What Is Programming? And How To Get Started
January 28, 2025
Article
This course is part of Computing, Ethics, and Society Specialization
Instructor: Bobby Schnabel
Included with
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No prior background is required to complete this course.
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No prior background is required to complete this course.
Identify and manage ethical situations that may arise in you career.
Analyze the ethical issues that are arising in key applications of technology, and even deeper issues that may arise as these technologies evolve.
Become aware of and sensitive to issues with how the rapid progress of technology is influencing the jobs available to everyone in our society.
Add to your LinkedIn profile
1 quiz, 3 assignments
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
Computing systems and technologies fundamentally impact the lives of most people in the world, including how we communicate, get information, socialize, and receive healthcare. This course is the third of a three course sequence that examines ethical issues in the design and implementation of computing systems and technologies, and reflects upon the broad implication of computing on our society. It covers medical applications, uses of robotics, autonomous vehicles, and the future of work.
This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s MS in Computer Science degrees offered on the Coursera platform. These fully accredited graduate degrees offer targeted courses, short 8-week sessions, and pay-as-you-go tuition. Admission is based on performance in three preliminary courses, not academic history. CU degrees on Coursera are ideal for recent graduates or working professionals. Learn more: MS in Computer Science: https://coursera.org/degrees/ms-computer-science-boulder
In this introductory week, you will delve into the fascinating world of computing, ethics, and society. You will explore the fundamental concepts of ethics and ethical frameworks, providing a solid foundation for the entire course. You will gain insights into key ethical theories, including Kantianism, Virtue Ethics, Utilitarianism, and Social Contract Theory. Through interactive discussions and engaging resources, you will understand how these theories shape our moral decision-making processes and their significance in the context of computing technologies.
5 videos11 readings1 assignment
This week is dedicated to the ethical considerations in the intersection of technology and healthcare. Throughout this week, you will explore the complex ethical landscape of computing applications in medical contexts, delving into the ethical dilemmas arising from gene editing technologies such as CRISPR; the ethical dimensions of medical data, investigating issues of privacy, consent, and security in healthcare information systems, and the challenges posed by neural implants, contemplating the boundaries of human augmentation and the preservation of individual autonomy in the age of technological integration with the human body.
6 videos7 readings1 assignment1 peer review2 discussion prompts
This week you'll focus on the ethical considerations of robotics across diverse domains. You'll begin the week by examining robotics in healthcare, uncovering the potential benefits and challenges that arise when technology meets medicine. Then,. you'll shift focus to the ethically complex terrain of robotics in warfare, scrutinizing the implications of autonomous machines in armed conflicts. Finally, you will explore the use of robotics in policing, where we'll discuss the evolving roles of machines in law enforcement and the ethical questions they raise.
6 videos5 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
This week will explore he fascinating realm of autonomous vehicles, where you will unravel the intricate ethical and safety considerations surrounding self-driving cars. You will analyze the arguments both for and against the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles, dissecting the potential benefits and challenges they present to society. Finally, you will also assess the various risks inherent in the use of self-driving cars, considering issues of safety, liability, and the impact on urban landscapes.
4 videos4 readings1 quiz1 peer review2 discussion prompts
In this final week, you will look explore and discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Throughout the week, you will explore the evolving landscape of employment as AI technologies continue to advance, and the potential trajectories of AI in the workplace, contemplating the roles it may play in augmenting human labor, automating tasks, and transforming industries. You will closely examine the profound implications of AI on both workers and employers, exploring how these technologies may reshape job roles, workforce dynamics, and the broader job market.
7 videos5 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt
CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
University of Michigan
Course
University of Colorado Boulder
Build toward a degree
Course
Course
University of Colorado Boulder
Build toward a degree
Specialization
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
University of Colorado Boulder
Degree
University of Colorado Boulder
Degree · 24 months
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.