Catalog description:

An examination of the ethical, legal, and social responsibilities of the practicing professional computer scientist. Issues addressed include computers and privacy, computer crime, public safety, intellectual property and professional codes of ethics. Key issues will normal be considered through case studies.

Prerequisite: Junior Standing

Objectives:

Computers and the people who program and manage computers have direct impact on the lives of all members of society. It is therefore necessary that the parameters of ethical practice be clearly examined so that responsible professionals can make responsible decisions with full awareness of the consequences of their actions.

Success Skills:

• Three research papers (3-5 pages)
• Oral presentation (5-20 minutes)
• Team programming assignment

Required Topics: (approximate weeks allocated):

• Privacy and information (3)
  • Views of privacy
  • Threats to privacy
    • Government Information Banks
    • Consumer Information
    • Medical records
  • Anonymity and Pseudonymity
  • Protection Policies
• Public Safety (3)
  • Hardware Reliability
  • Software Reliability
• Intellectual Property (2)
  • Copyright law
  • Patents
  • "Look and Feel"
• Computer Crime (2)
  • Intruders: Hacking and Cracking
  • Viruses and Worms
  • Digital Forgery
• Constitutional and Related Issues (2)
  • Pornography
  • Sexist, Racist, and Harassing material online
  • Bomb-making information and other 'how-to' sites that give instruction on how to commit a crime
• Professional Ethics(2)
  • Ethical Theories
  • Codes of Ethics
• Exams/Review (1)