Computers, ethics, law and society: what do we teach undergraduates?

University computer science (CS) curricula have traditionally been rich in technical courses, but have lacked content related to the impact of technology on our world. Many CS departments have added more pragmatic courses, such as software engineering and program management, but as technology plays an ever-increasing role in our society, more attention must be focused on its ethical, social and legal implications. Without specific coursework in these areas, engineering students may very likely graduate without really considering the repercussions of the technology they will soon be applying. In addition, coursework of this nature provides benefits that technical courses may not: the opportunity for students to improve their cognitive and communications skills. An overview of an undergraduate CS course in ethics, social and legal issues, and the role it plays in the overall education of CS students, is presented. A sample syllabus and examples of assignments are also discussed.