Professional Ethics for Engineers

Catalog description

Professional Ethics for Engineers equips students with the knowledge and tools to critically examine ethical challenges within engineering practice and leadership. Rooted in traditional ethical theory and the professional engineering code of ethics, this course encourages students to apply diverse ethical and equity-based frameworks to real-world and hypothetical scenarios in technology and innovation. Beginning with an overview of traditional ethical theories, students will learn techniques of moral analysis and apply these to ethical challenges involving technology and technology leaders. Following this foundational understanding, the course examines the broader societal impacts of technology: How does technology shape our environment? Influence individual and group behaviors? Reinforce or deconstruct existing power structures? And who ultimately benefits from technological advancements? Throughout the course, students will engage in case study analysis and critical reflection to evaluate the ethical and equitable dimensions of leadership decisions in engineering. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to seriously consider the impacts of technologies and ask questions that will contribute to the creation of better vetted technologies.