Engineering Ethics

By
Correspondence
Professional Development Hours
PDH-20, PDH-40, PDH-60
F Fo or r
C Co on nt ti in nu ui in ng g P Pr ro of fe es ss si io on na al l C Co om mp pe et te en nc cy y
Endorsed and Co-Sponsored by the
National Institute for Engineering Ethics
Developed and offered by the
Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism
College of Engineering, Texas Tech University
Box 41023, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023
Phone: 806-742-3525, Fax: 806-742-0444, Email: ethics@coe.ttu.edu
Revised November 2000
Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism
College of Engineering, Texas Tech University
Box 41023, Lubbock, Texas 79409-1023
TTU Acct. No. 0980-44-7467
MAIL TO:
Professional Development Hours in Engineering Ethics and Professionalism -- Page 2 of 4
Professional Development Program in Engineering Ethics
Since the inception of correspondence courses in Engineering Ethics and Professionalism in 1991, over
1,000 engineers and engineering students from 49 states plus Guam and Puerto Rico have taken these
courses which were developed and offered by the Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) by correspondence are offered by the Center at three levels:
! !! ! ENGR ETHICS PDH-20 -- Basic Studies in Engineering Ethics (20 PDHs)
! !! ! ENGR ETHICS PDH-40 -- Intermediate Studies in Engineering Ethics (40 PDHs)
! !! ! ENGR ETHICS PDH-60 -- Advanced Studies in Engineering Ethics (60 PDHs)
These correspondence courses have been widely accepted by state licensing boards for Continuing
Professional Competency (CPC), for renewal of licenses, and other purposes. Course descriptions,
assignments, costs, and an enrollment form are on page 4 of this brochure.
The Need
It is important for all practicing engineers and engineering students to study and understand both
technical and ethical responsibilities of the engineer. There are relatively few organized programs for
studies in engineering ethics and professionalism available to the engineering community at large, and
those few are generally only available at major universities as academic classes. Thus, to partially fulfill
a state and national need, an Independent Study and Research Program in Engineering Ethics and
Professionalism was developed in 1991 with the support and encouragement of the Texas Board of
Registration for Professional Engineers who viewed this program as one step in fulfilling their charge of
protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public. The Professionalism & Ethics Committee of the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying also provided a grant to encourage the
program development. The program is now known as the Professional Development Program.
The Obligation
The privilege of practicing engineering is entrusted to professional engineers to protect the public health,
safety and welfare. Acceptance of professional and technical responsibilities and the ability to function
ethically are key requirements of a true professional.
The Philosophy
The philosophy of this Professional Development Program in ethics and professionalism is two-fold.
First, there is frequently no single right or wrong answer to an ethical dilemma, but there is a personal
best answer. Second, as a result of studying basic and applied concepts of professionalism and ethics,
engineers will become more sensitive to the importance of ethical engineering practice. It is this
combination of sensitivity and philosophy that the Center seeks to instill and not "ethics" that it tries to
teach.
The Goal
It is not the goal of these courses to provide specific answers to specific ethical questions and dilemmas.
Instead, the goal is to develop:
! !! ! an understanding of the basics of engineering ethics,
! !! ! an opportunity to explore one's own values in ethical issues,
! !! ! a greater awareness of ethical concerns and conflicts,
! !! ! an enhanced familiarity with codes of conduct,
! !! ! an increased ability to recognize ethical dilemmas,
! !! ! a knowledge of the various ethical dilemmas encountered by professional engineers, and
! !! ! an ability to resolve ethical dilemmas by applying engineering inquiry methods of
getting the facts, listing options, testing those options, making a decision, and acting.
Professional Development Hours in Engineering Ethics and Professionalism -- Page 3 of 4
Content of Courses
Each version of the correspondence courses in engineering ethics and professionalism uses the text:
Ethics in Engineering, Mike Martin & Roland Schinzinger, McGraw-Hill, 3
rd
Edition, l996. Content
of the courses include the topics listed below as well as those contained in the Professional
Development Program Workbook in Engineering Ethics and Professionalism, developed by the
Murdough Center staff, College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, 1991, revised l998. The
workbook consists of questions over the text, study questions, additional case studies on engineering
ethics, and information about course requirements and specific assignments.
