Course: EECS 3000 3.0
Course Webpage: learn.lassonde.yorku.ca and
www.eecs.yorku.ca/course/3000
Term: Fall 2016
Professional, legal and ethical issues in the development, deployment and use of computer systems and their impact on society. Topics include: the impact of computing technology on society, privacy and security, computer crime, malware, intellectual property, legal issues, professional ethics and responsibilities. One third of the course will consist of guest lecturers from industry, government and the university who will typically discuss a broad range of topics related to professional issues.
Prerequisites: General prerequisites
Course Credit Exclusions: ENG 4000 6.00
Instructor: Steven Castellucci, PhD
Office: Lassonde Building, office 3048
Email: steven_c@yorku.ca
Office hours: W 12:00 - 13:00
Lectures: Life Sciences Building, Room 105, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 17:30 - 19:00
Ethics for the Information Age, 7th Ed., written by M. Quinn. [York University Bookstore] [Steacie Reserves]
Other recommended readings include the following (additional readings may be assigned or recommended during the course):
The final grade of the course will be based on the assessment items below, with the weights indicated. The weights will not be adjusted, except to accommodate missed assessments as outlined below. In addition, no "extra credit" assignments will be provided. In order to be fair and consistent with regards to the entire class, individual grades are not negotiable. Furthermore, marks for assignments and tests will not be "rounded" or "bell-curved". Contact your instructor about grades only if there is a clear error in your grade (e.g., calculation, clerical, etc.) within one week of the test score being made available to you.
If you believe that an assessment was graded incorrectly, you may request a reappraisal of the work. A reappraisal request must be properly submitted within one week of receiving the original grade. It is essential that you explain clearly why you think the work should be re-marked; otherwise, the grade will remain unchanged. Note that the assessment item (e.g., test) will be re-graded in its entirety and that re-grading can result in the grade being raised, confirmed, or lowered.
| Essay 1 | 12% |
| Patent Report | 6% |
| Essay 2 | 18% |
| Guest lecture attendance | 6% |
| Guest lecture synopsis and MC questions | 10% |
| Reading quizzes 5x3% | 15% |
| Exam | 33% |
Grading: The final grade for the course is obtained by combining the scores of the assessments and converting this total to a letter grade according to the following table. Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Department or Faculty grades distribution profiles.
| ≥ 90 | ≥ 80 | ≥ 75 | ≥ 70 | ≥ 65 | ≥ 60 | ≥ 55 | ≥ 50 | ≥ 40 | < 40 |
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E | F |
Attending guest lectures: Students will be given attendance codes at the beginning and end of each guest lecture. Guest lecture attendance will be determined based on a student possessing corresponding codes for each lecture. Students with a properly documented reason for missing a guest lecture will not forfeit any marks. Failure to attend one guest lecture without a properly documented reason will result in an attendance mark of 3 out of 6%. Failure to attend two or more without properly documented reasons will result in 0 out of 6% for attendance. The rules for documenting absence from a guest lecture is the same as the rules for missing a test. Please see below for details.
Missed quizzes, tests, etc.: Students with a properly documented reason for missing a test, or other evaluation, due to illness, compassionate grounds, etc., will have the weight of the missed component shifted in the following manner, as appropriate:
Once a student begins writing a test or other assessment, the weight of that assessment will not be shifted for any reason. Thus, if a student is feeling ill, the student should not attend the test and seek the advice of a physician within twenty-four (24) hours.
The only accepted documentation for absence from a guest lecture or missing a test or other assessment due to illness is a properly completed Official York University Attending Physician's Statement based on an expert medical examination that occurred no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the missed assessment. An ordinary doctor's note will not be accepted.
This restriction is so that a physician can confirm that you are ill based on medical examination. The completed form can be submitted to your instructor electronically or in person, once you have sufficiently recovered. Contact your instructor to determine the appropriate documentation required for any other circumstance.
Missed final exam: Students who miss the final exam must properly complete a Deferred Standing Agreement form and submit it and your supporting documentation to the EECS Department office (LAS 1012M) within one week of the originally scheduled exam. As with missing other assessments, the only accepted documentation for illness is a properly completed Attending Physician's Statement based on a medical examination that occurred no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the originally scheduled exam.
Course announcements will be posted on Moodle in the "Course Announcements" forum. By default, all enrolled students should receive an email notifying them of a new announcement. Regardless, it is the responsibility of each student to be aware of all course announcements that are made, so check the forum regularly.
Images and materials presented in lectures are subject to Canadian copyright law. Lectures are the intellectual property of the professor. Course materials are the intellectual property of the associated author(s). Neither lectures nor course materials should be distributed without explicit permission from the professor or author.
Photographs and audio recordings are permitted, provided they are used only as a personal study aid. They may not be sold, passed on to others, or posted online. Lectures can only be recorded from your seat. Exceptions may be made for students who are registered with Counselling & Disability Services and presented relevant documentation from their counsellor to the professor.
Students are expected to do their own work and to act with integrity. Looking at someone else's work during a test, talking during a test, using aids not permitted (such as a phone) during a test, plagiarism, not reporting cheating by someone else, and impersonation are all examples of academically dishonest behaviour.
We take matters related to academic dishonesty seriously and we take measures to detect irregularities during all assessments. For example, network traffic may be logged, video surveillance could be in place, and multiple versions may be used.
Students are expected to read and understand the
Senate
Policy on Academic Honesty. If you have any questions about the policy or
would like to report a violation, please speak with your instructor.
Academic Integrity: There is an academic integrity website with comprehensive information about academic honesty and how to find resources at York to help improve students' research and writing skills, and cope with University life. Students are expected to review the materials on the Academic Integrity website.
Access/Disability: York University is committed to principles of respect, inclusion and equality of all persons with disabilities across campus. The University provides services for students with disabilities (including physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities) needing accommodation related to teaching and evaluation methods/materials. These services are made available to students in all Faculties and programs at York University.
Students in need of these services are asked to register with disability services as early as possible to ensure that appropriate academic accommodation can be provided with advance notice. You are encouraged to schedule a time early in the term to meet with each professor to discuss your accommodation needs. Please note that registering with disabilities services and discussing your needs with your professors is necessary to avoid any impediment to receiving the necessary academic accommodations to meet your needs.
Additional information is available at the following websites:
Religious Observance Accommodation: York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and providing reasonable accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for an in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the course director within the first three weeks of class. Similarly, should an assignment to be completed in a lab, practicum placement, workshop, etc., scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict, contact the course director immediately. Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination periods (December and April/May), students must complete an Examination Accommodation Form, which can be obtained from Student Client Services, Student Services Centre or online.
Student Conduct in Academic Situations: Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom and other academic settings, and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour. Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class. The policy and procedures governing disruptive and/or harassing behaviour by students in academic situations is available online.