Course Description for CS461
Perspectives in Computer Science - Winter 2009

Instructor: Josef M Breutzmann Office: SC 354 Phone: 352-8342 Office Hours: 8:30-9:30 M T W H; 9:9:30 F; 11:00-11:30 T H; 1:45-2:30 M F; 3:00-4:00 W.

Meeting Time: 6:30 P.M. Tuesdays in SC 345.

Prerequisite: Computer Science or Information Systems Major in final Winter term at Wartburg. Others interested in computer ethics and social issues in computing are allowed by permission of the instructor.

Texts:

• Baase, Sara. A Gift of Fire:Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet. 3rd edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson-Prentice Hall. 2008
• Other readings to be selected by the students and instructor.

Objectives: The student will ...

• gain a sense of the role of computers in our society,
• gain historical perspective within the discipline,
• gain an appreciation and understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the discipline of computer science,
• become aware of and begin to form opinions regarding the societal and ethical issues confronting computer professionals,
• become aware of the professional organizations in the areas of computer science and computer information systems,
• improve written and oral communication skills through discussion, research, writing and speaking.

Honor Code: The Wartburg Honor Code states:

By attending Wartburg College, students are demonstrating their dedication to the Wartburg Honor Code. The Honor Code reminds students of their responsibility to promote academic honesty by opposing cheating and plagiarism and reporting dishonest work.

ADA/Special Needs: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodations by contacting Pathways Associate for Testing and Advising Carla Coates. She can be reached at the Pathways Center, 314 Vogel Library, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA 50677, 352-8230, . Presenting documentation of a student's disability early (before the beginning of classes) is helpful and often necessary to secure needed materials in a timely way. Accommodations should be requested PRIOR to affected assignment due dates. For more detailed information, please see http://www.wartburg.edu/pathways/testing/AccomodationProcessStudents.pdf

Grading/Requirements:

Reading/Discussion:[60%] Students in teams of one or two will be charged with choosing a discussion topic and selecting appropriate readings. For each reading/discussion assignment each student will prepare a written response(electronic). These are to be done prior to actual discussion and used to help the student participate in the ensuing (electronic) discussion.

Minor Papers/Presentations (3): [20%] Each student will research and report about (1) a professional organization, (2) an historical computer or information scientist, and (3) an advanced area of CS/CIS. Attendance at a CS/CIS related conferences or symposia may be substituted for a minor paper (see instructor for details.)

Major Paper/Poster/Presentation:[20%] Each student will select a computer related ethical, philosophical or societal issue about which they will write a major term paper. The topic will also then be used as the topic for a class presentation and a poster. At the discretion of the instructor, the poster may be placed on display in an appropriate college venue. (Submittal of an appropriate version to the CPSR essay contest will constitute extra credit.)

Other in-class activities such as reactions to films or internal/external speakers will be counted with the Reading/Discussion portion.