merely quantity. Note also civilized dialog. While we will not shy away from spirited debate, we will focus on issues only. Also, note that merely attending does not count as participating.

Collaboration

All writing assignments, presentations, and exam takings are individual, with no collaboration allowed.

Term Schedule

Etc.

Last Word

All excellent things are as difficult as they are rare. -- Benedict Spinoza
Page URL: http://www.d.umn.edu /~tcolburn/cs3111/syllabus.html
Page Author: Tim Colburn
Last Modified: Thursday, 14-Sep-2006 17:28:19 CDT
Comments to: tcolburn@d.umn.edu