Syllabus for ETH-230

ETHICS IN A DIGITAL AGE


COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ethics in a Digital Age introduces central ethical issues raised by digital technology, including privacy, freedom of expression, cybercrime, and artificial intelligence. Students will examine major ethical theories and will apply these perspectives to ethical questions related to digital technology. Students will also analyze and discuss their own assumptions and core beliefs as they explore the implications of applying different ethical perspectives to problems that we face in a digital age.

COURSE TOPICS

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, students should be able to:

CO1        Describe ethical issues raised by digital technology.

CO2        Explain major ethical perspectives.

CO3        Apply major ethical perspectives to questions raised by digital technology.

CO4        Explain the relationship between ethics and the law.

CO5        Analyze core beliefs and assumptions about ethical perspectives and digital technology.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Ethics in a Digital Age is a three-credit, online course consisting of six modules and a final project. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments and a quiz, and complete a five-part final project. See below for details.

Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.

Promoting Originality

One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in About SafeAssign.

Discussion Forums

You are required to complete six discussion forums. The discussion forums are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. A grading rubric for the discussion forums can be found in the Evaluation Rubrics folder.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete five written assignments. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. A grading rubric for each of the written assignments can be found in the Evaluation Rubrics folder.

Quiz

You are required to complete one quiz in Module 2 of the course.

Final Project

You are required to complete a final project for which you will conduct scholarly research on an ethical issue related to a new or emerging technology. The final project is broken up into five different parts which will be completed at various points throughout the semester. See the Final Project area of the course for details. Grading rubrics for Parts 2 through 5 of the final project can be found in the Evaluation Rubrics folder. Part 1 will be graded as Approved/Needs Revision.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

A

=

93–100

C+

=

78–79

A–

=

90–92

C

=

73–77

B+

=

88–89

C–

=

70–72

B

=

83–87

D

=

60–69

B–

=

80–82

F

=

Below 60

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., assignments, discussion postings, final project).

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

ACADEMIC POLICIES

To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.

For more, see:

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