College of Engineering – Civil Engineering Department

Course Syllabus
All Engineering Programs
Spring 2022-23
Course Name: Engineering Ethics, Economy and Law
Course Code: COE 202
Course Pre-requisites: ENG200 + MTT102
Course Co-requisites: NA
Credit hours: 3

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Samer Al Martini

Telephone: 02 501 5470 E-mail: [email protected]
Class Location: As per Class Time: As per PeopleSoft
PeopleSoft
Office Location: AD U2F–37 Office Hours: As per Announcement

1. Course Description
This course integrates two interrelated general engineering disciplines, namely: ethics and economy.
In the first part of the course, the students are introduced to ethical issues that practicing engineers
may face in their professional practice. This includes a discussion of the code of ethics and
responsibility of engineers, ethical theories, ethical problems-solving methods, and case studies
based on real events that illustrate the problems faced by engineers. The case studies also show the
effects of engineering decisions on society.

The second part of the course gives students a working knowledge on making economic comparison
of investment alternatives in engineering project environment. This includes description of the
interest and time value of money relationships, methods of comparing alternatives using economic
concepts such as: the rate-of return (ROR), the present worth (PW), the future worth (FW), the
annual equivalent (AE), cost-benefit analysis and breakeven and payback analysis. Other topics
include replacement analysis, inflation and depreciation. The course enables students to make
suitable decisions in their professional life when they have to make a decision on ethical and
economical basis.

2. Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss engineering ethics as a profession in terms of role in society, unique obligations in

relation to the history of the profession, and what it means to be a professional [4].
2. Solve case studies describing how ethical decisions conform or conflict with accepted
societal norms, and articulate the ethical and legal criteria that inform such decisions [4].
3. Formulate and solve cash flow, inflation and depreciation problems in engineering projects
[4].
4. Perform comparison analysis between alternatives using economic concepts such as: the rate-
of return, the present worth, the future worth, the annual equivalent, cost-benefit, breakeven
and payback, and replacement analyses [4].
5. Discuss the tradeoff between engineering ethics and public policies related to economy [4].

1
Assessing Student Outcomes [Please add more details for each outcome]

Course Learning Relevant Program Student Outcome Assessment

Outcomes Tool(s)*
Discuss engineering ethics [An ability to recognize ethical and Midterm Exam,
as a profession in terms of professional responsibilities in engineering HW, Term Project
role in society, unique situations and make informed judgments, 1
obligations in relation to which must consider the impact of
the history of the engineering solutions in global, economic,
profession, and what it environmental, and societal contexts [4].
means to be a professional
[4].
Solve case studies Midterm Exam,
describing how ethical HW, Term Project
decisions conform or 1
conflict with accepted
societal norms, and
articulate the ethical and
legal criteria that inform
such decisions [4].
Formulate and solve cash Final Exam, HW,
flow, inflation and Term Project 2
depreciation problems in
engineering projects [4].

Perform comparison Final Exam, HW,

analysis between Term Project2
alternatives using
economic concepts such as:
the rate-of return, the
present worth, the future
worth, the annual
equivalent, cost-benefit,
breakeven and payback,
and replacement analyses
[4].
Discuss the tradeoff Final Exam, Term
between engineering ethics Project 2
and public policies related
to economy [4].

*Please note that the assessment tool(s) are to be used in assessing the course learning
outcomes.

3. Weekly Outline

2
 Wee Topic Readings
k (Textbook)
1 Introduction/Professionalism and Codes of Ethics Chapter 1~2 [TB1]
2 Understanding Ethical Problems Chapter 3 [TB1]
3 Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques Chapter 4 [TB1]
3 Legal issues in engineering practice such as bidding process, Chapter 8 [TB1] and
bribery, accessible design, environmental laws, expert Class notes
witnesses, intellectual property and patents, human subjects in
research, product liability, public safety and standards, Term
Project 1 Announcement
4 The Rights and Responsibilities of Engineers Chapter 6 [TB1]
5 Foundations of Engineering Economy - Simple and Chapter 1 [TB2]
Compound interest
6 Factors: How Time and Interest Affect Money – Compound Chapter 2 [TB2]
Interest Factors
7 Factors: How Time and Interest Affect Money – Compound Chapter 2 [TB2]
Interest Factors, Midterm Exam
7 Combining Factors, Term Project 1 Submission and Chapter 3 [TB2]
Presentation
8 Nominal and Effective Rate of Interest Chapter 4 [TB2]
9 Alternatives and Economic Decisions: Rate of Return, Present Chapter 5 [TB2]
Worth and Future Worth Analysis,
10 Alternatives and Economic Decisions: Annual Worth Chapter 6 [TB2]
Analysis, Term Project 2 Announced
11 Rate of Return – Single and Multiple Projects Chapter 8[TB2]
12 Chapter 9, chapter 10
Cost-Benefit, Project Financing and Noneconomic Attributes
[TB2]
13 Inflation Chapter 14, TB2]
14 Term Project 2 Submission and Presentation
14 Final Exam

4. Pedagogy – Learning Process

Engineering ethics and economy will be taught as an interdisciplinary course transcending the
various fields of engineering and bringing cases from a wide range of engineering disciplines. There
shall be a variety of pedagogical models including: theory-led teaching, case-method education,
problems solving and project-based teaching. The course will discuss the pedagogical framework of
engineering ethics and economy education, which consists of case studies and project(s)
supplemented by moral theory, and economic analysis for decision from alternatives.
Concepts in the subject are studied and discussed with students to improve their learning and
involvement and supported by interdisciplinary case studies and project(s). The course will discuss
the fundamental ethical and economic issues in engineering to assist students understanding Codes of
Ethics such as NSPE, ASCE, ASME, and IEEE. Case studies / Project(s) are drawn from various
engineering disciplines that are widely disseminated in textbooks, journal papers and online.
Students are expected to carry-out research on various ethical, legal and economic issues, and
prepare technical report and presentations about these cases to be discussed in the classe, enhancing
their research and presentation skills and improving their self-confidence.

