I. ASCRC General Education Form
(revised 9/15/09)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status .
Group VIII: Ethics & Human Values
Dept/Program Computer Science Course # 415
Course Title Computer Ethics & Society
Prerequisite

FOR 220

Successful completion of the Upper
Division Writing Proficiency
Assessment (UDWPA).

CS or CS/Math major with Senior standing (*NOTE: We will eliminate this current pre-
Credits requisite in order to get this Gen
Ed request granted)

Or consent of instructor
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor Yolanda Reimer / Alden Wright
3
Phone / Email
Program Chair
Dean x4618 / reimer@cs.umt.edu
Joel Henry
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New X One-time Only
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Date
10-08-
2009
Description of change
Change Remove
Up until this year (fall 2009), CS415 has historically counted as satisfying the Gen
Ed ethics requirement. This designation was taken away and we would like it renewed for our students.
All CS undergraduates are required to take CS415 in order to graduate, and because of the Ethics covered in this course, we feel it is redundant for them to have to go out and take yet another
Gen Ed Ethics course.

IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students’ future lives: See Preamble: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Course Description:
In this class, we learn about ethical problems that computer scientists face, the codes of ethics of computing professional societies, and the social implications of computers, computing, and other digital technologies. The stated goals of the course include that students should:
1.
Understand, identify, and apply different ethical philosophies, frameworks, and methodologies.
2.
Identify and interpret the codes of professional conduct relating to the disciplines of computer science and software engineering.
3.
Understand and apply the concepts and principles of moral thinking to problems relating to computing and digital technologies.
4.
Have improved skills writing argumentative essays, and in critical thinking, analysis, and presentation.
5.
Be familiar with a number of noteworthy essays written by influential researchers in the field of cyberethics.
This course combines coverage of ethics and of "computers and society". The coverage of ethics is introductory and foundational, but the coverage of computers and society does assume some background knowledge of computers and computer technology.
Although we are willing to move this course to the 300 level and remove the senior standing pre-requisite to get it approved, we would like to leave FOR 220 and the WPA as necessary pre-requisites since it also counts as the upper division writing course for our major. If CS415 is not approved for the ethics perspective, CS majors will need to add an additional course to an already very full curriculum, and it will certainly be redundant with much of what is covered in 415. This also means that students who need to take Math prerequisite courses like Math 121 will be required to take more than 120 hours to graduate.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm

CS415 is a required course for Computer
Science undergraduates. Even though this course is currently a 400-level course geared towards seniors, we are willing to make it a 300-level course and remove the senior standing pre-requisite.
However, we would like 415 to continue satisfying the University’s upper division writing requirement. We believe 415 is introductory and foundational in its ethical theory components and should count for the Gen Ed ethics requirement as well. During the first 2-3 weeks of the class, students are exposed to various ethical theories, including relativism, consequence-based theory, and deontology. We then use these theories as a foundation and framework for discussing and analyzing many of the cases and situations that apply to digital and computing technology and to professionals in these areas. Since digital technology is now central to our society, most of the cases analyzed are very relevant to society as a whole. It would be redundant for our students to have to go out and take another Ethics course given the content of our CS415.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Learning Goal 1: Correctly apply the basic concepts and forms of reasoning from the tradition or professional practice they studied to ethical issues that arise within those traditions or practices; 
This course meets Learning Goal 1 by first focusing on a number of ethical theories and methodologies used to analyze ethical issues. Once we understand this, we use these theories and methodologies as a framework for discussing many topics that those involved with computing are likely to encounter, including professional ethics, security, privacy, the Internet, etc.

Learning Goal 2: Analyze and critically evaluate the basic concepts and forms of reasoning from the tradition or professional practice they studied. 
This course meets Learning Goal 2 by using ethical theory as a basis for arguing many different ethical cases and scenarios that apply to computing. While these arguments are often presented orally during class discussion, this course is a writing intensive course and argumentative essays are also a key component.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level.
If the course has more than one pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200 level), provide rationale for exception(s).
Again, the class for which we are seeking Gen Ed designation is a 400 level course with multiple pre-requisites and it is required for all CS undergraduates. We are willing to make it a
300-level course and remove the senior standing pre-requisite. Given the coverage of Ethics in this class, it would be redundant for students to have to take it AND another Gen Ed Ethics course. We would like to keep the FOR 220 and WPA pre-requisites currently in place because it also satisfies our upper division writing requirement.
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.

