ENGR 350      Computers, Ethics, and Society       Syllabus    Spring 2010

Dr. Art Gittleman  ECS 534 (562)985-1530  artg@csulb.edu
Office Hours: M 5:30-6:30, Tu 10-11, 1:30-2, Th 1:30-2

Section 03 Code: 7553 lecture         Mon. 6:30-7:45 VEC 518     
                                            midterm      Mon. March 15
                                            final             Mon. May 17 7:15-9:15

Grading:  Midterm  exam                                                                   100 points 
                  Final exam                                                                          100 points
                  Online discussions and current events                          205 points                                                                  
                  Oral presentation                                                                  30 points                        
                  Attendance and participation                                             65 points

Calendar:  See the calendar on this site for the lecture schedule and 
                     assignment due dates.
        
	Exams will cover the textbook material.  Questions will be included to assess  computers and society and ethics.  See the rubrics for each on this site.
	Oral presentations will be 10-15 minutes long and relate to specific sections of the text.  Do some research to fill in the details or add depth.  Make powerpoint or other similar slide presentations.    Try for professional speaking as if it were a work presentation.  See the rubric on this site.
           See this site for the online discussion guidelines and assignments and current events assignments which were provided by Professor Baase.  Use Beachboard for the online discussions and current events.  Writing will be assessed according to the rubric on this site.
           No make-up exams without a written medical excuse or the equivalent.  All work is to be your own.  The penalty for cheating or plagiarism is failure from the course.  Attendance is required.  One absence will be allowed for illness or other emergencies. Withdrawal deadline is Fri. Apr. 23.
                    
Text:  A Gift of Fire, Third Edition, Sara Baase, Prentice-Hall 2008
	http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire/
Topics: 
     Privacy, Security, Safety, Freedom of Speech, Intellectual Property, Computer
     Crime, Computers and Work, Impact of Computers, Professional Ethics
Goals:
          	   Understand the impact of the computer in society as appropriate to a 
          professional in the field and a citizen.  Develop writing, speaking, and 
          critical thinking skills.  
               None of us knows the "right" answer.  We respect and learn from others, 
          evaluating the pros and cons of each issue.