ENGINEERING ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

1. General Information
 Course Title
+ Vietnamese: Đạo đức và kỹ năng nghề nghiệp

+ English: Engineering Ethics and Professional Skills

 Course ID: PE020IU

 Course type

 General Fundamental
Specialization (required) Specialization (elective)
Project/ Internship/ Thesis Others : ………………
 Number of credits: 3

+ Lecture: 3

+ Laboratory: 0

 Prerequisites: None

 Parallel Course: None

 Course standing in curriculum: Year 2

2. Course Description
This course is designed to introduce engineering students to the concepts, theory and practice of
engineering ethics. It will allow students to explore the relationship between ethics and
engineering and apply classical moral theory and decision making to engineering issues
encountered in academic and professional careers. Our society places a great deal of responsibility
on its professionals and requires that they conduct themselves in a manner fitting to the place of
prominence accorded to them by the community. Studying and understanding professional ethics
is as much a part of your development as an engineer as is the study of higher order mathematics
You must be able to broaden your mind and be open to society’s ever changing character. It is
important that you learn to share ideas and concepts regardless of the fact that you may not always
agree; therefore, we will be working in teams on majority of the assignments in this course.

3. Textbooks and References

Textbooks:
1. Seebauer, E.G. and Barry, R.L. Fundamental of Ethics for Scientists and Engineers (New
York: Oxford University Press, 2001).
2. C.E. Harris, Jr., M. S. Pritchard & M. J. Rabins, "Engineering Ethics - Concepts and
Cases", Thomson Wadsworth, 4th ed.
3. C. B. Fleddermann, "Engineering Ethics", Pearson Prentice Hall, 3rd or 4th ed.

References:
1. M. W. Martin & E. Schinzinger, "Ethics in Engineering", McGraw Hill, 4th ed.
4. Course Objectives
 An understanding of their duties and responsibilities as professionals through gaining
knowledge of the philosophies of ethics, professional practice, and world culture.
 Basic knowledge to make informed ethical decisions when confronted with problems in
the working environment.
 Team skills through working in teams on assignments and in-class assignments.
 Subjective analytical skills through investigation and evaluation of ethical problems in
engineering settings using accepted tests for moral problem solving.
 An understanding of how societal morals varies with culture and how this influences
ethical thought and action.
 Improvement of skills in both written and oral communication with regard to ethical and
professional issues in engineering.
  Understanding some of the classic cases as well as contemporary issues in engineering
ethics.
5. Learning Outcomes
Learning Course Learning Outcomes Program Learning
Outcome Outcomes (*)
Codes
Understanding of intellectual property, copyright, and
fair use of copyrighted materials and research data, and
G1 d
follows behaviour consistent with academic integrity and
social responsibility.
Be able to integrate professional ethics and equity to
G2 b, d, g
issues encountered during engineering practice.
Be able to analyze social, environmental, legal aspects,
G3 b, c, d, e, g
safety and sustainability issues of engineering activities.
(*) Refer to ABET student outcomes
(a) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering and management related problems by
applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics which are necessary for
engineers of construction management.
(b) an ability to apply engineering and management to produce construction project feasibility
study and appraisal that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and
welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
(c) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
(d) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and
make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering and management
solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
(e) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership,
create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet
objectives
(f) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate construction management research, analyze
and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
(g) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning
strategies.

6. Course Assessment
Assessment component Assessment form (A.x.x) Percentage %
(1) (2) (3)
A1. Process assessment A1.1 Homework 15
A1.2 Quizzes 15
A2. Midterm assessment A2.1 Midterm Exam 20
A3. Final assessment A3.1 Final exam 50

7. Course Outlines
Theory
Week Content Learning Teaching and Assessment
Outcome learning activities
Introduction to engineering G1, G2 - Lecture
1
professionalism and ethics - Class discussion
Role of Professional Societies G2 - Lecture Homework
2
- Class discussion
Academic & Research Ethics G1, G2 - Lecture Quiz
3
- Class discussion
 Week Content Learning Teaching and Assessment
Outcome learning activities
Engineers in Society G, G2, - Lecture Homework
4
G3 - Class discussion
Philosophical ethics: Descriptive and G1, G2 - Lecture Quiz
5
prescriptive claims, Relativism theory - Class discussion
Philosophical ethics: Utilitarian G1, G2 - Lecture Homework
6
theory, Kantian theory - Class discussion
The importance if intention G2, G3 - Lecture Quiz
7
Truth in action and words - Class discussion
MIDTERM EXAM Written exam
Leadership in engineering and society G2, G3 - Lecture
9
- Class discussion
Engineer at the Workplace and G1, G2 - Lecture Quiz
10
Organizations - Class discussion
Commitment to Safety G2, G3 - Lecture Quiz
11
- Class discussion
Internet ethics G3 - Lecture
12
- Class discussion
Privacy Issues and Intellectual G1, G2 - Lecture Quiz
13
Property Rights - Class discussion
Environmental ethics G3 - Lecture Homework
14
Sustainable engineering - Class discussion
Globalization and intern G3 - Lecture
15
Cultural considerations - Class discussion
FINAL EXAMINATION Written exam
8. Course Policy
Class Participation: A minimum attendance of 80 % is compulsory for the class sessions and
100% is compulsory for the laboratory sessions. Students will be assessed on the basis of their
class participation. Questions and comments are strongly encouraged.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of
another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade. For this class, all
assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. Students are
also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified
causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for
preparation, research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment
items.
9. Course Coordinator/ Lecturer
 Course Coordinator/ Lecturer: Dr. Nguyễn Hoài Nghĩa
 Email: nhnghia@hcmiu.edu.vn

Ho Chi Minh City, …………………..

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT