CSE 40175 is one of the core classes in the Computer Science and Engineering program at the University of Notre Dame. The purpose of the course is to develop a solid foundation for reasoning about ethical, professional, and social issues that arise in the context of computer science and engineering. Emphasis is placed on identifying appropriate legal, professional and moral contexts and on applying sound critical thinking skills to a problem. Topics covered include ethical frameworks that can be applied to the technology industry, with a focus on the nature of contemporary tech work, social media, and artificial intelligence. In particular, students taking this course will propose virtue ethics-based solutions to today’s most pressing technological problems.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Evaluate different ethical, professional, and social issues in the context of computer science and engineering in a variety of mediums and platforms.

• Apply principles of dialogue to engage multiple perspectives in the analysis of complex moral and technical issues.

• Communicate effectively about a wide range of ethical, professional, and social issues regarding computer science and engineering.

• Create virtue-ethics based software designs that support common good solutions to today’s social problems caused by technology.