CSC 385 Professional and Ethical Issues in Computing

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Course Specifics

Instructor

Dr. Laurie J Patterson
2025 Congdon Hall
910.962.3906

Course Description

Ethical and professional issues arising from the impact of computer science and related technologies on society. Topics include ethical issues, obligations of professional practice, privacy and security, intellectual property, work and health issues, and the impact of emerging technologies. Students will give both oral and written presentations and participate in the discussion of case studies.

Required Textbook

Ethics in Technology
Edward V. Weber, St. Charles Community College
Copyright Year: 2025
Publisher: St. Charles Community College
Language: English

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify ethical issues as they impact computer science and related disciplines. [IL1] [IL3] [WI2]
2. Differentiate between the main ethical theories and be able to use the ethical theories in evaluating the ethical issues impacting computer science and related disciplines. [IL2] [WI1] [WI2]
3. Discuss ethical issues in writing, using appropriate reference to the established Code of Ethics of the professional society relevant to that student’s field (ACM, IEEE, etc), and apply professional codes of ethics to analyze and resolve ethical questions. [IL4] [WI1] [WI2]
4. Demonstrate the ability to write within the computer science discipline including writing one or more research papers that demonstrate the student’s grasp of ethical issues, display a clear understanding of how the ideas of other persons may be properly cited and used in written documents, and illustrate use of popular formats for presenting published papers in computer science. [WI1] [WI2]
5. Prepare and present information on a technical topic in a professional manner. [IL4]
6. Identify and locate appropriate sources of information to support decisions and written ideas. [IL1] [IL3] [IL4] [WI1]
7. Analyze and evaluate arguments using rules of logic and be able to formulate effective arguments based on sound premises. [IL3] [WI2]

Student Learning Outcomes

Information Literacy

• IL 1. Develop an effective strategy to search for, identify, and retrieve information in order to fully address an information need. [Information Literacy; Inquiry; Critical Thinking]
• IL 2. Analyze information in order to evaluate its currency, authority, accuracy, relevance, and purpose. [Information Literacy; Critical Thinking]
• IL 3. Synthesize and appropriately cite retrieved information in order to ensure information is utilized ethically and legally. [Global Citizenship; Information Literacy]
• IL 4. Create a finished product (e.g. paper, presentation, data analysis, video, etc.) using retrieved information and reflect on the iterative processes used to find, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically and legally utilize information. [Critical Thinking; Thoughtful Expression; Information Literacy]  

Writing Intensive

• WI 1. Demonstrate an ability to produce written texts that reflect a knowledge and understanding of disciplinary conventions in terms of audience expectations, genre conventions, and/or citation practices. [Inquiry; Information Literacy; Critical Thinking; Thoughtful Expression]
• WI 2. Demonstrate the ability to employ an iterative writing process that includes invention, drafting, and revision in response to instructor feedback to complete a major writing project or series of written assignments. [Critical Thinking; Thoughtful Expression]

NSA Outcomes

Policy, Legal, Ethics, and Compliance

• PLE 1. List the applicable laws and policies related to cyber defense and describe the major components of each pertaining to the storage and transmission of data .
• PLE 2. Describe their responsibilities related to the handling of information about vulnerabilities.
• PLE 3. Describe how the type of legal dispute (civil, criminal, private) affects the evidence used to resolve it.

Cybersecurity Ethics

• CSE 1. Explain how ethical foundations are applied to situations arising from the interconnected world.
• CSE 2. Examine diverse ethical dilemmas.
• CSE 3. Describe the role of cybersecurity in supporting and encouraging ethics, as well as where cybersecurity practices can cause ethical conflicts.

Privacy

• PRI 1. Examine concepts of privacy.
• PRI 2. Explore the effects the Internet has on privacy.
• PRI 3. Describe approaches individuals, organizations, and governments have taken to protect privacy.
• PRI 4. Compare and contrast privacy policies and laws of different jurisdictions.

Academic Integrity

Students are responsible for submitting their own work. Students who cooperate on oral or written examinations or work without authorization share the responsibility for violation of academic principles, and the students are subject to disciplinary action even when one of them is not enrolled in the course where the violation occurred.

 University Policy on academic integrity will be followed for this course. Cheating will be taken very seriously, resulting in harsh penalties. Since the skills required in this class are also required in your chosen career, cheating in this class will seriously affect you.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the mastery of existing knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

It is the responsibility of every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the university community to uphold and maintain the highest academic standards and integrity of the university. Any member of the university community who has reasonable grounds to believe that an infraction of the Honor Code has occurred has an obligation to report the alleged violation to the faculty member teaching the class who, in turn, must report the allegation to the Office of the Dean of Students. This obligation is a core value of the Honor Code, and must be fulfilled by each and every member of the university.

Use of AI is NOT allowed in this course unless specifically stated in the asignment description. If used without permission, the assignment will be viewed as cheating. Upon identification of cheating, the Office of the Dean of Students is contacted to determine if any other instances have been identified. After an answer if received, a decision will be made on how to proceed with the infraction.

Title IX

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand, to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety.

There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821).

For more information, please visit www.uncw.edu/sexual misconduct or www.uncw.edu/care.

