Course Location and Time

Honors 141, Tues 18:30-20:30

Course Web Pages

Information you need to successfully complete the course will be posted on the course web pages from time to time. This syllabus, a calendar of lectures and assignments, assignments themselves, lecture notes, handouts, etc. will all be found on the web pages: http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/~hauser/uh300.

Teacher Contact Info

Prof. Carl Hauser
Office: EME 53
Phone number: 5-6470
E-mail: hauser@eecs.wsu.edu
Office Hours: TTh 15:00-16:30

Course Description

In this seminar we will explore the notion of security in many forms such as personal security, public security, national security, homeland security, information security. We will read and discuss materials related to historical, psychological, political, cultural, and philosophical perspectives on security as well as the interaction of technology and security.

Philosophical and psychological perspectives provide insights into aspects of personal security such as the sense of security and seeking security vs taking risks. Topics may include: the affect of community values on personal perspectives of security; personal security technology; and personal security in other cultures.

Conflicts between public, institutional, or national security and the security and privacy rights of individuals have been at the center of a great deal of recent political conflict. To help us better understand this relationship we will look at questions such as: how and why was the U.S. national security establishment created; what factors affect national security and how are they assessed? how has national security come to be seen as a partisan issue? how do people in other cultures view national security issues? what are the security and privacy implications of technologies such as street surveillance cameras, personal information sharing on the internet, or the use of encryption.

Honors Learning Goals

• + Creative and Critical Thinking
• + Communication
• + Self in Society
• + Information Literacy
• - Quantative and Symbolic Reasoning
• - Disciplinary Knowledge

Textbook and reading

The course will use readings from a variety of sources. There is no assigned textbook.

Course Prerequisites

Enrolled in the Honors College.

Course Requirements

Attendance is expected at all lectures. Lecture notes will be posted on-line but reading the notes is not an adequate substitute for attendance. You are also expected to participate in class discussions to a reasonable extent. This aids learning and provides valuable feedback on the lecture. I reserve the right to lower the grade of any student who is markedly deficient in attendance and/or participation.

Course work

This is a seminar course. Attendance at course meetings is essential. If your are sick or have a commitment for another course that will prevent your attending, send me e-mail ahead of time. Excessive absence will result in a lowered grade.

Components of your grade

• 40% - Security, in many forms, is a topic of current interest in the news. Each week, find one current news or opinion article concerning an aspect of security that interests you. Write a short summary of the article (a paragraph or two), then write why you find it interesting, and several questions that it raises for you that you would like to know more about. Find a related article or book that helps answer at least one of your questions. Write about what you learned in answer to your question. All told I expect 1.5 - 2 pages each week.
• 50% - Two term papers on topics (approved by the instructor) related to security and of interest to you. These may well be in-depth expansions of your weekly reports.
• 10% - In-class participation.

Academic Integrity

Do your own work unless specifically directed to work in teams. In writing, make sure to properly cite all sources and to use quotation marks (or indentation for longer quotations) when words are taken directly from your source.

Side effects of academic integrity violations can be severe, ranging from a failing grade on the assignment involved to a failing grade in the class to expulsion from the university.

Students with Disabilities

I am committed to providing assistance to help you be successful in this course. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. Please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first two weeks of every semester to seek information or to qualify for accommodations. All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Rooms 205). Call 509 335 3417 to make an appointment with a disability counselor.

Stress management

Students sometimes encounter stress and anxiety issues associated with homework, tests, or life situations that can be an obstacle to success in their courses. WSU Counseling Services (335-4511) offers information including a test anxiety workshop conducted several times each semester. Visit http://www.counsel.wsu.edu/default.asp?PageID=1171 for more information.

Other Policies and Expectations

• I expect you to demonstrate critical thinking across the spectrum of course work.
• I expect you to engage in active learning: speak up when you don't understand, question assumptions, relate course material to your experience outside class, seek out additional experience and reading related to the class.
• I expect you to promptly review feedback you receive from me or other students; to actively clarify the feedback if the response is still unclear; and to incorporate the feedback in your future work.
• I expect you to spend adequate time on the course. Adequate time includes getting enough rest so that time you spend on course tasks is well-spent time. Adequate time includes proofreading and reviewing your assignments before you hand them in.
• I expect you to have high expectations of yourself: set goals for yourself and try to do your very best. Consciously think about the balance between what you do to earn a grade and what you do to learn. (If I'm doing something that puts these in opposition to each other please let me know.)

Advice

• Don't wait until the last minute to do homework or papers. A little bit of thought invested every day may produce a better final product than trying to cram it all into one night.
• Save early; save often!
• You don't need to wait for office hours to contact me -- send a question or comment by e-mail.
• If you have trouble with spelling and grammar, get and use a word processor that has spelling and grammar flagging.