On teaching computer ethics within a computer science department.
The author has surveyed a quarter of the accredited undergraduate computer science programs in the United States. More than half of these programs offer a 'social and ethical implications of computing' course taught by a computer science faculty member, and there appears to be a trend toward teaching ethics classes within computer science departments. Although the decision to create an 'in house' computer ethics course may sometimes be a pragmatic response to pressure from the accreditation agency, this paper argues that teaching ethics within a computer science department can provide students and faculty members with numerous benefits. The paper lists topics that can be covered in a computer ethics course and offers some practical suggestions for making the course successful.
Quinn
Michael J
MJ
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. quinn@eecs.oregonstate.edu
D003201:Computers; D004995:Ethics, Professional / Q000193:education*; D007254:Information Science / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States