EE295 Electrical Engineering Seminar/Engineering Ethics

1. EE295 Electrical Engineering Seminar/Engineering Ethics James Freeman, Professor of Electrical Engineering Office: E 279 Phone: 408.924.3794 www.engr.sjsu.edu/jfreeman Email: jfreeman@email.sjsu.edu Office Hours: MW 11:00 – 12:00, 2:00 – 3:00, 7:00 – 7:30; TTh 10:00 – 10:30Or anytime the door is open Prerequisites: Graduate standing Texts: Gene Moriarty, The Engineering Project: Its Nature, Ethics, and Promise, (Penn State University Press), 2007.(EP) (Other readings and essays about contemporary issues which have relevance to this class will be available on the Internet or from the course website.)

2. Course Description: This seminar examines engineering from both a micro and a macro perspective, emphasizing the theory and practice of engineering ethics and, in particular, will deal with ethical issues stemming from Electrical Engineering. The Moriarty text provides a broad overview of the engineering project including both the micro and macro views. Other texts and readings will provide a micro perspective which stresses ethical theories and analysis and their application via case studies to issues in the practice of engineering. In the course there will be weekly in-class group activities and individual in-class as well as take-home writing exercises. Practice and feedback on written work will be in the form of comments which include an evaluation of organization, grammar, structure, flow, understanding concepts, thoroughness, and logic. The culminating experience in the Seminar will be an individual formal written report. It will consist of three parts, the first part due the 8th week of the semester, the second part due the 11th week of the semester, and the third part due the last day of class. The first two parts will have opportunities for review, rewriting, and feedback. The written report will be in the form of a Project Proposal. It will include all the aspects of an engineering proposal plus the analysis of the engineering ethics of the engineered.

3. Student Learning Objectives: • Upon successful completion of the course, students shall be able: • To critically read and analyze written information about the context, history, • nature, ethics, and promise of the engineering project • 2. To analyze the information in a written description, identify the factual issues • And conceptual issues, determine the obligations and responsibilities of the actors, • and assess the relevant ethical values • 3. To propose, based on ethical analysis, possible solutions in written form • using an articulated ethical position/theory • 4. To form opinions supported with facts and evidence and based on reasoned • Conceptual positions, and should be able to express • these opinions in written form • 5. To show, in writing and in class discussion, development of an awareness of the • ethical component of daily engineering decisions.

4. Course Objectives: The purpose of EE 295 is to provide students the tools and techniques to support their understanding of these core topics: 1. The Nature of Engineering Practice 2. The Contexts of the Engineering Project 3. Ethical Theories and Analysis • Virtue Ethics • Process Ethics • Material Ethics 4. Professionalism • Responsibility to clients • Responsibility to employers • Work place issues 5. Codes of Ethics (IEEE) 6. Legal Obligations and Professional Integrity 7. Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Development 8. Social Impact of Technology 9. The Promise of an Enlightened Engineering Practice

5. EvaluationCriteria: Percentage Class Participation 10 In-class writing, group exercises, homework and responses 30 Major Research Report (individual, not group, effort) 40 Final Exam. 20 Total 100

6. Concerning the Major Research Report: You must individually complete a research report as the major assignment in this course. You should begin thinking about this report early on in the course. From the first week in the course we will discuss the three kinds of ethics (process ethics, virtue ethics, and material ethics) which the course will investigate and which will constitute the foundational material for your major research report. The Project Proposal as indicated in the Course Description has three sections, the first two will provide feedback opportunities to have your work assessed and rewritten. The Proposal, if possible, should be constructed around your intended Masters Project/Thesis. Analysis from the engineering viewpoint and the points of view of all three types of ethics and from the point of view of the IEEE Code of Ethics must be included. The report must be 15 pages or more, double-spaced, 12 point type, of at least 4000 words. At least five credible references must be employed from texts or referred journals. (Other in-class and take-home writing assignments in the course will bring the number of words up to approximately 9000.)

