Undergraduate Course: Professional Issues (Level 10) (INFR10022)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Informatics |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/pi |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | There are many commercial, engineering and professional issues, complementary to the necessary scientific knowledge and technical skills, that impinge on the work of the computing professional. The Professional Issues course aims to provide a general awareness of these issues and to cover some of them in depth. The course will mostly involve directed reading but there will be some lectures from members of staff and visitors. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Successful completion of Year 2 of an Informatics Single or Combined Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School. |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | 11:10 - 12:00 | | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | 11:10 - 12:00 | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 11:10 - 12:00, Zone: Central. AT LT1 |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - describe the desirable attributes of graduates in computing
2 - explain the importance of professionalism in computing
3 - identify how and where social and ethical implications arise in computing
4 - describe the legal issues that impact computing
5 - describe the structure and operation of commercial computing organisations
6 - describe and explain the relationships between scientific, technical & engineering issues and real world issues in computing
7 - construct a well-written essay |
Assessment Information
Written Examination 85
Assessed Assignments 15
Oral Presentations 0
Assessment
The examination will involve essay-style questions. The assessed coursework will also be an essay to allow practice in essay writing. All essays will be assessed on their quality of English as well as content.
If delivered in semester 1, this course will have an option for semester 1 only visiting undergraduate students, providing assessment prior to the end of the calendar year. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
* Personal Attributes: study skills, personal development, interpersonal skills; employers' views and expectations of graduates; study skills, writing skills, presentation skills.
* The Computing Profession: professional bodies; codes of conduct and practice.
* Social and ethical issues: security, privacy, software ownership
* Legal Issues: legal and regulatory frameworks; software contracts and liability; intellectual property, copyright and patents; computer misuse, data protection; health and safety.
* Commercial Issues: organisational structures; finance, accounting, audit; resource management.
* Computing Projects: design, prototype and product; product development cycle; marketing and market research; project management and team working; change management.
Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Professionalism |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
* "Professional Issues in Software Engineering", 3rd edition, Bott, Coleman, Eaton & Rowland, Pitman, 2001
* "Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility", Bynum and Rogerson (eds), Blackwell, 2004
* "Scientists Must Write", R Barrass, Routledge, 2002
* "The Essence of Professional Issues in Computing", RAyres, Prentice Hall, 1999
* "Law and the Internet", L Edwards & C Waelde, Hart, 1997
* "Information Technology Project Management", Jack T. Marchewka, Wiley, 2003 |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Lectures 10
Tutorials 10
Timetabled Laboratories 0
Non-timetabled assessed assignments 15
Private Study/Other 65
Total 100 |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Massimo Felici
Tel:
Email: massimo.felici@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Tamise Totterdell
Tel: 0131 650 9970
Email: t.totterdell@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:16 am
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