CS 306 Synthesis of Ethics and Law for the Computing Professional,
3 units
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science
Course Description -- Fall, 2012
Sec. -001 Mon/Wed Noon-1:15 p.m. University Hall, Room 1204
Class Dates: 8/27-12/05; Final Exam:
Mon., 12/17/12 from 10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Sec. -002 Mon/Wed 1:30-2:45 p.m. University Hall, Room 1204
Class Dates: 8/27-12/05; Final Exam:
Wed., 12/12/12 from 1:30-4:15 p.m.
Sec. -003 Fridays 10:30 a.m.-1:10 p.m. Nguyen ENGR, Room 2608
Class Dates: 8/31-12/07; Final Exam:
Fri., 12/14/12, from 10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Instructor: Tamara A. Maddox Email address: tmaddox@cs.gmu.edu
Telephone: (703) 993-1525 Office: The
Engineering Building, Room 5347
Office Hours: Mon 11:20 a.m.-Noon (in Univ 1204), and Wed 3-5 p.m. or
by appt.
Instructor's Home Page: http://cs.gmu.edu/~tmaddox
Online Class Syllabus: http://cs.gmu.edu/syllabus/syllabi-fall12/CS306MaddoxT.html
Class Schedule: http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~tmaddox/cs306/Class_Schedule.html
Blackboard Link (use the CS 306
Combined Courses folder): http://mymason.gmu.edu
GTAs: Giannina Garcia (ggarcia5@masonlive.gmu.edu), Amanda Canupp
(akcanupp@gmail.com)
UTAs: Sec. 1: Jeremiah Howdeshell (jhowdes1@gmu.edu) Sec. 2:
Matt Szaro (mszaro@masonlive.gmu.edu) Sec. 3: Anurodh Giri (agiri2@masonlive.gmu.edu)
Course Description: This course is intended to help students become effective professionals in the field of computer science by examining many of the challenging legal and ethical issues surrounding computer technology and its use, and building a foundation for dealing with those challenges. Students will examine the philosophical bases for ethical decision-making and how to apply them to issues raised by computers and technology. Specific topics covered in CS 105, such as intellectual property concerns, will be addressed by this course in a more intensive manner. Emerging legal and ethical issues involved in the computer profession and e-commerce will also be addressed.
Throughout the course, students will be expected to apply critical thinking skills in individual and group settings to evaluate various issues related to computer law and ethics. Students will connect issues of technology to wider societal concerns through class discussion, a mock trial, and the creation of a hypothetical trial scenario. Students will use critical thinking skills to evaluate and prepare formal arguments concerning their assigned mock trial topics, which they will present to their classmates. Students should be prepared to participate during class activities, to interact with their classmates, and to reflect upon and refine their personal points of view on various ethical issues.
Course Outcomes:
Writing Intensive Component: CS 306 is a Writing Intensive (WI)
Course that, together with CS 421, meets the GMU WI Requirements
for the BS CS Program. Accordingly, each student in CS 306
is required to write a minimum of 1750 individual words, which
will be graded and returned to the student with feedback. This requirement
will be fulfilled in part by preparing an individual analysis of case
law related to their Mock Trial legal elements, which will be returned with
feedback. Students will be permitted to be revise and resubmit this assignment
after receiving feedback. Students will also write a series of individual
short essays reflecting on certain aspects of issues related to the class.
In addition, students will work with partners to research and write
materials in preparation for their Mock Trials.
Grading Policy:
1. Essays on topics of law/ethics (15% total)
2. Mock Trial preparatory assignments (25% total)
3. In-Class Mock Trial {weeks of: 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 and 11/26} (15%)
4. Midterm Exam (Tentative exam date: Oct. 8) (10%)
5. Class & Workshop Participation, In-class Exercises & Inst'r Evaluation (10%)
6. Final Exam (25%)
Students should plan to attend class regularly, prepared to participate. Failure to do so will be reflected in your class participation grade. Group project grading may include a confidential review of participating group members by each student. The major individual paper requires inclusion of the Class Honor Code Pledge found here, or it will not be accepted.
Special Accommodations: 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 is approved to satisfy
the GMU Synthesis Gen. Ed. requirement.