Social and Ethical Issues in Information Technology

Prerequisite

C or better in CMSC 202.

Description

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 Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Define ethical reasoning as it relates to computer science,
  and apply ethical principles to the profession of cmoputer science.
• Understand the ACM Code of Ethics and how it relates
  to theoretical ethical principles and professional and social
  responsibilities.
• Analyze case studies using the ACM Code of Ethics,
  ethical principles, and moral reasoning.
• Be able to identify and differentiate between ethical,
  social, and legal issues.
• Use written and oral communication to present the results
  of case study analysis in a well structured paper and group
  presentation.

Program Outcomes

CMSC 304 supports these CMSC program outcomes:

• (O2) through writing several case studies, a term
  paper, and a project presentation.
• (O4) through analysis of the impact of changes to
  technology on society.

Texts

• A Gift of Fire:
  Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet
  (3/e), Sara Baase, Prentice Hall, 2008. ISBN: 0136008488.
• CyberEthics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace, Richard
  Spinello, Jones & Bartlett, 2006. ISBN: 0763737836.

The course may also use other handouts and articles on relevant subjects.

Topics

• Ethics and critical reasoning in computer science
• Methods for case analysis
• Introduction to ethical theories and principles
• Privacy, personal information, and trust
• Security and encryption
• Content control and censorship
• Intellectual property and licensing
• Computer crime
• Professional issues and decision-making

Grading

The course grade is based on the following work:

Last updated April 10, 2012