STS 3601

Ethical Issues in Engineering Practice

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.

Studies major ethical and social issues involved in engineering practice. The issues include responsibility for designing products that do not harm public health, safety, and welfare; rights of engineers in large corporations; risk analysis and the principle of informed consent; conflict of interest; whistle blowing; trade secrets; and broader concerns such as environmental degradation, cost of health care, computer ethics, and working in multinational corporations. Codes of ethics of the professional engineering societies, ethical theory, and the history and sociology of engineering are introduced to analyze these issues.

When Offered Spring.

Permission Note Enrollment is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

• Understand current conceptions of engineering ethics.
• Have an appreciation for philosophical/sociological issues in technical practice.
• Understand the implications of (2) for considerations of engineering ethics.
• Be versed in the historical and technical details of particular episodes in engineering history (Space Shuttle Challenger, Columbia, Ford Pinto), and current events (Toyota Recall, BP Oil Spill, etc.)
• Be able to communicate in writing effective, compelling arguments supported by evidence from the readings and lectures.

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