Ethics in Professional Practice

Course Description:

Many engineering organizations have drafted codes of ethics to which their members are required to commit.  Generally, these codes are quite similar and are based on a few fundamental principles which provide guidance to professional engineers in common situations.  Nevertheless, there are many difficult or ambiguous situations in which the best ethical solution is difficult to determine.  In this course, background on the philosophical models that guide ethical behavior is discussed and then applied to specific situations in engineering codes of ethics.  This course is based on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Professional Practice Curriculum, Volume 8, Section: Engineering Ethics.

Learning Objectives:

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

• Determine ethical behavior using several philosophical models
• Evaluate a practical situation in terms of a professional code of ethics
• Be able to identify situations that represent conflicts of interest and formulate a proper response
• Apply the standards of professional ethics in technical communication
• Recognize environmental impacts of engineering work
• Consider principles of sustainable development in the performance of professional duties