Upcoming Events
COS New Courses and Special Topics
Aug 14, 2021, 8:15 AM - Aug 30, 2021, 5:00 PM
Fall 2021
COS 402/602, Section 002: the AI & Quantum Computing
Instructor: Greg Viggiano
Class Times: MW 1:30 to 2:45pm
CRN: 85610
This course begins by looking at the social impacts that have resulted from a few notable innovations and merged technologies. Technology convergences increase the potential for unintended effects leading to novel trends and super trajectories. Much like a digital Swiss Army knife, the smartphone is an over-used but good example of multidimensional convergence across many different uses and applications - from a communication device, to a micro-computer, to scientific measurement tools, to entertainment and toys. The internet is another good example of an enabling technology that has facilitated many other convergent technologies.
Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing offers another research opportunity to investigate the anticipated macro social trends and impacts that will accompany its arrival. Using a form of complexity theory as a reference framework, this course examines how new technologies are adopted and diffused within global communities - not unlike epidemiological studies of viral infections. As new technologies become more ubiquitous and evolve [mutate], it is useful to consider how to avoid unintended effects, potential dependencies, and vulnerabilities. Using a 10-year time horizon, this course focuses on AI and quantum computing as two converging technologies. Selected science fiction narratives provide instructive guidance about new technology trends and effects. The literature offers a range of prophetic ideas concerning applied uses of fictional technologies.
These stories allow greater potential awareness of what may be waiting over the horizon and glimpses of how civilization might prepare for such disruptive arrivals. Course goals and objectives: Upon completion of this class, students will gain a greater awareness of an emerging technology - the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence and the anticipated impacts to social fabric, economic activity, and the policy/regulatory environment. By becoming more aware of the expected shifts in the technology landscape, students will develop competencies to better navigate these changes that accompany disruptive technology
introductions.
The main value of this course is to prepare students to more effective deal with new environments created by these technologies.
COS 402/602, Section 003: Health Care, Law & Strategic Communications
Instructor: Professors Kris Brown and Joseph V. Sakran
Class Times:Tuesday, 4:30pm-07:10pm
CRN: 86155
This course will examine the intersection of health policy and law, preparing students to critically think of how best to navigate these complex waters -by examining the often challenging policy, law and strategic communications issues that surround the public/private nature of health policy and law
The course will begin by providing students with an overview of public health, health policy, and related legal considerations. We will then layer in an understanding of principles of strategic communications, and examine how the role of strategic communications interplays with critical health care issues that have been considered in the last several decades. We will follow that portion of the class with providing students a broad understanding of how the executive, legislative and judicial branch further or limit health policy, and the role of the private sector and non-profits in strategic imperatives related to the health care system. The remainder of the classes, relying on the understandings provided in the first part of the course, will focus on simulated exercises focusing on key policy debates and issues related to health care and will conclude these discussions through the lens of a mock Congressional hearing where class participants will play different roles as advocates, Congressional witnesses and examiners. The class will feature guest lecturers who are experts in public health, law, policy and strategic communications.
At the end of the semester, students will have a strong understanding of the relationship of branches of the US government, the private and non-profit sectors in shaping public opinion and outcomes to any public policy issue, including particularly the health care space. They will have a strong sense of the communication strategies to deploy and consider in examining any public policy issue. And students will be more effective and fluent communicators—in writing, presentation, and formal documentation. In short, they will be better prepared to excel in examining critical public policy, health and communications issues, whether at the undergraduate or graduate degree level, or more generally, in an increasingly demanding political and policy environment.