Syllabus - CSE312
Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues
for Information Technology

Course Information

Contact Information

Content

This course deals with the impact of computers on us as individuals and on our society. Rapid changes in computing technology and in our use of that technology has changed the way we work, play, and interact with other people. These changes have created a flood of new social, legal, and ethical issues that demand critical examination. For example, technologies such as Gmail and FaceBook, along with music sharing sites and wikis impact our society in unanticipated ways.

Here are a few examples of the issues we will be talking about:

• There is a great deal of information about all of us recorded in computer databases. What rules should govern how this information is used? (We all get privacy notices in fine print from our banks, credit card companies, etc. -- what do they really mean?) Hacking, identity theft and credit card fraud has increased in recent years. What are responses to these types of fraud and what precautions can we take to prevent this from happening?
• New encryption methods make it possible to keep e-mail and phone conversations secret from others. How should our desire for privacy be balanced with the need of law-enforcement agencies to intercept communications of suspected criminals or terrorists?
• How serious are the problems created by Web sites that contain pornography, "hate" material directed at various groups, bomb-making information, etc? Should there be any restrictions on material that is put on the Web?
• Computers are increasingly used to control medical devices, airplanes and other safety-critical systems. How safe are such systems? How safe is “safe enough”? What can we do to manage the risks involved?
• It is easy to use computers to copy music, software, books, etc., in violation of copyright law. What is the extent of this problem? How do ethical principles impact behavior in terms of access to material under copyright protection? What can or should be done about it? What is free software? Should all software be free?

There are (at least) two sides to almost all of the questions we will consider in this course. We will spend much of our class time discussing the issues and exploring different points of view.

Upper division status is required to enroll in this course.

Course Objectives

After successfully completing this course, you will have:

1. An understanding of how computing and information systems give rise to social issues and ethical dilemmas;
2. An ability to discuss the benefits offered by computing technology in many different areas and the risks and problems associated these technologies,;
3. An understanding of some social, legal, philosophical, political, constitutional, and economical issues related to computers and the historical background of these issues; and
4. A recognition of the need for continuing professional development.

Lectures and Assignments

The assigned reading for the class is primarily contained in the textbook. However, you will be expected to prepare for certain class discussions by reading additional material, usually found in documents (articles, standards, etc.) available on the Internet. The readings are included in the class notes and in a page on the class Web site.

Assignment Information

Most assignments will involve preparation for a class discussion. Typically, this preparation will involve reading material beyond the text book as it relates to a single assigned topic. This preparation typically will involve reading references cited in the text, usually about 20-30 pages.

Grades and Exams

This is a three credit graded course. Your final grade is based on a combination of a mid-term exam, a final exam, quizzes, and class discussions. The weighting of the these components is 25/25/20/30.

The mid-term exam, final exam, and the quizzes will be closed book, however most of the questions will be selected from among the review material in the textbook. Your total quiz grade is computed as the total of each quiz grade, with the lowest grade dropped.

Be sure to be there for the assigned examination time since there will be no make-up exams.

The Pass/No Credit (P/NC) option is not available for this course.

Academic Integrity & Behavior

As a student at Stony Brook, you have agreed to follow the university's rules regarding academic integrity and appropriate conduct. You should read both the academic integrity information and procedures and the student code of conduct.

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary.

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.

Special Assistance

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, I would urge that you contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services office (DSS) in the ECC building (where the Computer Store used to be), 632-6748v/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability are confidential.

If you need general computer help, you can use the Computer Science Help Desk. Services offered include setting up an account on a department server, using Windows NT, using a browser, and connecting to the campus network. The Help Desk office is located in the SBCS Office - Room 2110.