Specialization: Computer Science, Ethics and Society

Computing systems and technologies impact the lives of most people in the world and will do so even more in the future. This impact includes how we obtain information, how we communicate, how we obtain essential services such as health care and transportation, and much more. Computing also impacts our society in fundamental ways, including the impact of automation on the availability and types of employment, and how we organize and manage our society. This specialization examines some of the ethical issues in the design and implementation of current and future computing systems and technologies, and reflects on the broad impact of computing on our society. It draws on a wide range of sources and experiences, including recent events, media articles, and research, as well as the experiences of computing professionals. The course examines a wide range of applications of computing in areas such as algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence and machine learning, social media, security and privacy, healthcare, robotics and autonomous systems, the gender and race of the computing workforce, and the future of work. The primary goal of the course is to help students identify and resolve ethical situations that may arise in their careers and lives. This includes introducing students to a wide range of examples of ethical issues in computing, as well as an introduction to ethical frameworks that can be applied to analyze ethical issues. Applied learning project Throughout the specialization, students will work with articles published in computer ethics journals. These assignments will require students to carefully analyze articles, critically evaluate ethical principles, and reflect on the broader implications for society, technology, and individual decision making.