Current Problems in Information Science

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I. COURSE NUMBER AND CREDIT:

        ISC 300 - S. H.

II. COURSE TITLE:

        Current Problems in Information Science

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

        This course covers various problems in information
        science as they relate to society and individuals.
        Topics included are the information explosion,
        information technologies, information retrieval,
        privacy, freedom of information, censorship,
        copyright, security, and transborder data flow.

IV. PREREQUISITES:

        ISC 220, equivalent or permission of instructor.

V. JUSTIFICATION:

VI. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

        As a result of this course, students will be able to:
        1.  Explain the ethical, social, economic, and
            political considerations involved in the use of
            information and information technologies in
            society.
        2.  Describe implications and application of
            censorship, copyright, and piracy.
        3.  Explain the various information security problems
            and various solutions.
        4.  Explain implication of trans data flow and
            policies regarding trans data flow.
        5.  Describe the human factors considerations in
            information processing.
        6.  Explain national and international information
            policies.

VII. COURSE OUTLINE:

        A.  Information Explosions
        B.  Information Technologies and Society
        C.  Information Retrieval Problems
        D.  Freedom of Information
            1.  Censorship
            2.  Copyright
            3.  Piracy
        E.  Information Privacy
        F.  Security
        G.  Trans Data Flow
        H.  impact on Society, Politics & Economics
        I.  Human Factors
        J.  Information Policy

VIII. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

        Lectures, class discussions, assigned readings.
        Three papers on selected problem areas.

IX. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

X. MEANS OF EVALUATION:

        Examinations, papers on various problems.

XI. RESOURCES:

XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

        Sara Baase. A Gift of Fire , Prentice Hall, 1997. 

	Bennett, J. M. and T. Pearcey (eds).  The New World
           of the Information Society.  New York, NY:  North-
           Holland, 1985.

	Biegel, S. The emerging and specialized law of the digital revolution. Los
	   Angeles Daily Journal. January 25, 1996

	Burger, R. H. Information policy: a framework for evaluation and policy
	   research. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Pub.1993        

	The Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Available at:
	   http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/iclp

	Harris, Lesley E. (1998).  Digital Property: Currency of the 21th Century.
	   Toronto, Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. 

	Jassin, L. & Schechter, S. (1998).  The Copyright Permission and Libel
	   Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers.  New York:
	   John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

	Kang, J. A privacy primer for policy makers. Written testimony of Jerry
	   Kang before the Federal Trade Commission. Available at:
	   http://www.law.ucla.edu/Student/Organizations/BLT/01/KangJ.HTM
        
	Leaffer, Marshall (1995).  Understanding Copyright Law, 2nd ed. New York, NY:
           
        

	Nicefaro, M. E. Internet use policies. Online. September/October, 1998. P.
	   31-33

	Ploman, E. W. & Hamilton, L. C. (1980).  Copyright: Intellectual Property in
           the Information Age.  Boston, MA: Routledge & Kegan Paul.         
	

	Kathryn Schellenberg, ed., Computers in Society, 6th ed., 
	   Annual Editions, Dushkin, 1999

	Spinello, R. & Sinello, R. (1997).  Case Studies in Information and Computer
	   Ethics. Prentice-Hall. 
        
	Wayner, Peter (1997).  Digital Copyright Protection.  AP Professional.

	
	What website builders need to know about trademark law. Nolo Press.
	   Available at:
	   http://www.nolopress.com/ChunkPCT/webtrademark.html

	WTO. What are intellectual rights? Available at: http://www.wto.org/wto