CS 105 Computer Ethics and Society, 1 unit
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science
Course Description – Fall 2010


Section 001     T  1:30-2:45 p.m. IN 205  Class Dates: 9/7-11/16  Final Exam: 11/23/10
Section 002     T  3:00-4:15 p.m. IN 205  Class Dates: 9/7-11/16  Final Exam: 11/23/10


Instructor:        Fred W. Geldon

Tel.   (301) 424-4554   Email: fgeldon@gmu.edu    Office:  ENGR, Rm. 5323

Office hours: After class in the classroom, or by appointment


Section 003    R   10:30-11:45 a.m.   IN 133    Class Dates: 9/2-11/4  Final Exam: 11/11/10
Section 004    R    Noon-1:15 p.m.   IN 203  Class Dates: 9/2-11/4  Final Exam: 11/11/10


Instructor:       Tamara A. Maddox

Tel.   (703) 993-1525   Email: tmaddox@gmu.edu    Office:  ENGR., Rm. 5347

            Office hours:   Tues. 3-4:15 p.m., Thurs. 9:15-10:15 a.m., after class in the classroom or by appt.

Section 005    W    7:20-8:35 p.m.   IN 207  Class Dates: 9/1-11/10  Final Exam: 11/17/10
Section 006    W    8:45-10:00 p.m.  IN 131  Class Dates: 9/1-11/10 Final Exam: 11/17/10


Instructor:        Michael P. Maddox

Tel.   (202) 452-1525   Email: mmaddox@gmu.edu    Office:  ENGR., Rm. 5323

            Office hours:   After class in the classroom, or by appointment

Section 007    R    1:30-2:45 p.m   IN 205  Class Dates: 9/2-11/4  Final Exam: 11/11/10
Section 008    R    3:00-4:15 p.m.  IN 205  Class Dates: 9/2-11/4  Final Exam: 11/11/10


Instructor:        Ricci L. Heishman

Tel.   (703) 993-1543   Email: rheishma@gmu.edu    Office: ENGR, Rm. 5343 

            Office hours:  Mon/Wed/Thu: 12-1 p.m., Tues: 3-4 p.m., or by appt.


 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants -- Office Hours Available upon Request


Section -001 & -002:  Michael Ryan, email: mryank@gmu.edu

Sections -003 & -004:  Prerna Thakral, email: pthakral@gmu.edu

Sections -005 & -006:  Exodus Almasude, email: ealmasud@gmu.edu
Sections -007 and -008:  Rachel Galang, email: rgalang@gmu.edu
At large / Special Projects:  Alexandra Savage, email: asavage1@gmu.edu


All Sections will use Blackboard for communications and for out-of-class discussion.  Students are responsible for checking Blackboard on a regular basis.  For Blackboard link, click
here.  Please note that the individual section folders will NOT be used.  You should hide this folder to avoid confusion.   Instead, we will use the "CS 105 Combined Section" folder for ALL sections.


REQ'D TEXT:   Quinn, Michael J., "Ethics for the Information Age" 3rd Ed., Add. Wesley, 2009.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Legal, social, and ethical issues surrounding software development and computer use. Professional conduct, social responsibility and rigorous standards for software testing and reliability will be stressed. Issues such as liability, intellectual property rights, security and crime will be examined in the context of computer use. Students are expected to be able to conduct research on the Internet.

 
COURSE OUTCOMES:


    1. Students will understand many of the key ethical, legal and social issues related to information technology and how to interpret and comply with ethical principles, laws, regulations and institutional policies.

    2.  Students will understand the essential issues related to information security, how to take precautions and use techniques and tools to defend against computer crimes.


COURSE PREREQUISITE:    Completion of at least 12 credit hours.


CLASS SCHEDULE:    See Blackboard for assignment details and any class slides or lecture notes.

 

1.  Out-of-class Assignments (35%)
2.  Quizzes (15%)

3.  Instructor Evaluation (incl. in-class assignments and class particip.) (15%)
4.  Final Exam (35%)

 

Instructor evaluation criteria may vary from section to section.  Any questions regarding specific requirements for your section should be addressed directly to your individual UTA or instructor.  If you email questions, please indicate your full name, class section and reason for your message in the subject line of your email (e.g. Smith, Bob / CS 105-005 / Assignment #1).

 

Note: *NO* assignments will be accepted for credit after the final regular class session for your section.  Remember that the final exam is the week *after* the final regular class session.

 

This class relies strongly on class participation.  Therefore, it is important that you attend class on a regular basis.  While you are welcome to attend an alternate lecture session if you miss your own, please note that you may *not* rely on different sections to present the same materials.  Similarly, unless you obtain advance approval from your instructor, you may not receive credit for class participation or other in-class activities when attending a section other than your own.

 

** Unless otherwise specified, all papers and other written assignments are to be individual efforts.  Certain portions of group assignments may require individual efforts as well. Be careful to follow instructions regarding acceptable group efforts. Plagiarism is governed by the GMU Honor Code and will not be tolerated.  Instances of cheating and/or plagiarism will be referred to the Honor Committee.



IMPORTANT NOTE – ALL SECTIONS !!!

                                                                                
Due to various schedule constraints, the different sections have slightly different schedules.  Specifically, Sections -001 and -002 will NOT meet during Week 1, but will begin their classes on Tuesday, 9/7.  Sections -005 and -006 will begin in Week 1, but will NOT meet during Week 2 (the Tues. after Labor Day).
Accordingly, and because the PatriotWeb schedule does not reflect the Columbus Day holiday, Section -001 and -002 will end two weeks later, and -005 and -006 will end one week later, than officially designated on PatriotWeb.   (The specific final meeting and exam dates are noted above.)  


Please be aware that because this is a one-credit, partial-semester course, it has special early
add/drop deadlines. The final deadline for dropping this class without tuition liability is Sept. 14, 2010.  ** The FINAL date to drop this course without permission of the Dean is Oct. 1, 2010.  For students eligible for selective withdrawal, the selective withdrawal period ends Oct. 29, 2010. **  For specific details on dates and penalties, please check with the GMU registrar.

 

** REMINDER =>  The Final Exam for each section will be held at the time and place of the regular class sessions for that section, on the class date that would immediately follow the 10th (final) week of class. The final exam is scheduled to take place on November 11, 2010 for Sections -003, -004, -007 and -008;  on Nov. 23 for Sections -001 and -002, and Nov. 17 for Sections -005 and -006.



 Assistance with Essay/Report Writing:
GMU New Century College: Online Writing Guide
GMU Writing Center

 

Other helpful sites:
GMU Counseling Center

Special Accomodations:    If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accomodations, please see your instructor and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at (703) 993-2474.  All academic accomodations must be arranged through the DRC.

General Education:  This course has been approved to satisfy the GMU General Education requirement for one credit of IT Ethics.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: None of the information presented in this course should be considered specific legal advice. Each situation is unique and requires individual attention. Students with individual legal concerns should not rely on information obtained in this course in making any legal decisions. Should you have a problem or concern requiring legal attention, you should seek specific advice from an attorney of your choosing.