PIT Classes (SPP 690T)

Course Description

This course is a University+ online class and can be taken on its own, or as part of the Public Interest Technology Graduate Certificate.

Grounded in the principles of Public Interest Technology (PIT), the course explores how technology can be designed, deployed, and governed to serve the public good. Through thirteen macro-topics, students will move from core PIT foundations to deeper explorations of equity, accountability, and inclusion in tech systems.

Using dynamic readings, real-world case studies, and cross-sector discussions, the course bridges ethics with product and policy thinking. Students will gain the skills to critically assess technology’s societal impact and contribute to socially responsible innovation,  preparing them to lead at the intersection of technology, governance, and justice.

 

 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to…

• Analyze the Intersection of Technology and Public Interest: Critically evaluate how technology aligns with or undermines societal well-being through principles such as equity, ethics, transparency, public participation, sustainability, and justice.
• Assess Risks and Unintended Consequences: Identify and analyze potential risks and unintended societal consequences of technology deployment, including examples like digital identity systems, facial recognition, and data trusts.
• Imagine Inclusive and Accountable Technologies: Apply ethical frameworks and inclusive design principles to conceptualize or evaluate technologies, prioritizing public interest and mitigating harmful outcomes.
• Integrate Multidisciplinary Perspectives:  Develop a shared vocabulary to effectively collaborate across policy, law, technology, and business disciplines, bridging diverse perspectives to address complex challenges in technology governance.
• Promote Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Advocate for and practice cross-sector collaboration to address systemic issues in technology governance, fostering shared accountability among stakeholders.
• Contribute to Public Interest Technology Discourse: Articulate informed, critical perspectives on the role of technology in society, contributing meaningfully to contemporary debates about public interest technology.

Course Info

• Instructor: Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Programs, Public Interest Technology Initiative at UMass (PIT@Umass).
• Method: This course follows a flipped classroom model. Students engage with recorded lectures and assigned readings independently, then come together once a week for live, interactive sessions. These discussions include in-depth conversations and guest appearances by leading market experts, offering practical insights and real-world perspectives.
  
• Note: This course can be taken on its own, or as part of the Graduate Public Interest Technology Certificate. If you’d like to learn more, contact Carolina Rossini, crossini@umass.edu.

Registration

• Current UMass student? Look for our class in SPIRE.
• Not a current UMass student? Join us as part of your professional development and continuing learning journey. Check out  University+ Class Enrollment for more information.

Questions

• For questions about this course or the Graduate PIT Certificate contact, crossini@umass.edu.

• Need assistance with registration, call 413.545.3653 or email regoff@umass.edu.