After completing CS core and elective courses, 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 professional 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, including issues related to government
- Computer and network security
- Computer reliability and liability
- Professional conduct
- The emergence of highly intelligent machines
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.
The class meets in a small lecture setting on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
when textbook material and relevant current events will be presented
and discussed.
- During the last four weeks, lecture class periods will be devoted
student presentations (see menu).
- The midterm exams and the final exam
will also be given in the small lecture setting.
- Exam coverage and topics will be available from the term
schedule
- The final exam will cover student presentations
On most Mondays the class will perform in-class writing assignments
(see menu).
Ethics for the Information Age, 7th edition, by
M. J. Quinn (opens in a new window).
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.
While we will not shy
away from spirited debate, we will focus on issues and appeal to sound
reasoning rather than emotion.
At the conclusion of the term, the quality of each student's classroom
participation will be assessed as either
weak,
satisfactory,
or
strong.
- If a student's classroom participation is satisfactory, their
final letter grade will be the grade earned according to the percentage of
points achieved as shown in the Grading section in the
menu.
- If a student's classroom participation is strong, their grade
earned will be elevated one level, for example, from B+ to A-.
- If a student's classroom participation is weak, their grade
earned will be lowered one level, for example, from B- to C+.
Note also:
- 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.
The total number of points possible on
exams, writing assignments, and the student presentation are
shown on the right.
Grades are assigned based on percentage of total points as shown
below. The grade cutoffs will never be raised; but they may be
lowered.
% of Total |
Grade |
90 |
A |
87 |
A- |
83 |
B+ |
80 |
B |
77 |
B- |
73 |
C+ |
70 |
C |
67 |
C- |
63 |
D+ |
60 |
D |
Item |
Number |
Points Each |
Total |
Midterm Exam |
2 |
50 |
100 |
Final Exam |
1 |
56 |
56 |
Writing Assignment |
12 |
20 |
240 |
Presentation/Report |
1 |
100 |
100 |
Grand Total |
|
|
496 |
Ethical issues in technology are often at the center of the news media
coverage of current events.
Although the course has a lecture setting and topics are organized
around a textbook, news items will be regular topics for discussion:
- Class participation will be expected, and students should apply what
they learn through readings and lectures by looking at current events
through an ethical lens.
- The instructor will point out relevant news items, but students
can earn credit toward the participation requirement by also
suggesting current events for discussion.
- Use the menu on the left to see news stories that have motivated
class discussion in years past.
News is often presented in multimedia form, e.g. podcasts, videos, TED
Talks, or documentaries, that is suitable for discussion. Examples are
also shown through the menu.
The menu shows news stories by year.
Linked pages are opened in an external window.
This course addresses the following student learning outcomes:
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO's):
- Use ethical reasoning to make informed and principled choices (SLO
4)
- Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, and
interpersonal and group interactions (SLO 6)
Liberal Education Humanities Outcomes (HU-SLO's):
- 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)
Computer Science Department Program Outcomes:
- 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
All writing assignments, presentations, and exam takings are
individual, with no collaboration allowed.