Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    CS

 Course #:    222

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    110201

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2024

 Course Description  

Exploration of the use and impact of technology on society including artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias, social media, mass data collection and the spread of disinformation. Topics include privacy, spying, mass personalization and copyright.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: ENGL& 101 with a C or higher.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic N/A  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the history of computing and identify key social, regulatory, political or technical advances, which resulted in significant impact on society.
2. Compare and contrast the benefits and risks of generative AI systems to solve a given problem.
3. Describe Algorithmic Bias and identify impacts on society.
4. Analyze the effects of Social Media on society including mass data collection, mass personalization and the spread of disinformation.
5. Compare and contrast disinformation and misinformation.
6. Evaluate ways that technology erodes privacy and facilitates spying, providing assessment on the benefits and risks to society.
7. Describe ways that technology has benefited (and challenged) society.
8. Explain the application of copyright and patents to computer software such as FOSS, CopyLeft, standard license types and Open-source software.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

Course Contents

1. History of computing and copyright.
2. Generative AI.
3. Algorithmic bias.
4. Social Media and effects on society including mass data collection and the spread of disinformation (effects of mass personalization).
5. Disinformation and misinformation.
6. Privacy and spying (�little brother� and �big brother�).
7. Critically conscious computing.