Many computer science programs typically offer a standalone course on ethics, but a collaborative effort between the University of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters and College of Engineering seeks to redefine this approach.
Led by Katherine Walden and Karla Badillo-Urquiola, faculty members are integrating responsible computing instruction across the undergraduate curriculum. The project, titled “Computing, Culture, and Society: A Community-based, Intersectional Approach to Responsible Computing Across the Curriculum,” aims to equip students with critical thinking skills regarding technology.
Walden emphasizes the importance of applying liberal arts questions about identity, power, and representation to technology. She believes it’s crucial to understand the human choices behind technology’s development and its impact on society.
With funding from the Mozilla Foundation’s 2023 Responsible Computing Challenge award, the interdisciplinary team is reimagining the curriculum to include diverse perspectives. They are developing online resources, faculty training materials, and redesigning courses to incorporate ethics, community partnerships, and civic data.
The team has piloted redesigned courses at the intersection of computing and liberal arts, emphasizing ethics and civic engagement. Walden will teach a new course in the fall, “Code in Context: Computing and the Liberal Arts,” blending computing concepts with critical discussions of technology’s historical, social, and cultural dimensions.
In parallel, the team is enhancing ethics education by including more diverse perspectives, especially from the Global South. They aim to foster cultural sensitivity and equity across the technology sector globally.
This summer, Badillo-Urquiola and Kumar will pilot an ethics course in Notre Dame London, focusing on practical ethics and real-world scenarios. Additionally, they will host an “International School of Responsible Computing” program in Guadalajara, Mexico, partnering with three Mexican universities.
Exploring the ethical implications of technology aligns with Notre Dame’s mission and Catholic social tradition, promoting human dignity and serving the common good. As Pope Francis has emphasized, technological decisions shape the kind of society we want to build, making Notre Dame an ideal place for such discussions.
