CSCE 390 Fall 2019: Time Allocation Framework

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 22, 2019. The last day to drop/add is Wednesday, August 28, 2019 The last day to withdraw without failure is Wednesday, November 6, 2019. The last day of classes is Friday, December 6, 2019. There will be no final exam for this course. See here (html version) for the fall 2019 academic calendar.
    Phones, tablets, laptops, and similar devices must be turned off during class.

    Philosophic Belief Systems: Pragmatism and Existentialism (Ch 3 [B]).
    DayTopic
    (1) August 22Philosophical inventory; Introduction; The Computer as a humanizing agent (Chs.1-2 [B])
    (2) August 29 What is Computer Ethics? Definitions by Walter Maner, Deborah Johnson, James Moor, Terrell Ward Bynum, and Donald Gotterbarn (Ch.1 [B] and readings).
    (3)September 5 Philosophic Belief Systems: Idealism and Realism (Ch 3 [B])
    (4) September 12 Philosophic Belief Systems: Idealism and Realism (Ch 3 [B]), ctd.
    (5) September 19 Talk on careers by Taryn Asbury (CEC Career Development Coach) of the USC Career Center: Preparing for the Career Fair. An employer panel may also take place.
    (6) September 26 Presentation by Prof. Duncan Buell on Voting Machines.
    (7) October 3 Philosophic Belief Systems: Pragmatism and Existentialism, ctd. (Ch 3 [B]). The possibility of a unifying ethical theory (Ch. 5 [B])
    October 10 Fall Break
    (8) October 17 The ethical decision-making process (Ch. 6 [B]).
    (9) October 24 Psychology and computer ethics (Ch.7 [B]).
    (10) October 31 The computing field as a profession (Ch.8 [B]).
    (11) November 7 Computer-related codes of ethics (Ch.9 [B]). Three case studies for the Joint Software Engineer's Code. Cases for the new (2018) version of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, adopted on June 22, 2018. The version of the ACM code in [B] is the original one from 1992.
    (12) November 14 Discussion of cases from Ch. 13 and Ch. 15 [B].
    (13) November 21 Student Presentations
    (14) November 28 Thanksgiving Recess
    (15) December 5 Student Presentations