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On teaching computer ethics within a computer science department

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, 97331, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Michael J. Quinn

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  1. Michael J. Quinn
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Correspondence to Michael J. Quinn.

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Quinn, M.J. On teaching computer ethics within a computer science department. SCI ENG ETHICS 12, 335–343 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-006-0032-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-006-0032-9

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