CSCE 390 Fall 2015: Syllabus (subject to change)

Reference materials:

  • Robert N. Barger. Computer Ethics: A Case-based Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2008 (required text, referred to as [B]). Supplementary materials from the publisher are available online.

    • The first day of classes is Thursday, August 20, 2015. The last day to withdraw without failure is Monday, October 12, 2015. The final exam for the course will last two and a half hours and will take place on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at 1600 in the classroom (300 Main St B201). This is the regularly scheduled time for courses taught from 1800 to 1850 on Thursdays. (See the university exam schedule.) See here for the fall 2015 academic calendar.
    The syllabus is subject to change. Some invited lectures are not yet confirmed.

    DayTopic Homework
    (1) August 20Philosophical inventory; Introduction; The Computer as a humanizing agent (Chs.1-2 [B]) TBD
    (2) August 27 What is Computer Ethics? Definitions by Walter Maner, Deborah Johnson, James Moor, Terrell Ward Bynum, and Donald Gotterbarn (Ch.1 [B] and readings). TBD
    (3)September 3 Philosophic Belief Systems: Idealism and Realism (Ch 3 [B]) TBD
    (4) September 10 Talk on careers by Ms. Helen Powers of the USC Career Center: The Value of Experiential Learning TBD
    (5) September 17 Philosophic Belief Systems: Pragmatism and Existentialism (Ch 3 [B]). The possibility of a unifying ethical theory (Ch. 5 [B]) TBD
    (6) September 24 The ethical decision-making process (Ch. 6 [B]). TBD
    (7) October 1 The ethical decision-making process, ctd. TBD
    (8) October 8 Presentation by Prof. Duncan Buell on Voting Machines: Postponed due to University Closing. TBD
    (9) October 15 Presentation by Dr. Csilla Farkas on Computer Security and Information Assurance TBD
    October 22 Fall Break NA
    (10) October 29 Presentation by Dr. Duncan Buell: "Information, Intelligence, Cryptanalysis, and Responsibility: From Mary, Queen of Scots to Edward Snowden." TBD
    (11) November 5 Psychology and computer ethics (Ch.7 [B]). The computing field as a profession (Ch.8 [B]). Computer-related codes of ethics (Ch.9 [B]). Three case studies for the Joint Software Engineer's Code. TBD
    (12) November 12 Presentation by Dr. Ioannis Rekleitis on Ethical Issues in Robotics. TBD
    (13) November 19 Student Presentations TBD
    November 26 Thanksgiving Recess NA
    (14) December 3 Student Presentations TBD