CS5055 Data Ethics and Privacy

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

40 places allocated by ballot.

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T N H Henderson

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

TBC Module coordinator(s): Director of Postgraduate Teaching - Computer Science (dopgt-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk)

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

There is much interest in both academic research and the mass media about the potential effects of algorithmic decision-making and bias, with stories about manipulation of news feeds affecting elections, discriminatory adverts or search engine results, companies using big data to subvert regulators, and so forth. The aims of this module are to introduce students to the various ethical dilemmas that are arising in our "data-driven society", with an emphasis on the ethics of using data science, data protection and privacy, and algorithmic governance.

Assessment pattern

40% Written Examination 60% Coursework

Re-assessment

100% Oral exam

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Weekly seminars (x11 weeks), practical classes (x2 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

32

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Additional information from school

This module runs with a cap with effect from 2019/20.