The syllabus should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Syllabus is attached. Almost all class material is on the Wiki at
http://websrv.cs.umt.edu/classes/cs415
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
Title:
Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues in an Age of Information and Communication
Technology
Authors: Herman T. Tavani, Alan Jamieson
Edition: Second
Publisher: 2006 Wiley
Title: The Elements of Moral Philosophy
Authors: James Rachels and Stuart Rachels
Edition: Fifth Edition (Note that the Sixth Edition may be out---but you don't need it.)
Publisher: 2007 McGraw Hill

CS major with Senior standing (must graduate before next offering of course).
FOR 220
Successful completion of the Upper Division Writing Proficiency
Assessment (UDWPA). See http://www.umt.edu/writingcenter/upperdivisionwritingproficiencyexam.htm
In this class, we will learn an overview of philosophical ethics, ethical problems that computer scientists face, the codes of ethics of computing professional societies, and the social implications of computers, computing, and other digital technologies. At the conclusion of the class, you should be able to:
1. Understand, identify, and apply different ethical philosophies, frameworks, and methodologies.
2. Identify and interpret the codes of professional conduct relating to the disciplines of computer science and software engineering.
3. Understand and apply the concepts and principles of moral thinking to problems relating to computing, information, and digital technologies.
4. Have improved skills writing argumentative essays, and in critical thinking, analysis, and presentation.
5. Be familiar with a number of noteworthy essays written by influential researchers in the field of cyberethics.
6. Have completed an e-portfolio that summarizes your CS major work.
Also note that this class satisfies the UM writing requirement and computer science upper division elective. This class focuses on the development of good oral and written communication skills.
Tentatively, the following will be used for evaluation:
1. Position papers (two in total): 14% (7% each)
2. Long paper, initial draft: 8%
3. Long paper, revision process: 6%

4. Long paper, final copy: 12%
5. Case presentation or participation in a debate: 10%
6. Electronic portfolio (including oral presentation) : 10%
7. Midterm exam : 15%
8. Final exam : 15%
9. Class participation (including attendance, level of engagement in classroom activities, reading responses, pop quizzes, homework, etc.) : 10%
Students are encouraged to discuss assignments. However, except in group assignments, the ideas presented in an assignment should be the student's own ideas. Further, any copying or paraphrasing of one student's assignment in another student's assignment is plagiarism.
"Students are required to take between 2 and 6 credits in perspective 5."
The committee revising general education requirements made the decision that gen ed courses should be foundational. Thus, they did not approve 400 level courses to satisfy gen ed requirements, and CS 415 was not approved to satisfy the Ethical and Human Values perspective.
The computer science department decided that CS 415 was an important capstone course, and thus should stay at the 400 level. Students could request that this decision be reconsidered.
In my opinion, students who plan to graduate under a catalog previous to
2008-2009 have a strong case to petition that CS 415 should count towards the Ethical and Human Values perspective.
I suggest that all students in this class who want to submit such a petition should collaborate and send in their petitions together. I will write a draft letter supporting such petitions. This letter can probably be signed by the CS department chair and other faculty such as Dr. Reimer.

Current draft of memo: http://www.cs.umt.edu/u/wright/cs415/ethics_petition2009.doc
I reserve the right to make changes to the grading policy that will be favorable to students grades.
Students taking the course pass/no pass are required to earn a grade of C or better in order to pass.
The learner centered design of the course will make attendance neccessary.
If you know in advance that you will need to miss class, I encourage you speak to me or e-mail me.
Other than in in exceptional circumstances, such as family emergencies, late homework will not be accepted . If you do have an emergency that causes you to miss an important classroom activity or an assignment, let me know by e-mail as soon as possible.
As a student of the University of Montana, you are responsible for upholding all rules in the student conduct code. There are aspects of that code that are of particular importance in Computer Science courses. The electronic nature of the many assignments facilitates their dissemination. To be clear, from the student conduct code:
1. Plagiarism: Representing another person's words, ideas, data, or materials as one's own.
2. Submitting work previously presented in another course: Knowingly making such submission in violation of stated course requirements.
Of course, all other aspects of the student conduct code will be enforced as well. These are just the two that are commonly violated.

I will interpret these guidelines to the letter. Students found in violation will be penalized with the maximum punishment permitted in the student conduct code. That is to say, the matter will be handed over to the Academic Dean and academic misconduct proceedings will take place. In order to reconcile encouraged interaction between students and the academic misconduct policies, you must credit other students in your work. If, for example, you worked with others to develop some algorithm, or solve some homework problem, specifically mention those that you have worked with in the assignment that is handed in. Similarly, you must properly document and credit any online resources that you use.
If you collaborate with others, the instructor has the right to question you about the material turned in. If it is evident that your understanding of what you turn in is weak, your grade will be lowered.
Students are to uphold a level of conduct becoming of adults. The use of profanity and abusive speech is not permitted under the student conduct code, and will not be tolerated in this course.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to meet with me at the beginning of the semester to discuss any accommodations they require. Please let me know early.
I will follow University policies on late drops and incompletes.
Turn off your cellphone, or set it to vibrate in class. Take the call outside the classroom.
Do not talk in the classroom during lecture. Take it outside.