Students in the College of Information and Computer Sciences learn about ethics from day one. Below are courses in the computer science curriculum that cover ethical considerations.
FALL
CICS 191CICS1: CICS FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
First-Year Seminars in the Manning College of Information and Computer Science (CICS) display a commitment to equity and social justice. Instructors for these courses invite their students to consider the roles of information and computer sciences in everyday lives, as well as the responsibility that comes with the development and use of technology. In addition to introducing students to a topic in CICS, each course will help students adjust to life at UMass. Course topics change every year, but recent subjects have included: New Voices in Computing, Ethics in Computing, Data Science for Good, Computing for a Sustainable Future, Exploring Modern Computing, Nature-Inspired Design in Computing, Math Puzzles
COMPSCI 365: DIGITAL FORENSICS
INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN LEVINE
The goal of forensics is to gather artifacts for refinement into evidence that supports or refutes a hypothesis about an alleged crime or policy violation. Done correctly, forensics represents the application of science to law. The techniques can also be abused to thwart privacy. This course is a broad introduction to forensic investigation of digital information and devices. We cover the acquisition, analysis, and courtroom presentation of information from file systems, operating systems, networks, mobile applications, and the like. Students do not need experience with these systems. We review the use of some professional tools, however, the primary goal of the course is to understand why and from where artifacts are recoverable in these systems. Most assignments involve coding forensic tools. For a small portion of the class, we cover some relevant issues from the law, privacy, and current events. Thus, the class serves the well-rounded student who is eager to participate in class discussion on a variety of technical and social issues. This course counts as an Elective toward the CS and INFORM Majors. Prerequisite: COMPSCI 230. 3 credits
COMPSCI 391L: SEMINAR – COMPUTER CRIME LAW AND THE TECHNOLOGIES OF INVESTIGATION AND PRIVACY
INSTRUCTOR: MARVIN CABLE
A study, analysis, and discussion of the legal issues related to crimes involving computers and networks, including topical actions by dissidents and governments. We will also study the technologies of forensic investigation, intelligence gathering, privacy enhancement, and censorship resistance. Our main legal topics will include recent and important case law, statutes, and constitutional clauses concerning authorization, access, search and seizure, wiretaps, the right to privacy, and FISA. Our technology topics will include methods of investigation and resistance in the context of the Internet and Cellular networks. Students are assumed to have no background in legal concepts. Students will be required to complete substantial legal readings, complete significant written analysis of rulings, learn about technologies in detail, and participate in lively class discussion. This course counts as a CS Elective for the CS Major. Prerequisite: COMPSCI 230 and ENGLWRIT 112. 3 credits.
COMPSCI 515: ALGORITHMS, GAME THEORY AND FAIRNESS
INSTRUCTOR: YAIR ZICK
Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the use of algorithms for solving problems involving strategic decision makers. Deployed algorithms now assist in a variety of economic interactions: assigning medical residents to schools, allocating students to courses, allocating security resources in airports, allocating computational resources and dividing rent. We will explore foundational topics at the intersection of economics and computation, starting with the foundations of game theory: Nash equilibria, the theory of cooperative games, before proceeding to covering more advanced topics: matching algorithms, allocation of indivisible goods, and mechanism design. This course counts as a CS Elective for the CS Major. Undergraduate Prerequisite: COMPSCI 240 and COMPSCI 250. 3 credits.
COMPSCI 563: INTERNET LAW AND POLICY
INSTRUCTOR: MARVIN CABLE
This course is meant for those looking for legal knowledge for use in computing- and Internet-related endeavors. The course will include topics related to security, policy, and the use of machine learning and related technologies. In additional, students will be assigned law review articles and will learn to do legal research so that they can remain updated after the course ends. Topics covered are all in the context of the ubiquity of the Internet and computing, and they include: basic legal principles, contract law, substantive laws, intellectual property law, ethics, dealing with third parties, policy issues, and topical issues such as implications of applying machine learning technology. This course was formerly numbered as INFOSEC 690L. This course counts as a CS Elective for the CS Major. Undergraduate Prerequisite: COMPSCI 311, COMPSCI 383, or COMPSCI 360 (previously 460). 3 credits.
