CMSC 304: Ethical & Social Issues in
Information Technology
Summary Syllabus - Spring 2014
Instructor
Information
Dr. Richard Forno
Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, UMBC
E-mail: rforno@OURSCHOOL
(place 'CMSC304' in the
subject line to ensure timely notice!!)
Office Hours: ITE359 (2:30-3:30 T/TH) and/or in other nodes/modes by
appointment.
TA: John Mynaugh (mynaugh1@OURSCHOOL)
Office Hours: ITE201E (2:30-3:30 T/TH)
Course Information
Course meets Tuesdays & Thursdays from 1:00-2:15PM in ITE 233 or the ACTIVE classroom.
Pre-Requisite: CMSC 202. Preference will be given to CS majors and
minors.
Catalogue Course Description
This is a survey course that reviews social issues and the ethical impact
of information technology throughout the world. The course examines the
policy issues that relate to the use of information technology, such as
persona, privacy, rights of access, security, transborder information flow
and confidentiality.
Course Objectives
Through a contextual ethical analyses of contemporary situations &
lively class discussions, by the end of the course, students will be able
to:
- Understand the moral obligations and responsibilities that come with
professional IT careers and behave appropriately.
- Appreciate that many IT issues have social, legal, and ethical
consequences that are not immediately obvious and add to the complexity
of the issue.
- Be able to identify and differentiate between ethical, social, and
legal issues and recognize their importance for CS professionals.
- Understand each step involved in the process of complete and thorough
ethical analysis.
- Take an issue or problem of ethical, social, and/or legal relevance to
the computing profession, analyze the relevant information, formulate a
conclusion, defend this conclusion clearly in a written document or oral
presentation, and understand and explain opposing perspectives.
- Understand the ACM Code of Ethics and the Software Engineering Code of
Ethics and how these documents relate to theoretical ethical principles
and professional and social responsibilities.
- Understand key legal concepts related to computing and its use,
including (but not limited to) patent protection, digital copyright,
cybersecurity, and software licensing.
Extended
Syllabus (PDF)
Schedule
of Readings, Topics, and Assignments