CS299 Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing
CS299 Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2026
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Computer Sciences and Engineering
Emine Yaman
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to help students understand the social, legal, and ethical issues related to computing, information technologies, and artificial intelligence. Students will learn about the impact of technology on society, understand basic ethical and legal issues, and make responsible decisions when using and developing computing technologies.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Quinn, M. (2017). Ethics for the information age. Pearson, 8th Edition; ISBN-13: 978-0134296548 ISBN-10: 0134296540
Additional Literature
Tavani, H. T. (2016). Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing (4th ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-1119256814.Teaching Methods
Class discussions with examples.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, Catalysts for Change | Chapter 1 |
| 2 📍 | Catalysts for Change (continuation) | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Introduction to Ethics | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Networked Communications | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Intellectual Property | Chapter 4 |
| 6 | Intellectual Property (continuation) | Chapter 4 |
| 7 | Information Privacy, preparation for the MIDTERM | Chapter 5 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Privacy and the Government | Chapter 6 |
| 10 | Computer and Network Security | Chapter 7 |
| 11 | Computer Reliability | Chapter 8 |
| 12 | Professional Ethics | Chapter 9 |
| 13 | Work and Wealth | Chapter 10 |
| 14 | AI Ethics I – Bias, Fairness & Accountability | External Sources |
| 15 | AI Ethics II – Generative AI & Current Issues, Review | External Sources |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS299.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.10 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.34 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.34 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.34 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Written Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
In-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quizzes
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Home study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
In-term exam study
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Written Assignments
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
Final exam study
18 hours ⏳ (1 week × 18 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [CS299] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| CS299 | Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing | 3 | 0 | 6 | Mon: 15:00-17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Emine Yaman | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| eyaman@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The objective of this course is to help students understand the social, legal, and ethical issues related to computing, information technologies, and artificial intelligence. Students will learn about the impact of technology on society, understand basic ethical and legal issues, and make responsible decisions when using and developing computing technologies. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Quinn, M. (2017). Ethics for the information age. Pearson, 8th Edition; ISBN-13: 978-0134296548 ISBN-10: 0134296540 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class discussions with examples. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, Catalysts for Change | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Catalysts for Change (continuation) | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Introduction to Ethics | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Networked Communications | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Intellectual Property | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Intellectual Property (continuation) | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Information Privacy, preparation for the MIDTERM | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Privacy and the Government | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Computer and Network Security | Chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Computer Reliability | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Professional Ethics | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Work and Wealth | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | AI Ethics I – Bias, Fairness & Accountability | External Sources | ||||||||
| Week 15 | AI Ethics II – Generative AI & Current Issues, Review | External Sources | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 35 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Written Assignments | 3 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| In-term exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quizzes | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Home study | 3 | 15 | 45 | In-term exam study | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||
| Written Assignments | 6 | 3 | 18 | Final exam study | 18 | 1 | 18 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 28/09/2026 | |||||||||