Provides an overview of Information Science, the majors within this discipline, and related fields. Students are introduced to the disciplines, professions, and programs of study within the Information Sciences. Current and emerging applications and technologies are explored such as artificial intelligence, game design, and computer applications in business and other fields. The value of Information Sciences to the business and non-profit community is considered, as well as ethical and moral issues involving the use of computers. Basic computer skills are expected and determined with a placement exam in the first class meeting. Meets General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement. (Offered fall semester only.)

None

M. J. Quinn, Ethics for the Information Age, 5^th edition, Addison-Wesley, 2012 (ISBN: 978-0132855532)

Eugene G. Rohrbaugh, Professor of Computer Science

Meets the General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement. Open to all students.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. summarize the past, present, and projected future of key areas of Computer and Information Science.
2. summarize basic moral and ethical issues in Computer and Information Sciences.
3. articulate connections between those moral/ethical issues and their own faith, as well as other Christian faith traditions.
4. explain similarities and differences among computer science, business information systems, and computer engineering, both in terms of Messiah College curriculum and in terms of career paths.
5. work collaboratively in small groups, applying basic conceptual tools to solve a variety of problems.

1. Research at the fringe: artificial intelligence, cybernetics, virtual and & augmented realities, data mining, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, robotics & artificial life, game development, machine translation.
2. Career paths: future of computing careers, software & hardware careers, CS education at Messiah, Business Information Systems & Computer Engineering, advanced degrees and certifications, internships & the collaboratory.
3. Faith, ethics & law: digital rights management, robot ethics and the legal status of artificial persons, cyberaddictions, free speech & censorship, intellectual property, privacy & identity theft, cybercrime & cyberterrorism, ACM code of ethics.