MAROUN SEMAAN FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT COURSE SYLLABUS INDE 410 Engineering Ethics Spring 2024-2025

General Course Information

Table 1: Overview of Course Information

General Information

Course Number	INDE 410
Course Title	Engineering Ethics
Number of Credits	3
Course Level	Undergraduate
Course Format	Face-to-Face
Pre-requisite Courses	NA
Required/Elective	Required
Meeting Schedule
Meeting Location

Course Coordinator, Instructors and Teaching Assistants

Table 2: Contact Information for Course Coordinators, Instructors, and Teaching Assistants

Name	Role (Instructor, Coordinator, TA,)	Office Location	Office Hours	Extension	E-mail
Youssef Saad	Instructor

Course Description

A course on engineering ethics covering responsibility in engineering; framing the moral problem; organizing principles of ethical theories; computers, individual morality and social policy; honesty, integrity and reliability; safety, risk and liability in engineering; engineers as employees; engineers and the environment; international engineering professionalism; and future challenges.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

CLO1. Describe the main tenets, strengths, and weaknesses of the classical ethical theories and use them to determine what is right and wrong

CLO2. Describe what makes an argument valid/invalid, strong/weak and formulate valid or strong arguments

CLO3. Explain the different types of ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations

CLO4. Make informed ethical judgments, which consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts, using engineering codes of conduct

CLO5. Identify the conditions that make an engineer morally responsible (blameworthy) and/or legally responsible (liable)

CLO6. Identify and explain the importance of ethical reasoning at different stages of the design process and the implementation of technology

CLO7. Explain the impact of technology on the environment and the responsibility of engineers in that regard

CLO8.

CLO9.

CLO10.

CLO11.

CLO12.

CLO13.

CLO14.

CLO15.

Program Learning Outcomes Addressed in The Course

Explicitly indicate which of the program learning outcomes are addressed in the course.

PLO1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

PLO2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

PLO3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

PLO4. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

PLO5. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

PLO6. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

PLO7.

PLO8.

PLO9.

PLO10.

PLO11.

PLO12.

PLO13.

PLO14.

PLO15.

Course Resources and References

Indicate textbook title, author, and year. Include a link to the Moodle page or the course web page.

o	On special topics: o	Cronk, L., Berbesque, C., Conte, T., Gervais, M., Iyer, P., McCarthy, B., ... & Aktipis, A. (2019). Managing risk through cooperation: Need-based transfers and risk pooling among the societies of the Human Generosity Project. Global perspectives on long term community resource management, 41-75.o	Sandel, M. J. (2021). How meritocracy fuels inequality—part i The Tyranny of Merit: An Overview. American Journal of Law and Equality, 1, 4-14.o	Gino, F., Shu, L. L., & Bazerman, M. H. (2010). Nameless+ harmless= blameless: When seemingly irrelevant factors influence judgment of (un) ethical behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 111(2), 93-101.o	Books: o	The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable” by Nassim Taleb, 2007o	“Harnessing complexity” by Axelrod, R., & Cohen, M. D., Basic books, 2008 o	“Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction” by Van de Poel, I. and Royakkers, L., Chichester, United Kingdom, 2011 o	“Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness” by Leonard, T. C., Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein, Yale University Press, 2008o	On “The Golden Rule”: o	http:// www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm o	On Aristotle’s Work: o	http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Aristotle.htm o	http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/ o	On Socrates’ Work: o	http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/socrates.html o	http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/socrates_2.html o	On Engineering Canons of Ethics: o	http://www.nspe.org o	Books: o	The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable” by Nassim Taleb, 2007o	“Harnessing complexity” by Axelrod, R., & Cohen, M. D., Basic books, 2008 o	“Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction” by Van de Poel, I. and Royakkers, L., Chichester, United Kingdom, 2011 “Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness” by Leonard, T. C., Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein, Yale University Press, 2008

Course Outline

Include the topics covered and learning activities (assignments, projects, term papers, etc.) with their due dates. Indicate the alignment of topics/ learning activities with the Course Learning Outcomes.

Table 3: Course Schedule Overview

Week	Date	Topic	Learning Activities and Due Dates	Alignment with CLOs
1	Introduction to Ethics	Lecture, forum
2	Types of Responsibility and Liability	Lecture, forum, HW
3	Complexity theory and Ethics	Lecture
4	Barriers to Responsible Action	Lecture, forum, HW
5	Bias	Lecture, forum, HW
6	Ignorance	Lecture, forum, HW
7	Ethical Theories – Utilitarianism	Lecture, forum, HW
8	Ethical Theories – Kant	Lecture, forum, HW
9	Ethical Theories – Virtue Ethics	Lecture, forum, HW
10	Argumentation and Decision Making	Lecture, forum, HW
11	Special Topics: AI and technology	Lecture
12	Special Topics: Nudge and Behavioral Economics	Lecture
13	Special Topics: Environmental and Social Responsibilities	Lecture, forum, HW
14	Special Topics: Morality in Ancient Cultures and Needs-based transfers	Lecture
15	Revision and Recap	Team-based Learning

Indicate mode of delivery as Lecture, Recitation, Laboratory, Team-based Learning, etc.

Include all methods for assessing student achievement, including assessment rubrics for evaluating the learning activities.