Student Expectations

Grading

Grading is done on a 10-point scale.
A plus/minus system will be used to assign final grades using the following scale:

The course assignments are not weighted (outside of their total points). Grades are based solely on points. Grades are NOT rounded up. 
In looking at the table above, if you receive a score of 79.999 ... it is a C+. 

Incomplete grades are given rarely and only in very specific situations:.

• You, the student, must be passing.
• You, the student, must be able to complete the work of the course
   entirely on your own.
• You, the student, must be prevented from completing the course by
  verified, unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the student.

These conditions must be documented and verified by the instructor before an incomplete grade may be given.

Assessment of Student Learning Statement

This course is part of the Department of Computer Science's annual assessment process. Some assignments for this course will be used for this purpose. This assignment will be graded by your instructor and used as part of your grade. The assessment portion of the assignment WILL NOT affect your grade in the course. It provides the Department with the opportunity to identify potential ways to improve student learning.  

Identifying information from your work (such as your name) is removed so your confidentiality is maintained during the assessment process.

Attendance

If an emergency arises, contact the instructor immediately. If it impacts an assignment or presentation, the instructor will determine if you will have the opportunity to submit the assignment later or make a different presentation. You WILL need to submit documentation for any consideration for waiving the late penalty of NO grade.

Class Format

The class is completely online (until the end of the term).

Writing: (note that ALL writing is expected to have correct grammar and spelling). Specific point assignations can be viewed in Canvas.

• Presentations
  • Final research paper
• Writing assignments
  • Résumé and cover letter
  •  Final paper components
  • Instructions
  • Other possible miscellaneous items
• Final Paper
  • Your final POSITION paper
  • The final paper will be researched essay that covers A POSITION on the ethical issues of some sort of advanced technology.
  • The paper will need to have 8 secondary sources and it will need to be 8 FULL pages long, minimum.
  • Please note that this paper is the assignment that will be used in the Department's annual assessment.

NOTE: the assignments may have very specific requirements that try to encourage you to read carefully, follow instructions carefully, work within specific time constraints, and require you to take responsibility for deadlines! There is a reason behind this pickiness...this is what a job is like! 

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR CHECK ARE MANDATORY!!

Employers always state that they are looking for employees that can communicate well in written and verbal forms. And, to that end, depending on your scores for the final writing and presentation, there is the opportunity for an endorsement in LinkedIn. You will be creating a LinkedIn account if you don't already have one. Use this opportunity to create one and ask for endorsements or recommendations for projects.

Late Work Policy

Late work will not be accepted unless specifically noted in the assignment. When the assignment no longer accepts submissions...it is late.  

Plagiarism

UNCW is an academic community built on trust. This is a course on ethics. Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.  Please be especially familiar with UNCW’s position on plagiarism as outlined in the Honor Code (see www.uncw.edu/stuaff/doso/):   Plagiarism is the copying of language, phrasing, structure, or specific ideas of another and presenting any of these as one’s own work, including information found on the Internet.  Common examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:

1. Using AI when it is not part of the assignment.
2. Reproducing someone else’s work without quotation marks or proper attribution and submitting it as your own.
3. Paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without attribution or acknowledgement of the source and submitting it as your own.
4. Deliberate attribution to a source from which the referenced material was not in fact derived.
5. Failing to cite a source for ideas or information.

If you have any questions as to what constitutes plagiarism, please do not hesitate to ask. Note that the first offense will result in a score of zero, the second offense will result in failing the course. The Dean of Students' Office is contacted at the first offense. If it is determined that the first offense has happened in another UNCW course, a grade of "F" will be given for the entire course.

Special Needs

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register the Office of Disability Services in DePaolo Hall (ext. 2-3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then arrange a meeting to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter. Only upon receipt of the letter can accommodations be given...beginning with the date of receipt of the letter by the instructor.

Writing Services

The Writing Center provides experienced peer readers for all UNCW students as they develop and improve their writing skills.
Students can get help with their writing in three ways:

1. The Writing Center (DE1003) provides one-on-one writing consultations led by faculty recommended peer writing tutors who are trained to help students identify areas to improve and develop specific revision plans. Visit our website to schedule an appointment: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/center.html
2. Students can also receive electronic response to their developing papers through our Online Writing & Learning (OWL) program. Visit our website for a variety of writing resources: handouts, guides, useful links, and the Online Consultation link: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/owl.html
3. Students can drop-in at our Writing Lab (DE 1003) for help with quick questions about their developing papers. The Writing Lab is staffed with a writing tutor, and has a few computers and other writing resources for students. Check out the Writing Lab schedule here: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/lab.html

Additional Tips for Success

Seek help when you need it and as soon as you need it. Feel free to contact the instructor via e-mail or in office hours. I can probably help you most quickly via e-mail, but you are welcome to stop by during office hours or set up an appointment for another time. Working with other students is permitted as long as you remain within the boundaries of the UNCW Academic Honor Code which applies to all work for this course. Please refer to the Student Handbook for details: http://www.uncw.edu/policies/04-100-academichonorcode.htm. The University’s policy on the responsible use of electronic resources also applies to all work for this course. See http://www.uncw.edu/sp/admproc/its100provisions.htm.