Course Syllabus

Welcome to CS 3090!

Welcome to CS 3090: Ethics in Computing! 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, you 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.

NOTE:  All dates and policies contained in this syllabus and the associated Canvas course are subject to change. You can expect to be informed immediately and clearly of any changes.

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 three lowest attendance scores will be dropped: these drops are intended to be used for excused absences (see below for a definition). 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, specifically which classes you needed to miss and why. For the 4th class and onward, we can discuss a makeup activity. This makeup activity will be more time intensive than attending class.

If you arrive late or leave class early, your daily participation score will be reduced based on how much class you missed.

If you miss 30+ minutes: you will not receive credit for that class's participation unless you have prior approval.

Communication

Student Success

All students are welcome, respected, and valued in this class. If at any time you feel that you are not experiencing a supportive environment or you are made to feel uncomfortable, disrespected, or excluded, please report the incident to the course staff so that we may address the issue and maintain a supportive learning environment.

Additionally, class rosters are provided to the instructor with your legal name and “preferred first name” (if previously entered by you in the Student Profile section of your CIS account). Please let the instructor know of any name or pronoun changes (and update CIS) so we can help create a learning environment in which you, your name, and your pronouns will be respected. 

Course Materials

Canvas: The CS 3090 Canvas course is always under development, with updates to the class schedule, course notes, readings, assignment specifications, and more, occurring regularly. Please regularly look at the course weekly modules for new materials.

Readings: Weekly readings from a variety of sources will be assigned for the class, these readings will be posted as links on Canvas. No textbook is required for this class.

Class discussions: This class is discussion-focused, and these discussions form a critical part of the learning that will occur in the class. Thus, you and your peers' opinions and effort are a course material. This course couldn't exist with just one student. Students will discuss the readings via Canvas discussions, and also discuss with each other in class.

Course Topics

The course will be broken into 5 blocks, with approximate topics as listed below (this list is subject to change):

• Block 1: Intro to Ethical Thinking
  • The importance of ethics in computing
  • Ethical frameworks
• Block 2: Software Engineering
  • Copyright & patents
  • Free and open source software
  • Writing ethical programs
• Block 3: Data Privacy & Platforms
  • Data privacy
  • Platforms as moderators
• Block 4: AI & Algorithmic Decision Making
  • Algorithmic decision making
  • Automation in the workforce
• Block 5: Inclusion, Equality, Workplace 
  • Cultural Competence
  • Technological divide, inequality of access
  • Workplace culture
  • Affecting change

Course Activities

Class Participation: You are expected to attend class and participate in in-class (written) activities and discussions. Open and thoughtful discussion is essential for the success of this course. The nature of our topics may lead to disagreements, which is expected and encouraged, but must be respectful and civil at all times. Students should feel welcome to share their thoughts during class discussion without any fear of being disparaged for their opinions. Read, follow, and understand the Guidelines for Class Discussions. To account for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances, the 3 lowest class participation scores will be dropped.

Reading Activities: Many of our class discussions and activities are based on weekly readings. To contribute to the class discussions, it is expected that you come to class prepared having read the weekly readings. Weekly readings will be posted on Canvas and are expected to be read before Tuesday's class each week. Your understanding of the readings will be assessed through various formats (e.g., a Canvas discussion, an in-class quiz or reflection activity, a Canvas quiz, etc.). Details for weekly reading activities will be posted on Canvas. Since some reading activities will be completed in class, the lowest 2 scores on reading activities will be dropped from the final grade to account for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.

Block Projects: The semester is split into 5 blocks of similar topics (see above). In addition to the weekly activities, you will be expected to complete a programming and/or written project for each block. These will most likely be individual, not group, projects. More details will be given in class and on Canvas.

