Course Syllabus
Course Title: General Ethics for Professional Engineers
Number of Classroom Hours: 1; 1PDH
Method of Presentation: Online Course
Intended Target Group: Professional Engineers
Provider Information:
Business Name: Infinity LC DBA On-Line-Classes.com and Engineer Classes.com
Business Address:
Phone Number: (888) 405-7849
Email: Contact.OnLineClasses@gmail.com
Professional Engineer Licensing Board Approvals
This course is applicable for Professional Engineers in all
states with the exception of
Course Description
This course is designed to provide professional engineers with a working knowledge of the subject of ethics as it pertains to compliance with professional regulations, and as a branch of the broader subjects of law and philosophy. The course emphasizes the prime directive of safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of the public, maintaining the integrity of the profession of engineering and questioning of oneself to determine our intentions and purposes.
Course Learning Objectives:
1.
Understand
the subject of ethics from a historical and philosophic standpoint,
2.
Compare the
ethical framework of various professions,
3.
Examine your
primary responsibility to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the
public,
4.
Review law
and regulation in the context of
professional ethics,
5.
Examine
situations involving professional misconduct, and
6.
Pinpoint the
professional responsibilities of Engineers.
Course Outline:
Section 1- Philosophy
& Ethics- Examines the subject of personal and professional choices and
conduct in consideration to ethics; Provides the theme for which the rest of
the course will be hinged upon, mainly that the study of ethics is undertaken
from many perspectives: contemporary,
historical, practical and purely theoretical in addition to the black &
white statutorily derived ethics of the engineering profession; Reinforces that
legislation, while important to the greatest good, cannot provide a blanket
solution to professional ethics due to the existence of human choice and
intention, two characteristics that cannot be legislated; Highlights some
distinct differences between the ethical obligations of the engineering
profession and those of other professions such as medicine and politics; and
Pinpoints the underlying source of all conduct and disciplinary codes in the
varying professions.
Section 2- Public Perception of Engineering- Describes the role of mystery and uncertainty in the subject of ethics and in the ethical regulations of the engineering profession; Pinpoints the difference in the tools and techniques of the engineering profession versus those of other professions; Discusses how the layman perceives those tools and how society in general measures the competence of the professional; and Examines the importance of reputation and good moral character in the public perception of engineering.
Leaning
Exercise 1
Section 3- Codes of Conduct- Establishes the prime directive of engineering:
protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public- as the overarching
philosophy behind every law and regulation governing the conduct of engineers;
Examines statutory codes of conduct and examples of their violation, including
the unlicensed practice of engineering (case studies: Jimmy Jen, CA & Peter
Subtelny, TX); Examines personal conduct unrelated to
the practice of engineering; and Discusses whistle blowing and its challenges
(case study: Roger Boisjoly, NASA).
Section 4- Trouble Spots- Reviews the basis of ethics in vendor relations
(pricing, bidding, communications) including the specific obligations of the
professional engineer; Discusses the importance of implementing a purchasing
policy, how contracts to family and friends can be handled appropriately and
inappropriately, and specifically reinforces that the appearance of wrongdoing
is just as crucial to avoid as the actual commission of wrongdoing; Outlines the criminal and ethical issues
surrounding bribes and kickbacks; Discusses improper disclosure of trade
secrets and reviews the entire gamut of confidential information (case study:
Greg Chung, NASA/China); and Examines the regulations behind competitor
relations and how to handle unexpected situations.
Learning
Exercise 2
Section 5- Conflicts of Interest- Highlights the rules of conduct in relation to
conflicts of interest and presents a hypothetical situation to reinforce the
point of the rules; Stresses the importance of talking to others and seeking an
advisory opinion in the event of a potential conflict of interest; Reviews the
varying opinions and ethical issues surrounding moonlighting and what specific
issues present a conflict of interest in moonlighting; Discusses the
appropriate standard for signing and sealing documents, and how an engineer
should go about and manage electronic signatures and seals; Reinforces the
engineer’s duty to report misconduct and to always uphold the prime directive;
and Reviews ones duties as successor engineer.
Section 6- Beyond the Codes of Conduct- Puts the ethics of the professional engineer into perspective by going beyond the codes of conduct to reflect on what is truly important to each person; Presents the idea that each individual’s goals, purposes and standards will dictate their idea of professional ethics, whether it is simply a matter of following the rules and staying out of trouble or a moral code of right versus wrong; Reviews the progress of civilization from the “dark ages” to present and how the engineer had a role in that societal progression; Reminds the engineer of instances of when doing the “right” thing might really have been the “wrong” thing, Discusses how dealing with regrets can sometimes change one’s mind on the difference between what is legally “right” and what is morally “right”; and this again Reinforces the notion that professional ethics for the engineer is not only held to a higher standard than other professions, but that it’s just as much a matter of personal intention as it’s a matter of adhering to codified rules.
Learning Exercise 3
Method of Presentation:
This is an outline course that consist of collegiate-style lectures that have been professionally narrated by subject matter experts, animated with relevant graphics and media, and converted to Flash for web delivery to provide licenses with a first-rate learning experience.
Evaluation Method:
Licensees will be evaluated on their comprehension of the material covered by administering three (3) brief learning exercises throughout the course, upon which successful completion of each is required before the advancement to the nest section is allowed or course credit is earned. If the licensing board requires the licensee to pass a final examination, course credit will not be earned until the final exam has been completed to the required proficiency level.
Instructor Information:
Known Instructors: Charles Perry
·
4-year College Degree & Teaching Experience
in Relevant Academia
(Resume available upon Request)
Future Instructors: Any and all future instructors for this course will be qualified by the following criteria:
· Appropriate state Certification and relevant work experience or
·
4-year college degree in relevant field of study
and appropriate experience
Instructor Bio:
Charles has
practiced law in