Instructor:   Michael W. Tompkins
Telephone:    (703) 993-1530                            Email address:    mtompki2@gmu.edu
Office:    Science & Tech 2, Room 435
Office hours:  after class and by appt.
Instructor's Web Site:  http://mason.gmu.edu/~mtompki2

Assignments designated to be emailed to your TA should be sent to the following accounts:

Section -001:
TA: Keith Sullivan
    Email address: cs305001@osf1.gmu.edu
    Office Hours: By Appointment

Section -002:
TA: Mohamed Bennani
    Email address: cs305002@osf1.gmu.edu
    Office Hours: By Appointment

Section -003:
TA: Mohamed Bennani
    Email address: cs305003@osf1.gmu.edu
    Office Hours: By Appointment

Writing Intensive Component:    CS 306 is a Writing Intensive (WI) Course that, together with CS 421, meets the GMU WI Requirements for the BS CS Program. Accordingly, each student in CS 306 is required to write a minimum of 1750 individual words, which will be graded by the instructor and returned to the student with feedback.  This requirement will be fulfilled by the individual ethics research/analysis paper requirement for the course.  Students will also be required to write additional materials for the team project.  The first part of the team project will be a rough draft which will be returned with feedback, and students will revise and resubmit this portion for an additional grade.

Course Description: This course is intended to help students become effective professionals in the field of computer science by examining many of the challenging legal and ethical issues surrounding computer technology and its use, and building a foundation for dealing with those challenges.  Students will examine the philosophical bases for ethical decision-making and how to apply them to issues raised by computers and technology.  Specific topics covered in CS 105, such as intellectual property concerns and software liability issues, will be addressed by this course in a more intensive manner.  Emerging legal and ethical issues involved in the computer profession and e-commerce will also be addressed.

Students will investigate the role of ethics for the computer professional in various situations through individual and group work. Students should be prepared to participate during class activities and to interact with their classmates.  Students will refine their personal points of view on various ethical issues and consider how such issues – and their own views – impact on professional colleagues, clients and the general public.

Required Textbook:    Herman T. Tavani, "Ethics & Technology," 2004.

Grading Policy:
    1.    Research/Analysis paper (5-6 pages) (15%)  {Due in class Tues. 10/19; Sec. -001: Wed. 10/20}
    2.    Midterm Exam (10%)   {Sections -002 and -003: Tues. 10/5;  Section -001: Wed. 10/6}
    3.    Team project (45% total)
                 Part I -- Scenario w/ research links
                        Rough Draft -- 10%   {Due Wed. 9/15 by 5 p.m. via email to TA}
                        Final Version -- 10%  {Due Wed. 9/29 by 5 p.m. via email to TA}
                  Part II -- Persuasive research memorandum (15%)  {Due Wed. 11/10 via 2 hardcopies *and* email to TA}
                 Part III -- Mock Trial (10%)
    4.    Class and group participation (10%)
    5.    Final Exam (20%)

     Other assignments may be given, but will not be graded.  However, failure to attend class regularly, prepared to participate by having read the assigned materials and completed other assignments, will be reflected by the class and group participation grade, which encompasses in-class activities and occasionally will require out-of-class preparation.  Grading of group project/presentation may include a confidential review of participating group members by each student. All written assignments require inclusion of the Class Honor Code Pledge found here, or they will not be accepted. (For Part I of the Team project, a typed name will be accepted as the student signature.)

Class Schedule:  Click here

Honor Code:  The research/analysis paper is to be an individual effort.  Certain portions of group or team assignments may require individual efforts as well.  Failure to give proper credit by using quotes and cites constitutes plagiarism.  See here for an explanation of quotes and cites for this class.  If you have any questions about proper citation method, contact your instructor.  Plagiarism is governed by the GMU Honor Code and will not be tolerated.  Suspected honor code violations will be referred to the Honor Committee.

Other Useful Links:

Assistance with Research and Writing:
GMU New Century College: Online Writing Guide
GMU Writing Center

Other helpful sites:
GMU Counseling Center