Syllabus

Basic Course Information

What should you call us?

• Mary Anne— Mary Anne or Professor Smart

• Pat— Most students call me Professor or Professor Pannuto or Dr. Pannuto. I also answer happily to “Prof[essor] P.”

• Udayan— Udayan (Pronounced Oo-they-yan) or Professor Tandon

What should we call you?

We should call you by your preferred name, with the correct pronunciation and any honorific or pronouns you choose. Please correct us (in the chat if there is one, out loud in class or in Zoom, or via email/Piazza/etc after the fact – however you are most comfortable) if we ever make a mistake.

Time & Place

CSE 4140 – 4th floor, southern wing – location on map

Class meets Tue & Thr, 15:00–16:50

(A?)Sychronous?, Remote?, Recordings?

This course is designed for synchronous, in-person instruction.
Due to the sensitive nature of topics we will sometimes discuss, we will not be recording class, nor are we planning for a remote/hybrid option.
Please be sure to review the Participation section in detail as well.

Course Materials

These is no textbook for this course. Materials are highly topical, and will be included as-appropriate in the course agenda. Several readings may require you to be on-campus (or logged in via campus VPN) to access.

Prerequisites / Expected Background

There are no enforced prerequisites for this course. We expect students to have a solid technical foundation in computer science and engineering. We do not expect any social science (or similar) background, rather, the goal of this course is introduce students with a deep technical background to critical study of the human and applied factors of technology.

Course Work and Grading

• Annontated Bibliography [10 %]

  • You will be expected to keep and maintain a bibliography with short summaries of all the materials you read throughout the term.

• Reflections [30 %]

  • We will have four writeups

• Participation [20%]

  • Both online in discussion forums and in class

• Final Design Project [40%]

Integrity

We have the highest standards of integrity in a graduate class.

Resources for Students

Getting Help

First, try to make sure you help yourself by staying up to date with course activities. 

Office hours are the perfect place for one-on-one support and asking specific questions. Office hours are most useful after you have worked on the problem for a little while yourself (I usually say that you should struggle with a problem for fifteen full minutes, but not more than fifteen minutes before seeking help). You are not interrupting course staff (TAs or the professors) when you come to office hours. It is literally our job to be available to help you during those times. Office hours are also not restricted to content from class. Folks have asked about research / grad school in CS, how to get jobs in computer architecture, what other classes to take if they like (or hate!) this stuff, the best coffee shops for working accessible by light rail, tips for developing fruit-bearing trees in San Diego, or anything else that you would like to know about.

The IDEA Engineering Student Center, located just off the lobby of Jacobs Hall, is a hub for student engagement, academic enrichment, personal/professional development, leadership, community involvement, and a respectful learning environment for all. The Center offers a variety of programs, listed in the IDEA Center Facebook page and the IDEA Center web site. The IDEA Center programs support both undergraduate students and graduate students.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a learning environment for this course that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and respects your identities (including race, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sex, class, sexuality, religion, ability, age, educational background, etc.). Our goal is to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment where all students feel comfortable and can thrive.

Our instructional staff will make a concerted effort to be welcoming and inclusive to the wide diversity of students in this course. If there is a way we can make you feel more included please let one of the course staff know, either in person, via email/discussion board, or even in a note under the door. Our learning about diverse perspectives and identities is an ongoing process, and we welcome your perspectives and input.

We also expect that you, as a student in this course, will honor and respect your classmates, abiding by the UCSD Principles of Community. Please understand that others’ backgrounds, perspectives and experiences may be different than your own, and help us to build an environment where everyone is respected and feels comfortable. If you experience any sort of harassment or discrimination, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. If you prefer to speak with someone outside of the course, please contact the Office of Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

Students with Disabilities

We aim to create an environment in which all students can succeed in this course. If you have a disability, please contact the Office for Students with Disability (OSD), which is located in Pepper Canyon Hall Suite 300, to discuss appropriate accommodations right away. We will work to provide you with the accommodations you need. Please provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the OSD. You should present their AFA letters to Faculty (please make arrangements to contact me privately) and to the OSD Liaison in the department in advance so that accommodations may be arranged.

Basic Needs/Food Insecurities

If you are experiencing any basic needs insecurities (food, housing, financial resources), there are resources available on campus to help, including The Hub and the Triton Food Pantry. Please visit thehub.ucsd.edu for more information.