CS 3090 - Ethics in Computing

Fall 2024

Syllabus: Course Critical Information (see Canvas for details)

Instructor Office Hours:

  Prof. Bei Wang Phillips:  WEB 4608. See Canvas for the latest schedule; or by appointment.

TA office hours: See Canvas for the latest schedule; or by appointment.

Course Catalog Description: In this course, we will explore the moral, social, and ethical ramifications of the choices we make as computing professionals. Through class discussions, case studies, exercises, and projects, students will learn the basics of ethical thinking in science, understand a representative sample of current ethical dilemmas in computing, and study the distinct challenges associated with ethics in computing.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

'C-' or better in CS 2420 and Majoring or Minoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Software Development.

Students can only receive credit for one Ethics course taught in the School of Computing. So students should may take this course or CS 3390, Ethics in Data Science, but not both.

Attendance:

Due to the interactive and discussion-oriented nature of class meetings, in-person attendance is required. A significant fraction of the semester's grade is determined by activities completed in-class. The 3 lowest attendance scores will be dropped: these drops are intended to be used for emergencies and other necessary absences. If you need to miss 4 or more classes (e.g. due to an extended illness), message me when you need to miss the 4th class and explain your situation. For the 4th class and onward, we can discuss a makeup activity. This makeup activity will be more time intensive than attending class.

Class Information:

• Administrative Details are available on Canvas


• Course Schedule is available on Canvas, including assignments, handouts, etc.


• College of Engineering Academic Guidelines

Course materials:

This class has no required textbook but offers a number of required reading materials on Canvas.

Grading:

• Class participation (in-class activities and canvas quizzes): 35%
• Canvas discussions (approximately every week): 30%
• Block projects, including a final project: 35%

Course Outline (including but not limited to):

• Intro to Ethical Thinking
• The importance of ethics in computing
• Ethical frameworks
• Software Engineering
• Copyright and patents
• Free and open source software
• Writing ethical programs
• Data and Privacy and Platforms
• Data privacy
• Platforms as moderators
• AI and Algorithmic Decision Making
• Algorithmic decision making
• Automation in the workforce
• Inclusion, Equality, Workplace
• Technological divide, inequality of access
• Workplace culture
• Affecting change

Learning objectives: Upon completion of CS 3090, students will be able to:

• Explain the key concepts of foundational ethical frameworks, and apply a framework to evaluate the morality of a technology or technological decision.
• State and discuss their own personal ethical code of conduct, including the impact of their code on other individuals and groups.
• Identify ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered technological context, as well as identify cross relationships among the issues.
• Determine the harms and benefits to individuals and groups resulting from a given technology or technological decision.
• Formulate, justify, and carry out an appropriate response to a technological ethical dilemma.
• Devise a plan to resolve technological ethical dilemmas in communal or hierarchical situations with conflicting moral codes.
• Use experiences different from their own to make technological decisions or evaluate morality.
• Argue (in text and speech) convincingly for or against a given technology or technological decision with a clear thesis and a well-structured argument supported by evidence or examples, while considering and defending against objections to this argument.

Disability Notice

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.  If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD).  CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.

All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.