Data Ethics

• Data and machine learning scientists
• Data bank managers and curators
• Model and algorithm developers
• Data protection managers and privacy stewards
• Ethics officers
• Statisticians
• IT managers and technology consultants
• Data and business analysts
• Software developers and programmers
• Quality and security engineers
• Compliance professionals
• Lawyers

• Data Ethics Certificate from Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
• 40 Professional Development Hours (4 CEUs)

Data scientists have the power to alter the lives of millions of people. With this tremendous responsibility, they also face great pressure from colleagues and stakeholders to maximize results, productivity, and team cooperation.

In this certificate program, you will build sophisticated ethical reasoning skills that are essential for professionals working with data in today’s workplace. First, you’ll determine the sources of your own ethics and identify the subtle "micro-ethics" issues that occur every day. Then, through case studies and real-life scenarios, you’ll learn how to appropriately respond to and correct these issues.

Throughout the program, you will explore the interplay between daily ethical data choices and global issues including fairness, justice, privacy, and consent. You will also integrate existing principles, practices, and codes of conduct with the “virtue ethics” framework. Finally, you will apply these skills to the use of low-stakes mechanisms to raise ethical concerns and foster ethics in the workplace. By the end of this program, you will be prepared to balance stakeholder concerns with the impact of your work and continue building a purposeful, ethical framework to guide you in your role and beyond.

For the best experience in this program it is recommended to take these courses in the order that they appear.