I. The Scope of Engineering Ethics
1. What is Engineering Ethics?
2. Why study Engineering Ethics?
3. Professions and Professionalism
II. Moral Reasoning and Ethical Theories
1. Professional Ideals and Virtues
2. Theories About Right Action
3. Self-Interest, Customs, and Religion
4. Uses of Ethical Theories
III. Engineering as Social Experimentation
1. Engineering as Experimentation
2. Engineers as Responsible Experimenters
3. The Challenger Case
4. Codes of Ethics
5. A Balanced Outlook on the Law
IV. The Engineer's Responsibility for Safety
1. Safety and Risk
2. Assessment of Safety and Risk
3. Risk-Benefit Analysis and Reducing Risk
4. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Safe Exits
V. Responsibility to Employers
1. Collegiality and Loyalty
2. Respect for Authority
3. Confidentiality
4. Conflicts of Interest
5. Occupational Crime
VI. Rights of Engineers
1. Professional Rights
2. Whistle-Blowing
3. The BART Case
4. Employee Rights
5. Discrimination
VII. Global Issues
1. Multinational Corporations
2. Environmental Ethics
3. Computer Ethics
4. Weapons Development
VIII. Engineers as Managers, Consultants,
and Leaders
1. Engineers as Managers
2. Consulting Engineers
3. Engineers as Expert Witnesses and Advisers
4. Moral Leadership
IX. Sample Ethical Codes
What to Expect
The 1000+ engineers and engineering students who have enrolled in these courses over the past nine years have
found that the courses stress individual ethical thinking with direct application to engineering practice resulting in
an increased awareness of ways to resolve ethical dilemmas. The authors of the text and the program instructors
introduce numerous ethics study questions and actual ethics case studies at critical areas throughout.
Who May Take the Courses
The PDH (Professional Development Hours) versions may be taken by anyone interested.
A three-credit-hour academic credit version, ENGR 4092, is also available which may be taken by students
currently enrolled in a college or university. For additional information about enrolling in the academic credit
version, please contact the Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism.
Professional Development Hours in Engineering Ethics and Professionalism -- Page 4 of 4
I nformation and Enrollment Form
Professional development courses by correspondence resulting in Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are
available at three levels, as described in the table below. These courses have been widely accepted by state
licensing boards for Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) for renewal of licenses and other purposes.
COURSE NUMBER
(Prof. Dev. Hrs Earned.)
COURSE TITLE ASSIGNMENTS
TIME
REQD
COST
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-20
(20 PDHs)
Basic Studies in
Engineering Ethics
1. Nine Lessons from the Text
2. Evaluation of 8 Ethics Case Studies
3. Final Examination
2030
Hours
Course $200.00
Text $34.38
Tax $2.70
Total=$237.08
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-40
(40 PDHs)
Intermediate Studies in
Engineering Ethics
4. Nine Lessons from the Text
5. Evaluation of 8 Ethics Case Studies
6. 24 Study Questions from the Text
7. Final Examination
4050
Hours
Course $300.00
Text $34.38
Tax $2.70
Total=$337.08
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-60
(60 PDHs)
Advanced Studies in
Engineering Ethics
8. Nine Lessons from the Text
9. Evaluation of 8 Ethics Case Studies
10. 24 Study Questions from the Text
11. Term Paper (810 pages double spaced)
12. Final Examination
6070
Hours
Course $400.00
Text $34.38
Tax $2.70
Total=$437.08
GRADING, PASSING REQUIREMENTS AND VERIFICATION OF COMPLETION
Written assignments, which may be submitted by US Mail, Fax or Email, will be graded and returned. Essay
questions will be graded on your depth of thought, clarity and completeness, not on whether or not your response
agrees with the instructor or text. Correct answers to multiple choice questions will be based on information in the
text. After completing all assignments, a final exam will be administered. A score of at least 70% will be required
on the final exam and the average of all assignments and final exam must be at least 70%. Averaging percentages
for determining final grades will be given in your workbook. Upon successfully passing the course, you will
receive a certificate verifying completion and indicating the number of Professional Development Hours earned.
(NOTE: Texas Tech University allows a maximum of one year from date of enrollment to complete a course.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut & Mail - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I wish to enroll in the following Professional Development Course in Engineering Professionalism & Ethics
(Please check the appropriate box below indicating the course you desire to take)
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-20 ($237.08)
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-40 ($337.08)
ENGR ETHICS
PDH-60 ($437.08)
NAME: SS NO: - -
ADDRESS:


PHONE: FAX: Email:
DATE: AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $
You may enroll by phone or fax with a credit card.
Or you may enclose a check for the appropriate amount made payable to Texas Tech University
Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism
Box 41023, Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409-1023