BS in Ethics and Computer Science, Integrated
Description
How can we design artificial intelligence to protect and not harm humanity? Should we use algorithms to decide criminal cases? Can AI be designed to be fair to everyone in society? Each of these questions sits at the intersection of Ethics and Computer Science.
In the Ethics + Computer Science integrated degree you will develop the technical and philosophical skills to answer these sorts of questions. Through the examination of moral and political philosophy, you will gain an understanding of key human values and principles, as well as theories of moral and political action. Through the development of your technical expertise, you will gain the ability to expertly speak about, investigate, and design the very technical systems which have and will continue to disrupt and revolutionize society. By putting the technical and philosophical skills together, you will be prepared to meaningfully investigate the social impact of technology and to design technology that positively impacts society.
What careers can this major prepare you for?
This major can prepare students, immediately, for careers in data analysis, technology journalism, social research on technology, non-profit work, and the rising career of AI prompt engineer. Additionally, graduates would be immediately eligible for some positions in computer science or related fields, such as video game design.
The major can also prepare students for further study, resulting in additional career opportunities. Completing graduate work in computer science would ensure a person is especially competitive for computer science careers, having the ethics background. Completing graduate work in philosophy can lead to academic or non-academic research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and algorithms. Graduates may also choose to pursue law school, where the fields of copyright law benefit from the analytical, close reading, and communication skills of philosophy and the technical skills of computer science. Similarly, the degree can prepare students for further studies in cybersecurity, either through graduate school or law school, where their philosophical background will be a significant asset.
What skills are developed within this major?
Data Literacy, Scientific Reasoning, Formal Methods, Ethical Reasoning, Effective Communication, and Critical Thinking
Hours Required for Degree
Minimum hours required for the degree: 120
Minimum hours required for the major: 65
Core Curriculum Requirements - 9-10 credits
Core Curriculum Electives - 28 credits
Students should work with their advisor to select core curriculum electives.
University Electives - 18 credits
Students should work with their advisor to select elective courses from across the university.
Major Requirements - 65 credits
The following list is a guide to the academic requirements for the Ethics and Computer Science major. Each student’s specific program requires approval from the student’s advisor.
Philosophy & Ethics Core Requirements - 21 credits
Philosophy & Ethics Electives - 6 credits
Choose one History of Philosophy Elective - 3 credits
Choose one Social Philosophy Elective - 3 credits
Computer Science Requirements - 29 credits
Cognate Requirements - 9 credits
Honors/University Scholars Requirements
Ethics + Computer Science (Cyber Ethics) Honors and University Scholars students are required to complete:
The 12 Honors credits may be honors independent studies, graduate courses, and/or Honors Contract courses equally divided between Philosophy and Computer Science:
- Independent Research: Up to 3 credit hours may be completed in Honors independent research in either Philosophy (PHL 496H ) or Computer Science (CIS 495H )
- Graduate Course Options: PHL 600 or any 500-level Computer Science graduate course for which the student has the prerequisites
- Honors Contract options: Honors Contracts may be added to most 300- or 400-level Philosophy or Computer Science courses. Students must reach out to the course instructor before the start of the semester to agree on an additional project, which may be more creative and/or experience-based than the rest of the coursework. Students will then record the agreement through the Honors Contract agreement form: https://honors.csuohio.edu/current-students/forms-3
PHL 497H
All Honors/Scholars students in the B.S. in the Ethics + Computer Science (Cyber Ethics) program are required to complete an Honors research project in their senior year (PHL 497H ), as a culmination of their Honors experience. This project should represent the work and interest of the student and integrate Philosophy and Computer Science. Students completing this requirement should register for PHL 497H , supervised by a Philosophy faculty member. A faculty member in Computer Science should also approve the project, at conception and completion.
Academic Plan
Students will consult with the Honors departmental faculty advisors in Philosophy and Computer Science, ideally in the spring of their sophomore year, to formulate an academic plan, in consultation with their Honors College advisor.