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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

COURSE INFORMATION

Code

ITS610

Course

Social, Ethical and Professional Issues

Level

Bachelor Degree

Lecturer

Azhar Abd Aziz

Room No.

T2- 50

Telephone No.

03- 5521 1220

Email

azhar@tmsk.uitm.edu.my

Credit Unit

Contact Hour

Part

Course Status

Core

Pre-requisite

None

Objectives

On completion of this subject, the student should be able to

understand:
state the positive and negative impacts of information
technology on the society;
discuss ethical values of the IT professionals; and
evaluate the changes that occur in the society as a result
of IT revolution.

Course Description

This subject will cover the social issues related to society,

issues on history, development and economics of IT will be
covered. The issues that will be discussed include, the effects
of the IT application on the society, the changing nature of
work, the ethical issues and computer crime. The issues
covered are relevant to being a responsible computer user,
professional or personal.

Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Year 2011

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SYLLABUS CONTENTS
Week

Topics and Sub-topics

Remarks

1. HISTORY & PHILOSOPHICAL

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCE OF
COMPUTING
1.1 The Computer Revolution
1.2 The Digital Generation
1.3 Historical Overview of Computer Ethics
1.4 Basic Concepts of Computer Ethics

2. THE NEW ECONOMY

2.1 The Digital Economy
2.2 The Knowledge Economy

3. SOCIAL ISSUES IN IT
3.1 Privacy and Personal Information
3.2 Impact of Computer Technology
3.3 Privacy Risks
3.4 Protecting Privacy
3.5 Communications Privacy

Textbook:
Chapter 2

4. SOCIAL ISSUES IN IT (contd)

4.1 Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace
4.2 Changing Communications Paradigms
4.3 Censorship in Cyberspace
4.4 Anonymity
4.5 Protecting Access & Innovation

Textbook:
Chapter 3

5. SOCIAL ISSUES IN IT (contd)

5.1 Risk of New Technology
5.2 Computer Errors & Failures
5.3 Safety-Critical Applications
5.4 Increasing Reliability & Safety
5.5 Dependence, Risk & Progress

Textbook:
Chapter 8

Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Handout:
Computer
Ethics

Year 2011

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Week

Topics and Sub-topics

Remarks

6. SOCIAL ISSUES IN IT (contd)

6.1 Information, Knowledge &
Judgment
6.2 Computers & Community
6.3 The Digital Divide
6.4 Evaluations of Computer
Technology Impact
6.5 Making Decisions About
Technology

Textbook:
Chapter 7

7. COMPUTERS & WORK

7.1 The Changing Nature of Work
7.2 The Impact on Employment
7.3 The Work Environment
7.4 Employee Monitoring

Textbook:
Chapter 6

8. COMPUTER CRIME
8.1 Hacking
8.2 Fraud & Identity Theft
8.3 Scams & Digital Forgery
8.4 Search & Seizure of
Computers
8.5 Computer Crime Laws

Textbook:
Chapter 5

9. ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES
9.1 Intellectual Property &
Changing Technology
9.2 Intellectual Property Laws
9.3 Fair-Use Doctrine
9.4 Copying & Sharing
9.5 International Piracy

Textbook:
Chapter 4

10

10. ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES (cont
10.1 Search Engines & Online
Libraries
10.2 Issues for Software
Developers
10.3 Professional Ethics &
Responsibilities

Textbook:
Chapters 4 & 9

Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Year 2011

Page 4

Week

Topics and Sub-topics

Remarks

11

11. ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES (contd)
11.1 Ethical Guidelines for
Computer Professionals
11.2 Case Studies

Textbook:
Chapter 9

12

11. ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES (contd)
11.1 Ethical Guidelines for
Computer Professionals
11.2 Case Studies

Textbook:
Chapter 9

13.

GROUP PROJECT
PRESENTATIONS

14.

REVISION

Handouts & Textbook

(All Relevant
Chapters)

TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Methods of instruction are based on lectures and tutorial.

Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Year 2011

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ASSESSMENT
1. Continuous Assessment: 60%
a) IT and Society Portfolio/ Paper Review: 20%
Each student is expected to prepare an IT and society portfolio. Each week
you will write a short review on the current issues of IT.
b) Participation: 10%
Every student has to participate in discussion and presentation.
c) Research Project: 30%
Student work in a group of 4 5 members. Select a topic and write a
seminar paper then present the research findings at the end of the
semester. The evaluation is based on:
i) Report - 20% content
ii) Presentation - 10% presentation & participation
2. Final Examination: 40%
The final examination will be a two (3) hours paper that you will sit at the end of the
semester.
RECOMMENDED TEXT
Baase, S.(2009). A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in Computing and the
Internet. 3rd Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.

REFERENCES
1.

Quinn, M.J.(2009). Ethics for the Information Age. 3rd Edition. Pearson Education,
Inc.

2.

Tavani, H. T. (2004). Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues in an Age of

Information and Communication Technology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

3.

Tapscott, D. ( 1998). Growing up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation.

McGraw-Hill.

4.

Alcorn, P.A.. ( 1997). Social Issues in Technology. Prentice-Hall.

5.

Allec, V. (1997).The Knowledge

Intelligence. McGraw-Hill.

6.

Tapscott, D. ( 1995). Growing up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation.

McGraw-Hill.

Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Evolution:

Expanding

Organizational

Year 2011