7. Course Schedule: • Almost every week we will have • an in-class writing exercise (½ page, 125 words x 14 weeks=1750 words), • an in-class group exercise (forming into small groups of 3-5 students, discuss • a handout from the literature and have the group’s spokesperson report to the • class, with each student having the opportunity to report at least once), • 4) a take-home writing exercise (1 page, 250 words x 13 weeks=3250 words). • Feedback regarding form and content will be provided on all the writing assignments • in an on-going fashion. Along with class participation, these three weekly exercises will • constitute 40% of your grade.

8. Web Resources: The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science: http://onlineethics.org/ National Institute for Engineering Ethics: http://www.niee.org/ Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT: http://ethics.iit.edu/ Practical and Professional Ethics at IU: http://www.indiana.edu/~appe/ IEEE Ethic Committee: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/committee/emcc/ IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology: http://policy.rutgers.edu/andrews/projects/ssit/ungercom.shtml Texas A&M Univ. engineering ethics: http://ethics.tamu.edu/ NSF Workshops, http://www.cse.nd.edu/~kwb/nsf-ufe/index.html NSPE Board of Ethical Review: http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-whb.asp Ethics Officer Association: http://www.eoa.org/ Journal, "Science and Engineering Ethics": http://www.opragen.co.uk/SEE/

9. Finals: MW 1500 Class at Friday May16th from 1215 to 1430 MW 1930 Class at Monday May19th from 1945 to 2200 TTh 1030 Class at Wednesday May 21st from 0945 to 1200

10. EE25 Report Part A • Abstract: In 100 words or less, tell me everything I need to know about your project. • Introduction: The background of the problem you are trying to solve. What is the closest product/procedure on the market? Why is yours better? Why does society need your product/procedure? • Background: A complete analysis with bibliography on what has already been accomplished on your Product/procedure. • Ethical Analysis: An Ethical Analysis of the engineered product/procedure.

11. Part B.Specifications: ALL the design parameters/specifications that will let us know if your final design project will be successfulMethodology: Analysis of the problem, possible solutions, optimum solution. Why is it optimum? What parameters make it optimum? What assumptions were made in the analysis?Body: Block Diagram of the Solution Circuits Components List Cost; who is going to pay the cost? Time Schedule for Completion How is it going to be tested? The various skillsets that enable you to solve the problem

12. Part B Continued: • Contract: A one page contract listing all the deliverables with specifications and signatures.Summary: In 200 words or less tell me what you just told me.Some things to rememberThe report is on the Project/Procedure not you! The project will be graded. Don’t tell me how hard you worked or how much you learned. Tell me about the project. Don’t use “I”. The report should stress the description of the problem and how you will solve the problem.

13. Business Plan Part C • (1) The Executive Summary • This is a 1 page (maximum) section that summarizes all of the other sections listed next. • Some readers read only the Executive Summary, and some read the Executive Summary to decide whether to read the rest of the plan. • (2) The Opportunity • What is the need/opportunity? • What is the business concept that will address this need or take advantage of the opportunity? • Is the market large and growing? Or is it a small niche market but you expect it to grow? • (3) The Industry • What’s the nature/degree of competition in the industry? Who are the main competitors? • How will the company differentiate itself from the competition? • (4) The Proposed Business Concept • Is the proposed product or service (the solution to the problem) clearly explained? • What are its unique features? Its merits? Its limitations? • Is it realistic and viable? • To what extent is the product or service a compelling purchase for the customer?

14. Business Plan • (5) Market Research & Analysis • Who is the new venture’s customer? • Where are customers located? • How does the customer make decisions about buying this product or service? • (6) Marketing Plan • How will the product/service be priced? • How will the product/service be distributes, delivered, and sold? • (7) Finance & Economics • How much money will the venture require? • What sources of finance? • How/When will the venture make money? • (8) Management Team • How will the team contribute to the success of the business? (In terms of their background and skills). • (9) A brief summary of the Risks & Assumptions • The Plan MUST confront the risk ahead ‘what if … …?’ • The Plan should be approximately 5 pages.