With the rise of artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning, ethics has come to the forefront of the conversation in IT and computer science.

On this three-week course from Charles Sturt University, you’ll learn why ethics is so crucial for computing professionals. You’ll explore the history of ethics in IT, and begin building the skills you need to make ethical decisions.

Examine the role and importance of ethics in computing

The course will start with an overview of ethics as it relates to computing. You’ll learn what ethics means, what the main ethical theories are, and how these relate to the IT industry.

Next you’ll consider some real-world case studies of ethical problems in computing. From information security to the damaging impacts of software or hardware, you’ll understand the wider impact IT systems have on society.

Develop strategies for ethical analysis and ethical decision making

After you’ve looked at some examples of common ethical problems in IT, you can begin building the skills you need to tackle these. You’ll discuss approaches to ethical analysis and problem-solving, focusing on the Doing Ethics Technique and computing codes of conduct.

By the end of the course, you’ll have an understanding of a major new field within IT and related industries, as well as the expertise you need to mitigate ethical risks.