Course Description

This course is for those who wonder how their software skills can be used for common good. For those who are concerned that software, without conscientious development, can hinder rather than assist human's progress. This course will expose the student to a variety of topics associated with the good and the bad of Software Engineering. We will look at how good intentions are not sufficient to ensure good software and how considering processes, principles and ethical implications can lead to more responsible software creation. We will survey codes of Ethics and software principles and focus on practical associations to developer culture, as well as the tools and the methods by which good practices take effect. Special attention will be given to topics related to:

The course will also provide opportunity for students to understand artificial ethics and to research disruptive technologies and future trends. Students will also work in teams and gain experience in software product ideation, analysis, compliance, and proof of concept while considering ethical underpinnings.

Pre-requisites: Any of these courses (SWEN-261, SWEN-610, DSCI-633)
Credits: 3

Course Objectives

The goal of this course is to instill in students the knowledge and awareness of the increasing responsibility that the software engineering profession demands of them. To provide insights and appreciation on how to integrate the concepts and norms, methods and tools that will infuse ethical behaviors into their professional growth, their software engineering practices and software culture.

Learning Approach

We will be using a combination of active learning, case-based and problem-based learning. With both individual and structured team-based approaches. The learning material is divided into topic areas, some of which may comprise several sessions. Each topic area may include any of the following: reading and/or video/audio material, in-class activities, presentations, lecture and examination checkpoints. Team assignments and readings will be paramount to the learning experience and students are expected to maintain a steady pace throughout the building blocks of indvidual and team work.

The following textbook is required reading, and may be available through library resources or at a reasonable cost in print or in various e-book formats: In addition, references and resources will be provided on the course website in support of assignments or where indicated as optional reading to further understanding.

Reading assignments should be completed before the first class of the assigned week.

Teams of various sizes and composition will be formed for assignments and in-class activities. Individual performance will be measured within the team activities as well as in quizzes, exams, and individual assignments.

There will be one main team-based project, which will be developed in phases and will culminante in final deliverables and presentation. Course materials and class activities will compliment the project phases.

Project Teams

Project teams will ideally consist of 3..5 members each, and will remain together throughout. Teams will be formed early in the course but will become progressively more active as the course progresses. Agile practices will required and it is expected that all students are familiar with these and will be responsible for maintining their self-organizing team.

Team members will evaluate each other based on teamwork, knowledge/skills, dependability, initiative/creativity, adaptability/flexibility, and delivery of results at regular intervals. Teams will also be responsible for cross-team feedback of other team's projects.

ChatGPT/ AI Policy:

Original Student work

All student work is required to be their own. While we encourage research and reuse, all submissions must be your own, original creation. Copying/ Plagiarism is NOT tolerated. This is standard policy. This applies to ALL work, be it code related or written/ essay style submission.

Use of a GPT/ AI

Again, all work is required to be your original creation. In situations where use of online resources is prohibited, this includes prohibition of GPT/ AI. In situations where it is not prohibited (unless otherwise stated), you may use online search for reference, but the output you create must be your own. This includes situations where you may use GPT or other AI tools for searching and/ or reference, with the following provisons:

  1. Submit your prompts for GPT (as a separate file) as part of your work
  2. Provide a confirming statement that GPT was used as reference only, and your work is original.

In short - just don't do it. It's not worth the consequences to cheat (and it's not ethical)!

Grading and Attendance Policy:

No other way to say it: Come to class, your and (indirectly) your teammates' grade depend on it! Many class sessions will have class exercises and activities with submitted work that contributes to your and your classmates learning. If you miss class, you cannot get credit for the exercises and others may also be affected. The course builds upon previous materials and discussion so it will not suffice to do the readings to achieve a passing grade. That said, you have one late arrival and one unexcused absence (slept in, car won't start, etc.) with no additional deduction.

* It is your responsibility to notify the instructor at the end of class the day you arrived late to avoid it being counted as absence. Attempts to correct this at later dates will not be granted. If you have to be absent due to health concerns be sure to reach out as soon as you are aware and in advance of the class session. (e.g. you are experiencing severe enough symptoms that warrant not coming to class or quarantining).

Be professional. Practice common courtesy when your instructor or your fellow colleagues are speaking. Refrain from game play, social media or any other unprofessional use of devices while in class. The following tables will be used to determine your letter grade at the conclusion of the term:

Item Percentage Notes
Midterm 15% Cumulative, Closed Book
Final Exam 20% Cumulative, Closed Book - See Time Posted on SIS/Schedule
Team Project 30% Individual Grading Affected by Peer Evaluations
Research Project 15% Individual Grading Affected by Peer Evaluations
Quizzes 10% See notes below
Classroom Activities 10%
2 or More Unexcused Absences -2% per Please check with Instructor for clarification if needed
2 or More Late Arrivals -1% per Also affects in-class and team activity related credit

Grade Range
A 93 or Above
A- 90 or Above
B+ 87 or Above
B 83 or Above
B- 80 or Above
C+ 77 or Above
C 73 or Above
C- 70 or Above
D 60 or Above

When assigning final grades, the instructor reserves the right to alter these division points as he or she deems necessary based on the overall evaluation of individual or class performance and effort.

Students will be evaluated individually using quizzes, exams, and assignments. Teams will be given a single grade for units and project deliverables submitted. Individual team members may have their grades for the units and team project adjusted up or down based on their contribution to the project. This adjustment will be based on peer evaluations from teammates.

Missing one class session is significant - most sessions contain class team work that requires all team members to be present to gain full benefit. One unexcused absence (slept in, car won't start, etc.) is granted without consequence.

Quizzes will be given regularly throughout the term based primarily on reading assignments. They are meant to be reading checking-ups and the questions will be designed to test general concepts - not specific details.

They will start when class begins and last for 5-10 minutes based on the number of questions. The process will be automated through the MyCourses quiz feature. All quizzes will be weighted equally with the lowest score being dropped. As the lowest score will be dropped, there are no make-up quizzes. Grading is:

Academic Honesty

Academic Honesty demands that at all times student work be the work of that individual student (or student group when appropriate), and that any information which a student uses in a work submitted for evaluation be properly documented. Forms of dishonesty include cheating, duplicate submission, and plagiarism. Students are expected to comply with the RIT Academic Honesty Policy and noncompliance may result in an F on individual assignments or for the entire course. (http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/studentconduct/rr_academicdishonesty.php)