Grades

Final Course Grade

The weighting for the final grade is:

Class participation: 35%

Reading Activities: 30%

Block projects, including a final project: 35%

The following table is used to associate numerical scores with the corresponding letter grade.  Note the lack of rounding:

93 ≤ X ≤ 100 A 90 ≤ X < 93 A-

87 ≤ X < 90 B+ 83 ≤ X < 87 B 80 ≤ X < 83 B-

77 ≤ X < 80 C+ 73 ≤ X < 77 C 70 ≤ X < 73 C-

67 ≤ X < 70 D+ 63 ≤ X < 67 D 60 ≤ X < 63 D-

X < 60 E

Excused absences

As mentioned in "Attendance" above, if students have more than 3 excused absences, they can make up the 4th and beyond with a makeup activity. Unexcused absences cannot be made up. For example, if you have 1 unexcused absence, then 4 excused absences, you will receive a 0 for the first unexcused absence and be eligible for a makeup for your 4th excused absence.

Only important and entirely unavoidable activities count as excused. When in doubt, please ask first. Some examples of things that count as excused/unexcused are below.

Excused:

• Any sickness in which you are contagious and isolation is medically recommended, or you are too tired (or otherwise sick) to come to class.
• Varsity sporting events.
• Family emergencies, for example if your child/sibling/parent becomes suddenly sick and you need to take care of them.
• Religious holidays that prevent you from coming to class.
• Grad school interviews (often these must take place during the week, and are impossible to schedule without a class conflict).

Unexcused:

• Most work conflicts (even for important work events -- we expect this class to take priority over your work during the times you've committed to by registering for the class).
• A job interview that could have been scheduled some other time.
• Conflicts with other classes (e.g. a deadline is looming and your group can only meet during our class time, or there are helpful help hours overlapping with our class time)
• Missing class because traffic is bad, flights are expensive, or it's otherwise inconvenient.

Late Policies

For Class Participation, there are no late submissions, as we will collect in-class assignments and activities at the end of class.

For Reading Activities, no late submissions are accepted.

For Block Projects, we will accept late submissions up to 3 days after the deadline with a deduction of 10% of the max points. If you have some exceptional circumstance, contact us and we can discuss further.

Policies and Guidelines

Academic Misconduct

It is expected that students comply with University of Utah policies regarding academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating, plagiarizing, misrepresenting one’s work, and/or inappropriately collaborating. This includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools without citation, documentation, or authorization. Students are expected to adhere to the prescribed professional and ethical standards of the profession/discipline for which they are preparing. Any student who engages in academic dishonesty or who violates the professional and ethical standards for their profession/discipline may be subject to academic sanctions as per the University of Utah’s Student Code: Policy 6-410: Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an individual assignment, and/or failure in the course. Academic misconduct, according to the University of Utah Student Code:

“...Includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one’s work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information…It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct.”

For details on plagiarism and other important course conduct issues, see the U's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the SoC Academic Misconduct PolicyLinks to an external site..

University Resources

Our goal is to support all students to succeed in our course. The University of Utah has a number of offices to help you be successful. Please look over this collection of resources.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Your experience in this class should not be negatively affected by any disabilities that you may have. The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities.

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability & Access (CDA). CDA will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

In compliance with ADA requirements, some students may need to record course content. Any recordings of course content are for personal use only, should not be shared, and should never be made publicly available. In addition, recordings must be destroyed at the conclusion of the course.

If you will need accommodations in this class, or for more information about what support they provide, contact the Center for Disability & Access: 801-581-5020, info@disability.utah.edu.

Safety at the U

The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more safety information and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, contact the Campus Police & Department of Public Safety: 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677).

Addressing Sexual Misconduct

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information.

If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator & Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action: 801-581-8365 or the Office of the Dean of Students: 801-581-7066. To file a police report, contact Campus Police & Department of Public Safety: 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). If you do not feel comfortable reporting to authorities, the U's Victim-Survivor Advocates provide free, confidential, and trauma-informed support services to students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence. To privately explore options and resources available to you with an advocate, contact the Center for Student Wellness: 801-581-7776.

Student Wellness

Stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural differences, and more can interfere with your ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful resources, contact the Center for Student Wellness: 801-581-7776.

Other polices and guidelines 

Students are bound by the following policies and guidelines:

• School of Computing academic misconduct policy
• School of Computing policies and guidelines
• College of Engineering guidelines
• University of Utah Student Code

Students should read and understand each of these documents, asking questions as needed.