COMPSCI 690F: RESPONSIBLE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
INSTRUCTOR: PRZEMYSLAW GRABOWICZ
The real-world deployment of machine learning models faces a series of lateral challenges affecting model trustworthiness, such as domain generalization, dataset shifts, causal validity, explainability, fairness, representativeness, and transparency. These challenges become increasingly important in techno-social systems affecting human high-stake decision making, which is often regulated by law. In this course, students will learn techniques for robust model evaluation, model selection, causal discovery, explainable and fair artificial intelligence, and interpretable models. In addition, students will reason about representativeness, transparency, and legal aspects of techno-social systems. The course will review both cutting-edge research and relevant portions of recent open-access textbooks. Coursework includes reading recent research papers, programming assignments, and a final group project. After completing the course, students should be able to develop, investigate, evaluate, and deploy artificial intelligence systems more responsibly. 3 credits.
SPRING
CICS 290DP: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY
INSTRUCTOR: FRANCINE BERMAN
Today s world is complex and tech-driven. How do we use the tools of information technology to solve problems in a socially responsible way, i.e. in a way that both empowers us and promotes the well-being of the communities in which we live? In this course, we describe the socio-technical world and pragmatic strategies for promoting personal and social responsibility. We explore the questions: What is the public interest in a socio-technical world? What strategies can we use to promote social responsibility in the public sector, private sector and general public? What can each of us do to make the world a better place? 3 credits.
COMPSCI 496C: INDEPENDENT STUDY – SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP LAUNCHPAD
INSTRUCTOR: MATTHEW RATTIGAN
Social Entrepreneurship Launchpad offers a team-based opportunity to students who have successfully completed COMPSCI 420 (previously COMPSCI 490S) and are committed to launching marketable products that contribute to the common good. Teams will be mentored by CICS Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) and UMass alumni. Teams test the commercial potential of their product ideas and receive mentoring and guidance from EIRs and industry partners to secure funding, build a marketing plan, and consolidate a customer base. This course does not count as either a CS or INFORM Elective. Prerequisite: COMPSCI 420/490S. 3 credits.
COMPSCI 508: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN COMPUTING
INSTRUCTOR: MICHELLE TRIM
This course considers an array of ethical issues in computing. Readings, class discussions, and guest speakers will cover topics related to avenues of development in artificial intelligence, privacy, identity, inclusiveness, environmental responsibility, internet censorship, network policy, plagiarism, intellectual property and others. All examples will be drawn from current and recent events with readings from a range of sources both journalistic and academic. Course assignments will have real world applications and offer students opportunities for developing their speaking and writing skills. Class discussions will be a vibrant component of the course. Open to Graduate students only. Undergraduate CS Majors with permission of instructor (counts as an Elective toward the CS Major). 3 credits.
COMPSCI 627: FIXING SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTRUCTOR: ETHAN ZUCKERMAN
Over the past decade, user-generated participatory media social media has emerged as the dominant model for content of the Internet. From Facebook to Twitter, YouTube to Wikipedia, content created by non-professionals and circulated for commercial and non-commercial motives underpins seven of the top 10 websites in the US, and has become an increasingly important component of the news ecosystem. While social media was initially hailed as a powerful tool for broadening civic participation, many problems have emerged with the rise of the medium, from questions of whether social media usage is bad for our individual mental health, to whether the fabric of our democracy is being damaged by disinformation, fragmentation and hyperpolarization. As legislators look to regulate these platforms and commentators propose shutting them down entirely, this course looks for an alternative: affirmative visions of social media that are good for individuals and society, which we could work towards building. This class examines possible problems with existing modes of social media, discusses ways in which social media could be a benefit to individuals and societies, develops case studies of successful and healthy online communities, and ultimately designs and builds tools to improve existing social media systems or replace them with novel models. Students will write reflectively about weekly readings and discussions and participate in multi-week projects, ultimately building teams to work on final projects. Meets with COMM 627 and SPP 627. 3 credits.