CS 105 Computer Ethics and Society
Spring 2015, 1 Credit - George Mason University
This is a 10-week course and the final exam will be in class on the 11th week.
(The 10 weeks of class do not count the week of spring break).
Section |
Day |
Time |
Location |
Class Dates |
Final Exam |
001 |
M |
1:30-2:45pm |
ENGR 2608 |
1/26 - 4/6 |
4/13 |
002 |
M |
3:00-4:15pm |
ENGR 2608 |
1/26 - 4/6 |
4/13 |
Instructor: Prof. Tamara Maddox Email: tmaddox@gmu.edu Phone: (703) 993-1525
Office hours (ENGR 5347): Mon. 4:30-6 p.m., Tues. 3-4 p.m., or by appointment
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant: Jacklyn Roberts Email: jrober32@gmu.edu
Office hours available by appointment
Contact
We strongly encourage you to contact the instructor or UTA if you have questions or are experiencing difficulty with the
course. We are
here to help you learn.
For
all e-mail communications, include the course and section number in
your e-mail subject line to avoid being flagged as trash. For
example:
Subject: CS 105 Section 002 / Question about Kantianism
Materials
Course Description
Legal, social, and ethical issues surrounding
use of computers and the internet. The course will stress ethical
decision-making as well as legal and social responsibility in
connection with technology-related concerns. Issues such as security,
crime, privacy and intellectual property will be examined in the
context of computer use. Students may be requested to conduct research
on the internet in any of these areas and/or learn to use practical
technological tools related to privacy and security.
Learning Outcomes
Prerequisites: None
General Education: This course has been approved to satisfy the GMU General Education requirement for one credit of IT Ethics.
Special Accommodations: Students with
disabilities who need academic accommodations must work through the
Office of Disability Services at (703) 993-2474.
Course Work
This is a discussion-based course. You are
expected to attend all course meetings and participate in conversations
about course material as well as in-class activities relevant to the
course. To facilitate this, assigned readings are to be done before
class.
There are two major writing assignments to be
done outside of class, which comprise a substantial portion of the
overall grade. Additional work such as outside research, group
presentations, or contributing to discussion board topics may be
assigned.
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
assume instructors in different sections will present the same
materials. Accordingly, 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.
Grading and Evaluation
Grading will be based on two major
assignments, in-class quizzes, class participation (incl. Blackboard
postings), and the final exam. These are weighted as follows:
2 Out-of-class assignments |
30% |
|
In-class quizzes (usually not announced) |
20% |
|
Final Exam |
30% |
|
Class Participation (including attendance, preparation and weekly postings on Blackboard) |
20% |
Policies
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.
Absences and Participation Credit – Absences from class for health or emergency reasons are excusable, but only
if reasonable notice is provided, in advance if possible.
Late Work - Unless an extension is given, late assignments will carry a daily
penalty (typically 5-10%). Pay attention to deadlines!
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.