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Engineering Ethics
Course Outline
Engineering profession is considered to be of vital importance to the safety, health and welfare of the public. In order to serve the public effectively and ensure the well-being of the society, engineers must not only possess and maintain a high level of technical expertise and competence, but also perform under the standard of professional conduct with adherence to the highest ethical principles. The ethical principles governing the engineering profession are embodied in codes of ethics. Such codes have been adopted by state boards of registration, professional engineering societies and even by some private industries.
Learning Objective
At
the conclusion of this one-hour course, the student will
- Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct;
- Guidelines to Practice under the Fundamental Canons of Ethics;
- Ethics case analysis; and
- Ethical Decision Making.
Course Content
In this lesson, you will be asked to study
the Code
of Ethics for Engineers by the National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE). The fundamental principles of conduct of engineers include truth, honesty,
impartiality, fairness, equity and trustworthiness in their service to the society
which is holding engineering professions accountable for decisions that affects
quality of life. Those decisions shall be based on technical, societal, cultural,
economic, environmental, moral, legal and safety considerations. The NSPE Code
of Ethics for Engineers is designed to provide positive stimulus for ethical
conduct as well as helpful guidance and advice concerning the primary and basic
obligations of practicing engineers. The Code also establishes the ethical guideposts
for the NSPE Board of Ethics Review (BER) in interpreting ethical dilemmas submitted
by engineers, public officials, and members of the public. Handling ethical
dilemmas and making ethical decisions are very important elements of being a
professional engineer. Several ethics
case analyses by NSPE Board of Ethics Review provide examples of
how the NSPE Code of Ethics was used in real case situations. Reviewing those
case studies and the opinions rendered by the BER can enhance the understanding
of the merits of the code.
Please click on the following link to view , save or print the document for
your study:
Code
of Ethics for Engineers
Related Link
Selected Codes of Ethics for Engineers:
American
Institute of Chemical Engineers
American
Society of Mechanical Engineers
Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Related Websites or Web Pages for Additional Information:
National
Institute for Engineering Ethics
Online
Ethics Center for Engineering and Science
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above Code of Ethics for Engineers, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
