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://course.inf.ed.ac.uk/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	Students MUST NOT also be taking Informatics Research Proposal (INFR11071)	Other requirements	This course is open to all undergraduate Informatics students including those on joint degrees. For external students where this course is not listed in your DPT, please seek special permission from the course organiser.
Additional Costs	None

Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites	Visiting students are required to have comparable background to that assumed by the course prerequisites listed in the Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study. If in doubt, consult the course lecturer.
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?	Yes

Course Delivery Information

Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)			Learn enabled: Yes	Quota: None
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Course Start Date	15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 85 %, Coursework 15 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name	Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)		2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)		2:00

Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)			Learn enabled: No	Quota: None
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Course Start Date	15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 85 %, Coursework 15 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name	Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)		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
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. You should expect to spend approximately 15 hours on the coursework for this course. 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	* = Essential, = Recommended, * = Background/Reference * Professional Issues in Information Technology, Frank Bott, BCS 2005 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 ** Information Technology Project Management, Jack T Marchewka, Wiley 2003 * The Essence of Professional Issues in Computing, R Ayres, Prentice Hall, 1999 * Law and the Internet, L Edwards & C Waelde, Hart, 1997 * The Elements of Style", W Strunk and E. B. White, 2000 * Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M Pirsig, Corgi 1974/1999 Additional Books on Ethics Ethical Conflicts in Information and Computer Science Technology and Business, Donn B. Parker et. al.QED Information Sciences Inc., 1990 A Gift of Fire", Sara Baase, Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Computer Ethics, Duncan Langford, Addison-Wesley, 1999 Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues in an Age of Information and Communication Technology, Herman T. Tavani, Wiley, 2004
Study Abroad	Not entered
Study Pattern	Not entered
Keywords	Not entered

Contacts
Course organiser	Prof Mike Fourman Tel: (0131 6)50 4416 Email: Michael.Fourman@ed.ac.uk	Course secretary	Mrs Victoria Swann Tel: (0131 6)51 7607 Email: Vicky.Swann@ed.ac.uk