Grading Criteria

Table 4:Evaluation Criteria and Percentage

Type of Evaluation	Percentage
Assignments (10) and Forum (10) via moodle	20%
Midterm	45%
Project (a group work to design and record a video on ethical concepts)	30%
Moodle Quizzes (one mini-quiz per week)	5%
Total	0%

Course Policies

Attendance

For undergraduate courses:

“Students who miss more than one-fifth of the sessions of any course prior to the withdrawal deadline can be withdrawn from the course by the instructor.”

For graduate courses:

“A student who is absent without excuse for more than one third of the number of sessions in any course may be dropped by the instructor of the course”.

Credit Hour Policy

“This course follows AUB Credit Hour Policy for one credit courses. This course meets once weekly for 3 academic hours per week. The course also includes independent out-of-class assignments for academic hours per week.”

Submissions and Due Dates

Written assignments should be submitted on or prior to the due date. Late Assignments and Forum submissions on Moodle (Hybrid delivery only) are not accepted.

Missing Projects/Assignments

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Final Examinations:

Please note that students are expected to be on-campus and available to take a final examination for any of their courses at anytime during the final examination period. Students and professors will be notified of the final examination schedule being posted on the Office of the Registrar website as soon as feasible after the change of schedule period (drop and add).

Make-up Quizzes and Exams

Make-up Exams will not be given unless for duly justified absences.

Group Work

Group Work is anticipated only for the term project.

Teaching Strategies and Technology Tools

o	Face-to-Face: Students need to engage in class and will not need moodle for any course submission or learning. In addition to attendance and class participation, students will sit for 2 pop-quizzes and a midterm and will also prepare and submit a term project (video).o	Hybrid: The course is moodle-based where students engage with the full course content online and solve weekly quizzes and submit weekly HWs and forum discussions. Once a week, students come to class for a face-to-face session discussion topics outside the moodle content. Students also it for a midterm and submit a term project (video).

Use of AI in the Course

Use of AI is not allowed for Forum and Assignments. Submissions that are evidently AI-generated will not be corrected. Students are welcome to explore AI tools when studying, practicing or exploring additional ideas for concepts.

University Rules and Regulations

General Academic Information

Undergraduate Academic Information

Graduate Academic Information

University - Course Withdrawal Policy

A student can withdraw from only one required course per semester. Students who wish to withdraw from more than one required course in any given semester must petition the appropriate faculty committee for permission to do so. Check Withdrawal Information from undergraduate and graduate catalogue.

Academic Integrity (cheating and plagiarism)

Please refer to AUB Student Code of Conduct, in particular section 1.1, which concerns academic misconduct including cheating, plagiarism, in-class disruption, and dishonesty. Please be aware that misconduct is vigorously prosecuted and that AUB has a zero tolerance policy. Course policy is that credible evidence of cheating will result in course failure.

Accessibility Statement to Acknowledge the Unique Learning Needs of Students with Disabilities

AUB strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to a diagnosed disability (including learning disability, mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please contact the Accessible Education Office as soon as possible in order to help establish reasonable accommodations and facilitate a smooth learning process: accessibility@aub.edu.lb; +961-1-350000, x3151; West Hall, 338.

Failure to implement the accommodations provided by the Accessible Education Office constitutes a violation of AUB's non-discrimination policy, and may be reported to the Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator who also serves in the role of Section 504 Coordinator, at 01-350000 ext. 2514, titleix@aub.edu.lb.

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Discriminatory Harassment, including Sexual Harassment at AUB https://www.aub.edu.lb/President/oeo-titleix/Pages/syllabus.aspx

In line with its commitment to the principle of equal opportunity in admission, education, and employment, AUB policies protect you from discrimination and discriminatory harassment, including sex discrimination and sexual harassment, in alignment with the objectives of Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972.

The policies are applicable to all the AUB Community including: officers, faculty, staff, academic appointees, students (including medical interns and residents), visiting students, alumni, trainees, visitors, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, located on campus and at AUB Medical Center, Advancing Research Enabling Communities Center (AREC), or any other facility or program affiliated with the University. The “AUB Community" also includes the dependents and domestic employees of faculty and staff dwelling on campus and at AREC.

If you think you have experienced discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment, we encourage you to inform the Title IX Coordinator, Mitra Tauk at 01-350000 ext. 2514, titleix@aub.edu.lb, report to a Title IX deputy at your faculty or at any other faculty (www.aub.edu.lb/titleix), or report online (www.aub.ethicspoint.com).

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AUB Grading System

https://www.aub.edu.lb/Registrar/Pages/academic-information.aspx

Numeric Course Grade to Letter Course Grade Grade Conversion Chart Table 5:Numeric Course Grade to Letter Course Grade Table 6: Grade Conversion Chart Starting with Numeric Course Grade /100 Corresponding Course Letter Grade Course Letter Grade Quality Points < 60 F A+ 4.3 60 D A 4.0 61–62 D+ A– 3.7 63–65 C– B+ 3.3 66–68 C B 3.0 69–71 C+ B– 2.7 72–74 B– C+ 2.3 75–78 B C 2.0 79–82 B+ C– 1.7 83–86 A– D+ 1.3 87–92 A D 1.0 93–100 A+ F 0.0

Note: The GPA at AUB is capped at 4.0​​

I ​P ​PR ​W NP ​Incomplete ​Pass ​In Progress ​Withdraw ​No Pass