Guidance for Engineering‐Design‐Class Lectures on Ethics
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 3
Abstract
Engineering students can be introduced to the subject of ethics through required enrollment in a philosophy course, a specifically designed engineering course, or through lectures in engineering‐design classes. The advantages of these alternatives are discussed, with the latter the preferred approach. Guidance for developing individual lectures for engineering‐design classes is given. Actual case studies are recounted along with a series of questions that can be used to shape the class discussions. The case studies address the issues of falsifying time sheets, an employer's conduct of inflating the employee's resume when submitting a contract proposal, sexual bias and harassment, and receiving an offer of a bribe for approving plans that did not meet the local fire codes. Issues such as gratuities and computer ethics are discussed. Case studies related to technical details of design can also be developed. The case‐study approach has been used effectively to develop an awareness of the ethical pressures faced by engineers in practice and how to solve such dilemmas.
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References
1.
ASCE official register 1988. (1988). “Code of ethics,” ASCE, New York, N.Y., 295–298.
2.
Austin, T. A. (1985). “Contrasting perceptions of teaching engineering ethics.” Proc., Conf. Challenges to Civ. Engrg. Educators and Practitioners, Columbus, Ohio.
3.
Cambel, A. B., and Schuh, S. A. (1989). “Proposed: An academic program in engineering ethics.” Engrg. Education, 79(3), 413–414.
4.
Hughson, R. V., and Kohn, P. M. (1980). “Ethics.” Chemical Engrg., May 5 (part 1) and Sept. 22 (part 2), pp. 132–147.
5.
Weil, V. (1985). “Ethics in engineering curricula,” Res. in Philosophy and Tech., 8, 243–250.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 3 • July 1990
Pages: 251 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jul 1, 1990
Published in print: Jul 1990
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