Purdue University Calumet
School of Technology
Course Syllabus
ITS 20000 - Ethical and Legal Issues of IT
Credits and Contact Hours:
(Pattern 3 hours lecture, 0 hours
lab, 3 hours credit )
Instructor’s or Course Coordinator’s Name:
Samuel Liles
Text Book, Title, Author and Year:
Reynolds, George “Ethics in Information Technology” Third Edition, Thomson Course Technology,
2007, ISBN 1418836311
Mitnick, Kevin & Simon, William, “Art of Deception: Controlling the human element of security”,
Wiley ISBN 0471237124 (Hardback) 076454280X (Paperback)
Introduction to the Course:
This course covers professional communications, social context of computing, teamwork concepts and
issues, intellectual properties, legal issues in computing, organization context, professional and ethical
issues, responsibilities, privacy and civil liberties, and other topics. Course is required.
Specific Goals to the Course:
Core learning outcomes, upon graduation students will be able to:
1. Distinguish among copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets.
2. Discuss the ramifications of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
3. Discuss the implications of plagiarism, both in education and the profession.
4. Discuss the consequences of software piracy on information technology and the role of relevant
enforcement organizations.
5. Discuss how intellectual property laws vary internationally.
6. Describe consequences of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Identify methods by which
computing services can be compromised.
7. Discuss the legal implications of compromising computing services.
8. Discuss the types of policies that should be included for system use and monitoring.
9. Describe the basic elements of compliance laws – such as ADA508, FERPA, HIPPA, and
Sarbanes-Oxley.
10. Describe the differences in accountability, responsibility, and liability.
11. Describe current approaches to managing risk, and describe the legal implications of
compromising computing services.
12. Evaluate an acceptable use policy.

Specific outcomes of instruction (e.g. the student will be able to explain the significance of
current research about a particular topic)-(ABET criteria e, g)
ITS 20000 - Ethical and Legal Issues of IT
Course Delivery Methods (check all that apply):
X Online
X Discussion groups
Factors Used to Determine the Course Grade (check all that apply):
X Exams
X BOOK REPORT
X Class participation
Brief List of Topics to be Covered:
Foundations of intellectual property
Ownership of information
Plagiarism
Software piracy
Fair use
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Compliance (ADA508, FERPA, HIPPA,
Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.)
Hackers/crackers
Computer crime
Viruses
System use policies & monitoring
Risks and liabilities of computer-based systems
Accountability, responsibility, liability
Relationships with professional societies
Codes of professional conduct, such as IEEE,
ACM, BCS, ITAA, AITP
Ethics and history of ethics
Whistle-blowing
Workplace issues (harassment, discrimination)
Identify theft
Ethical hacking