SOS 115

Media and Ethics: A Social Science Perspective (3 Cr.)

Prerequisite: None

Description: This course guides students in the ethical assessment of both the processes and outcomes of social decision-making. After an introduction to basic ethical theories, students will acquire an understanding of the structure of social institutions and the process through which one makes social choices. Central to the analysis is a study of ethics as a criterion for assessment of social decision-making with emphasis on the study of particular issues of social choice. The course also provides a theoretical framework within which to spot and analyze ethical issues in the media.

SOS 150

Society and Technology (3 Cr.)

Prerequisite: None

Description: This course draws on techniques and perspectives from the social sciences, humanities, and cultural studies to explore technology and change in the modern era. In particular, students will examine how technology influences and is influenced by values and cultures in America and abroad. The course will help students recognize the range of consequences that technology in general, and information and communication technology (ICT) in particular, have when shaped and used by individuals, organizations, and society. Through readings, discussion, lectures, and written assignments, students will become acquainted with current controversies related to the socio-cultural dimensions of technology in the “digital era.” While the course examines the impact of technologies - including video gaming and robotics - on the contemporary world, it will also use an historical approach to address some of the technological innovations that have most affected U.S. society in the past. The course will consider how technologies are developed and sustained, and how they interact with and affect our urban culture. Specific themes likely to be addressed include technology’s impact on the private and public spheres; the body and the self in cyberspace; and the criteria we use to determine a technology’s success, failure, and danger.