CE 480

SPRING 2007

Ethics and Professionalism in Engineering

Instructor: Dr. Cara Poor

Office: Sloan 118

email: cpoor@wsu.edu

phone: 5-4547

Office hours: M 8-9, MW 10-11, T 9-11

Instructor for beginning of class: Dr. George Mount, Dana 306A, gmount@wsu.edu, 5-3790

Text: Fleddermann, C., Engineering Ethics, Second Edition, 2004

Meeting time: Tuesday 11:00-11:50 in Sloan 5 – note time change since there is a class that starts at 12:00

web site: http://www.ce.wsu.edu go to current students, then to class assignments and click on CE480

Course goals:

provide a forum for discussion about an engineerπs responsibilities to the public, clients, employers, employees, and themselves
to make you think about ethical problems before they become a reality in your life
become familiar with the NSPE Code of Ethics
understand how a professional engineer should apply the Code to ethical questions that will, without any doubt, occur during your professional career
be aware that there is increasing public awareness and concern about engineering ethics due to recent spectacular engineering failures – engineers are increasingly being held accountable for their actions and decisions; scrutiny of engineering practice is increasing
hear what your colleagues think about ethical issues during class discussions

COURSE Outline

Meeting Topic Reading Assignment

1/9 Introduction to Ethics Chapter 1

1/16 Engineerπs Dilemma Video Chapter 2

Submit choice of teammates and

desired case studies (3)

1/23 Consequences of Abuse of Technology Chapter 3

Challenger Disaster (read synopsis provided on website)

Assignment of case studies to each team

1/30 Challenger Disaster (conπt)

2/6 First Student Presentation and First Essay Due

other throughout the semester:

general discussion during the semester about the case studies and the book
presentation during the semester by students of ethical case studies

typically 2 case studies per class period with 20 min for each oral presentation
class discussion of the engineering ethical questions raised by the case study
discussion will be an integral part of the student presentation – the presenters are responsible for leading and stimulating the discussion
5 min after each presentation to discuss the case study and other issues

guest lectures, depending on time available

Dr. Dolan on codes
University lawyer on ethical codes
Any suggestions for outside speakers/topics?????

ASSESSMENTS

Students will be graded based on performance on attendance/participation, oral presentations, and written assignments. Grades will be determined by the following:

Attendance/Participation 10% Oral Presentations 45%

Written Assignments 45%

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION

Attendance is required and attendance will be taken at each class meeting. Participation is an important element to this course and will be noted and used to make final grade decisions.

CASE STUDIES

Each week, starting with the first student case study presentation on February 6, an essay is required and due on the day of the presentation of that case study. Prior to the presentation of a particular case study, each member of the class will read off the web site (under synopsis of case studies) a synopsis of the cases to be presented with questions to address.

You may devise your own case study if you wish, but must be accepted by all in your group and also by the instructor.

The instructor will e-mail to the presenters a detailed description of their case study which they will modify, expand/condense to a powerpoint presentation for oral presentation to the class (adding original thinking of their own and material from original web/article searches). The student oral presenters will lead the class discussion and are expected to stimulate conversation about the case study they present.

Two case studies will normally be presented in a single class period. Everyone please read both synopses off the web (so you are prepared for discussions), but you are required to submit your essay on only one case study, your choice which one.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Choose two of your colleagues for your oral presentation (3 people/team). Be prepared to choose teammates on January 16, the second class meeting, and have a written list of your top 3 choices of case studies for you team to submit to me in class.

Some of the presentations will be harder than others (e.g. KC Hyatt) and will run nearly the entire class period. The groups that choose a long case study will be excused from turning in an essay on any one of the case studies during the semester in addition to the one not required on the day of their presentation (reading of the synopsis from the web site is still required). The longer case studies are in some ways easier to present – there is more time.

Go to the class web site to find synopses of the case studies – long case studies are indicated on the web.

Short presentations must be completed, including audience participation, within 20 minutes. Long presentations must be completed in 45 minutes.

The job of the presenters is NOT to copy word for word the description given to them of the case, but rather for them to condense, add, subtract, and do some outside research on the topic and then to present it in a coherent fashion to describe the problems to the class and stimulate discussion.

Specific references to the NSPE Code of Ethics are required during the presentation by number and text.

The presenters will lead the discussion and are expected to stimulate class discussion. In the absence of class discussion, they are expected to generate class discussion (e.g., by calling on specific people).

Grading Criteria for the Oral Presentation:

∑ well organized presentation

∑ well presented presentation

∑ high quality PPT slides (that can be read by the class)

∑ led a high quality class discussion – stimulated discussion

∑ addressed the major ethical points with proper NSPE Code excerpts/references

∑ applied some original thought to the problem

∑ did some outside reading/web searches to find additional material beyond what is given to them

Before you make your presentation via powerpoint, be sure to e-mail your presentation to me so I can try it out on the computer that will be used to hook into the classroom projector.

--- Be prepared at the next meeting, January 16, to request in writing the top three case studies that you and your team partners wish to present during the semester. The synopses are available on the web, or you may choose a topic yourselves – you are encouraged to choose an independent topic. I will give your team the assigned case study in class on January 23 and also on the web; I will try to give you one of your requested case studies. If you have not chosen a teammate by the 16^th, please submit your chosen case studies anyway and I will assign teams.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Class members not presenting a case study will be required to write a 2 page (max single spaced) essay opinion on the case study being presented with references to the text of the NSPE code (so not just your opinion, but your opinion supported by the Code). The essay is due on the day of the presentation of that case study. Only one opinion on a case study of your choice will need to be written, even if two case studies are presented on a given day. If you are presenting a case study, no essay is required.

This essay will be turned in at the beginning of class. Late essays will not be accepted.

Provide a nicely flowing essay with the elements below meshed in a pleasing and comprehensive manner. Remember that CE 480 meets a university writing requirement and we are both required to pay attention to that.

Essay Format (grade is based on how well you accomplish the following):

summarize the case study – explicitly restate the problem
state the engineering ethical questions involved in the case

several sides to the case are usually apparent
the case can be viewed from several different perspectives
ethical dilemmas may be contradictory

apply the NSPE Code of Ethics to the case, discussing each point carefully

reference to the NSPE code must be made (by section number and in words)
the Code provides the guide to ethical problems for engineers

discuss the ethical dilemmas and how the Code directs the engineerπs actions

how does the Code apply to the case?
the Code will often be contradictory
some parts of the Code are to be held higher than other parts (use the book here)
your discussion of how the engineer should resolve the dilemma should be guided by the Code
your opinions are definitely solicited – please express them

needed additional information (some of the case studies are unclear) and how it would affect your actions as the engineer

what additional information would you like to see in helping you use the Code to resolve the dilemma(s) for the engineer
perhaps some new information would make your decision about the case go one way or the other way

Page Format: 1≤ margins all the way around, single spaced, 12-pt type

***The general rule is if you are not leading a discussion, you have an essay assignment.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

All members of the University community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of truth and academic honesty. The University has a policy defining academic dishonesty and procedures to follow when dishonesty occurs. This policy applies to both undergraduate and graduate students alike. The policy and procedures can be found in the Student Handbook and on-line at www.studentaffairs.wsu.edu.

EXPECTATIONS

The goal of Washington State University is to provide students with the knowledge, skill and wisdom they need to contribute to society. Our rules are formulated to guarantee each student's freedom to learn and to protect the fundamental rights of others. People must treat each other with dignity and respect in order for scholarship to thrive. Behaviors that are disruptive to teaching and learning and that create a hostile, offensive or intimidating environment based on gender, race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, disability, marital status or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

SPECIAL NEEDS

I am committed to providing assistance to help you be successful in this course. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. Please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first two weeks of every semester to seek information or to qualify for accommodations. All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Rooms 205). Call 509 335 3417 to make an appointment with a disability counselor.