Students should be aware that for each hour of in-class time, a further two to three hours (on
average) of independent study (out-of-class time) is required.

5. Textbooks and Learning Material

3
 TB1 :Harris, C.E., Pritchard, M.S., James, R. W., Englehardt, E. E., and Rabins, M.J. (2019).
Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases, 6th Ed., Cengage Learning, ISBN: 9781337554503
TB2: Blank, L. and Tarquin, A. (2018), Engineering Economy, Eighth Edition, McGraw-Hill, USA.
(International Global Edition) International-ISBN: 9781259253294

Reference Books
Fleddermann, C. B. (2012). Engineering Ethics, 4th Ed., Prentice Hall

Lecture Notes prepared by the Instructor

6. Assessment Weights and Description

Assessment Tool Percentage Description

Midterm Exam 20% A midterm exam used to assess the students’
understanding of the course material. It covers selected
reading materials from the textbook and lecture notes
Term Projects 15% The projects are used to assess the students’ ability to
assemble and coordinate necessary information to
analyze, compare different alternatives, and select the
best alternative similar to that is found in real life on an
ethical and economical basis. It is also used to assess how
students can present and debate their ideas in a
professional fashion with demonstrating full
understanding of the professional background of the
course materials. Students will investigate ethical cases
of conflict and perform economic evaluation of a typical
of either construction, design, renovation or retrofitting
project(s).
HWs and Participation 25% Home Assignments are used to assess the students’
Exercises understanding of the course material. They will cover all
reading materials from the textbook and lecture notes.
Final Exam 40% Final exam will examine students’ understanding of all
course material comprehensively upon completion of the
course.

7. Grading Key

Grade Percentage Grade Point

A 90-100 4
B+ 85-89 3.5
B 80-84 3
C+ 75-79 2.5
C 70-74 2
D+ 65-69 1.5
D 60-64 1
F Less than 60 0.0
I N/A 0.0

8. Attendance

For all students, absence is marked at a maximum of 30% of total class time. Final dismissals (WA)
will be posted on the student’s academic record. The calculation of the absence percentage is based

4
on the total number of class meetings, regardless of the length of the meetings. For example, if a
class meets once a week for 15 weeks, then a student would need 5 absences to reach the 30%
threshold.

Students will be considered absent if they do not arrive on time for a lesson. Taking attendance will
start on the first day of classes and will continue until the last day of classes in the semester.

Final Dismissal will not be waived under any circumstances. The Registrar's Office will accept
excuses only from students missing an exam/major assignment due to absence. Students will be
permitted to take a make-up exam, if its weight is at least 10% of the course total mark upon
approval of a legitimate excuse.

Exams/Tests will be repeated when serious reasons similar to the following take place and
documented evidence are submitted to the Office of the Registrar on the day student returns to class.
 Hospitalization,
 Contagious Disease,
 Death, may God forbid, of an immediate family member (father, mother, sibling, husband,
son, daughter, grandparent),
 Car Accident,
 Job Requirement (special assignment), with prior written approval from the Office of the
Registrar
 Al Haj

Al Umra

Al Umra trips are not valid excuses for students to be absent.

In the case of excused absence for a final exam, the student has to apply for an Incomplete (I) grade
at the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours of the exam.

9. Academic Integrity

The mission of ADU includes developing students’ sense of ethics, morality, and social
responsibility. Students at ADU have the fundamental obligation to conduct themselves with utmost
integrity. To ensure an education environment characterized with Academic integrity (AI), ADU has
revised its Academic Integrity Policy (AIP).

The revised Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) – copies available on the intranet under the link of the
Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) – has identified violations of AI punishable by serious penalties,
including “dismissal” from ADU. The types of violations identified in AIP, along with the
description and examples of each violation, are:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarism
3. Fabrication of data
4. Presenting false credentials
5. Collusion
6. Free Riding

At the beginning of each semester, your instructor will review the essential elements of AIP in class
and will describe the intrinsic values of compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance (i.e.,
penalties) with the Policy. In addition, OAI undertakes a widespread AI Awareness Campaign at the

5
beginning of each semester to educate students about AI issues and the ways students can avoid
violations.

In view of resources provided by ADU in this regard, all students are expected to strictly comply
with the tenet of AIP and conduct themselves with highest degree of integrity and ethical conduct.
Students in need of additional information or assistance are requested to seek help from OAI.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AIP will have severe consequences, including “dismissal”
from ADU.

10. Miscellaneous
 Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be asked to leave the
classroom and will receive a half absence. Should this happen during an exam, the student
will not be allowed to retake the exam at another time, while at the same time receiving a full
absence.
 Eating/Drinking/Smoking: Students will be requested to refrain from engaging in these
activities while in class.
 Only emails from university-provided email accounts will be recognized and used in this
course.
 Students should be aware that for each hour of in-class time, a further two to three hours (on
average) of independent study (out-of-class time) is required.