CS280T. Social and Professional Issues

Prerequisites: introduction to computer science (any implementation of CS103 or CS112)

Syllabus:

• History of computing: Prehistory -- the world before 1946; history of computer hardware, software, networking; pioneers of computing
• Social context of computing: Introduction to the social implications of computing; social implications of networked communication; growth of, control of, and access to the Internet; gender-related issues; international issues
• Methods and tools of analysis: Making and evaluating ethical arguments; identifying and evaluating ethical choices; understanding the social context of design; identifying assumptions and values
• Professional and ethical responsibilities: Community values and the laws by which we live; the nature of professionalism; various forms of professional credentialing and the advantages and disadvantages; the role of the professional in public policy; maintaining awareness of consequences; ethical dissent and whistle-blowing; codes of ethics, conduct, and practice; dealing with harassment and discrimination; "Acceptable use" policies for computing in the workplace
• Risks and liabilities of computer-based systems: Historical examples of software risks; implications of software complexity; risk assessment and management
• Intellectual property: Foundations of intellectual property; copyrights, patents, and trade secrets; software piracy; software patents; transnational issues concerning intellectual property
• Privacy and civil liberties: Ethical and legal basis for privacy protection; privacy implications of massive database systems; technological strategies for privacy protection; freedom of expression in cyberspace; international and intercultural implications
• Computer crime: History and examples of computer crime; "Cracking" and its effects; viruses, worms, and Trojan horses; crime prevention strategies
• Economic issues in computing: Monopolies and their economic implications; effect of skilled labor supply and demand on the quality of computing products; pricing strategies in the computing domain; differences in access to computing resources and the possible effects thereof
• Philosophical frameworks: Philosophical frameworks, particularly utilitarianism and deontological theories; problems of ethical relativism; scientific ethics in historical perspective; differences in scientific and philosophical approaches

Units covered:

SP1	History of computing	1	core hour
SP2	Social context of computing	3	core hours
SP3	Methods and tools of analysis	2	core hours
SP4	Professional and ethical responsibilities	3	core hours
SP5	Risks and liabilities of computer-based systems	2	core hours
SP6	Intellectual property	3	core hours
SP7	Privacy and civil liberties	2	core hours
SP8	Computer crime	3	hours
SP9	Economic issues in computing	2	hours
SP10	Philosophical frameworks	2	hours
	Elective topics	17	hours

Notes:
A computer science program can incorporate social and professional issues into the curriculum in many different ways. In many ways, the ideal approach is to include discussion of this material in a wide variety of courses so that students have the chance to consider these issues in the context of each technical area. Unfortunately, this strategy sometimes fails to have the desired effect. Unless faculty members commit to give this material serious consideration, social and professional issues are often given low priority in the context of other courses, to the sometimes wind up being left out altogether in the press to cover more traditional material.
To ensure that students have a real opportunity to study this material, many departments choose to devote an entire course to social and professional issues. Programs that adopt this strategy must make sure that they make the material relevant to students by discussing these issues in the context of concrete examples that arise in computer science.

Online resources for CS280T