Syllabus: CS 3111 Computer Ethics

Course Web Page

Course Resources

• Ethics for the Information Age, 7th edition, by M. J. Quinn
• Various online sources to be determined.

Course Content and Objectives

We will consider these matters through reading, video/multimedia, writing, discussion, and presentation. Students must have completed an upper-division writing course before taking this course.

This course addresses these Student Learning Outcomes (campus-wide):

• Use ethical reasoning to make informed and principled choices (SLO 4)
• Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, and interpersonal and group interactions (SLO 6)

This course addresses these Liberal Education Humanities Outcomes (campus-wide):

• Students will apply humanistic methods of inquiry and interpretation to the product/processes of human thought and culture (HU-SLO 1)
• Students will analyze products/processes of human thought and culture (HU-SLO 2)
• Students will explain how the products/processes of human thought and culture relate to cultural, social, or historical contexts (HU-SLO 3)

This course addresses these outcomes in computer science education specified by the UMD Department of Computer Science and aligned with the standards put forth by the ABET accrediting board:

• Recognize milestones in computing, networking, and information storage and retrieval
• Be familiar with the language and content of ethical discourse
• Understand modern debates surrounding intellectual property
• Appreciate the threats to privacy posed by modern information gathering techniques
• Be familiar with a range of other ethical issues raised by modern information technology and relevant to computer professionals

Current Events

Course Organization

On most Wednesdays the class will engage in in-class writing assignments.

Exams

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.

Writing Assignments

• If a student's classroom participation is satisfactory, his/her final letter grade will be the grade earned according to the percent of points achieved as shown in the grade table below.
• If a student's classroom participation is strong, his/her grade earned according to the grade table will be elevated one level, for example, from B+ to A-.
• If a student's classroom participation is weak, his/her grade earned according to the grade table will be lowered one level, for example, from B- to C+.

• The quality and not merely quantity of classroom participation will be assessed.
• A good way to contribute is by suggesting and briefly explaining relevant news items.
• Merely attending class without participating will not earn a satisfactory participation assessment.
• Failure to attend class can contribute to a weak participation assessment.

Grading Basis

item	number	points each	total
Midterm Exam	2	100	200
Final Exam	1	50	50
Writing Assignment	13	20	260
Presentation/Report	1	100	100
Grand Total			610

The final grades will be based on the 610 point total with the following cutoffs:

% of Points Achieved	Grade Earned
90	A
87	A-
83	B+
80	B
77	B-
73	C+
70	C
67	C-
63	D+
60	D

Collaboration

Term Schedule

Etc.

• Student Success Roadmap
• UMD Tutoring Center
• As instructor I shall make every attempt to treat all students equally, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation. To inquire further about the University's policy on cultural diversity, see the Office of Cultural Diversity.
• If you have any disability (either permanent or temporary) that might affect your ability to perform in this class, please contact Disability Resources, and inform me at the start of the semester.

Writer's Workshop

Last Word