Army Public College of Management & Sciences

Semester - 2012

SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Programme: Software Engineering Instructor: Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Class: BE (SE)17 /18 Credit Hours: 3

Course Outline
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:
Ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with answering the question "What does moral goodness consist in? Or, how should I to live my life, if I want to be morally good? The study of morality or ethics has occupied human beings for centuries. The study of morality helps us sort through different moral positions and reasons and to understand the foundation of our own moral beliefs. It includes Professional Responsibility, Codes of Practice, Problems with internal regulations etc. This course has been designed especially for engineering students. Most students in engineering programs after their graduation will find themselves in situations where a "moral point of view" is expected and taken for granted. Too often, however, in the pressure of professional education too little time is spent helping students not only understand the moral problems they will face, but facing the foundation on which they will make moral decisions. By the end of the semester the students should have developed a critical awareness of a variety of sociological perspectives in Professional Ethics and their relevance to other areas of study.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
This is a lecture/discussion based course, the success of which depends heavily on class participation. During the semester, we will seek as a group to develop an understanding of the various issues that pertain to the Professional Ethics. The success of this class, therefore, depends heavily on the enthusiasm that you bring to our sessions and the quality of our class discussions. You will be evaluated through class participation, short quizzes, assignments, presentations and two exams. Be aware that minor modifications may be made to the syllabus and course schedule if necessary. As the main purpose of this course is to evaluate the Changing Security Dimensions, therefore it involves learning and discussion inside and outside the
Syllabus: Professional Ethics by Dr. Shoaib Ahmed [1]

classroom. Part of this learning experience will also be students participation in visits scheduled for this semester (subject to the formal approval of the authorities).

INSTRUCTORS POLICIES:
Note: Carefully read the following instructions Students are expected to arrive to class on-time with assigned task completed. Students interrupting class by late arrival/early departure and/or trips out of the room will be penalized by a lowering of their final grade. Make-quizzes will NOT be administered except in the case of a medical emergency, documented by a licensed physician, and the instructor reserves the right to make the final determination of whether make-up quizzes will be permitted. Travel, extracurricular activities, and related excuses are NOT acceptable justifications for missing a quiz, an assignment or class. Students are encouraged to contact me, particularly if they are experiencing difficulties with course materials and/or assignments. Students are responsible for obtaining information related to course requirements presented in class; class absence is NOT an acceptable excuse for non-completion of ANY course requirement(s).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Attendance/Class Participation Research Project/viva Presentations Readings based quizzes Mid Term Final Exam Total 5% 15% 10% 10% 25% 35% 100

Syllabus: Professional Ethics by Dr. Shoaib Ahmed

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SYLLABUS BREAKUP
Semester Week

S.No

Course Contents
Introduction, Scheme of studies Understanding Professional Ethics Social Science & Common Sense, What do we mean by Ethics? Scientific method of observation, Research Exercise II. Origin & Development of Human Society & Ethics (a) Culture Culture as a system of norms & Values Culture & Society, Social & Cultural Development, Ethnocentrism, Xeno-centrism, Culture & Human Adjustment II. Origin & Development of Human Society & Ethics (b) Personality & Moralization The meaning of Personality, Factors in the development of personality, Biological Inheritance/ Physical Environment and Personality, Culture and Personality, Moralization and the self II. Origin & Development of Human Society & Ethics (c) Ethic and Role & Status Socialization through role and status, Ascribed & Achieved Status II. Origin & Development of Human Society & Ethics (d) Ethics and Social Order & Social Control Social Control: through Moralization, through Moral pressure, through force situational determinants of behavior, Moral Deviation, Freedom & Order

Topic 1

Week 1,2

Topic 2

Week 3,4

Topic 3

Week 5

Topic 4

Week 6,7

Topic 5

Week 8

MID TERM
Topic 6
III. Ethics & Role of Social Institutions (a) The Family Structure of the family, Functions of the Family, The Pakistani Family Today III. Ethics & Role of Social Institutions (b) Religion Religion and Society, Religion as a unifying Force of Society, Islamic concept

Week 9 Week 10

Topic 7

Week 11,12

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Topic 8

Topic 9

Topic 10 Topic 11 Topic 12

III. Ethics & Role of Social Institutions (c) Education Development of Educational Institutions, The school as a Moral system IV. Contemporary Moral Issues Discussion on Movie Incident at Morales Produced by: National Institute of Engineering Ethics USA IV. Contemporary Moral Issues Engineering Ethics: Ethical code for engineers, IEEE and ACM Code of Ethics Selected Engineering Case Studies

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Week 18

Selected Engineering Case Studies Final Exam

SELECTED READINGS: Instructors Handouts Engineering Case Studies Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases by C. HARRIS 1994 The elements of moral philosophy, 3rd ed., by James Rachels, McGraw-Hill The right thing to do, 2nd ed., by James Rachels, McGraw-Hill Contemporary Moral Issues: Lawrence M. Prentice Hall 2000 Wadsworth,

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Syllabus: Professional Ethics by Dr. Shoaib Ahmed

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