ENS309 Ethics in Engineering and Natural Sciences


ENS309 Ethics in Engineering and Natural Sciences

Syllabus   |  International University of Sarajevo  -  Last Update on Feb 02, 2026

Referencing Curricula

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Genetics and Bioengineering

Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Semester
Spring
Course Code
ENS309
Weekly Hours
3 Teaching + 0 Practice
ECTS
6
Prerequisites
Teaching Mode Delivery
Face-to-face
Prerequisite For
-
Teaching Mode Delivery Notes
-
Cycle
I Cycle
Prof. Jane Doe

Muhamed Hadžiabdić

Course Lecturer

Position
Full Professor Dr.
Phone
033 957
Assistant(s)
-
Assistant E-mail

Course Objectives

To provide students with an understanding of the Ethics in the context of engineering. To present students to the algorithms and theories on resolving conflicting situations in terms of ethical behavior. To present students with case studies related to engineering ethical conflicts.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1
Identify ethical issues in medicine, health care and life sciences
2
Provide rational justification for ethical decisions
3
Apply the ethical principles of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
4
Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to solve problems
5
Develop professional competence, effectiveness, and skills, such as an effective communication in both, oral and in written form; professional and ethical responsibility; team work; class attendance

Course Materials

Required Textbook

  • Blundell, Barry G. Ethics in Computing, Science, and Engineering: A Student's Guide to Doing Things Right. Cham: Springer, 2020.
  • P. Boddington, AI Ethics: A Textbook. Singapore: Springer Nature, 2023.
  • Additional Literature
  • Floridi, Luciano. "The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: principles, challenges, and opportunities." (2023).
  • DiMatteo LA, Poncibò C, Cannarsa M, eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence: Global Perspectives on Law and Ethics. Cambridge University Press; 2022.
  • S. Matthew Liao. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Oxford University Press; 2020
  • Teaching Methods

    Lectures
    Case studies
    Class discussions.

    Weekly Topics

    This weekly planning is subject to change with advance notice.
    Week Topic Readings / References
    1 Introduction notes
    2 Data Privacy in (Bio)Ethics notes
    3 Ethical considerations in animal studies notes
    4 Professional Ethics notes
    5 GMO ethical concerns notes
    6 Holiday notes
    7 AI Ethics in Engineering and Natural Sciences notes
    8 Midterm
    9 Sustainability and Responsible Design in Engineering notes
    10 TBA notes
    11 TBA notes
    12 Ethical Accountability in Engineering notes
    13 Biotechnology and Bioethics notes
    14 TBA notes
    15 AI and Creativity, Ethics in AI Governance notes

    Course Schedule (All Sections)

    SectionTypeDay 1Venue 1Day 2Venue 2
    ENS309.1 Course Tuesday 14:00 - 16:50 B F1.23 - Amphitheater I - -

    Office Hours & Room

    Course Office hours will be available here soon.

    Assessment Methods and Criteria

    Assessment Components

    40%x1
    Final Exam
    AI: Not Allowed

    Alignment with Learning Outcomes :  1  2  3

    30%x1
    Midterm Exam
    AI: Not Allowed

    Alignment with Learning Outcomes :  1  2  3

    30%x3
    Assignments
    AI: Not Allowed

    Alignment with Learning Outcomes :  1  2  3  4  5

    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

    42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)

    Report

    18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)

    Home study

    70 hours ⏳ (14 week × 5 h)

    Midterm exam study

    10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)

    Final exam study

    10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 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 [ENS309] 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.

    More info

    Learning Tips

    Engage Actively

    Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.

    Read and Review Purposefully

    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.

    Think Critically in Assignments

    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.

    Ask Questions Early

    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 Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo

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