Syllabus - Spring 2010

This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of modern relational database systems. By the end of the course, you should be able to demonstrate your understanding of:

• the goals, functions, models, components, applications and social impact of database systems,
• how to evaluate suitable searching strategies according to the type of query,
• how to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of alternate solutions to conceptual modeling problems,
• the concepts of the relational data model and the concept of a non-procedural query language,
• the mapping between a conceptual model and a relational schama,
• the anomalies that can occur within a database and how to correct them through a normalization process,
• the computational aspects of a relational model,
• the concepts of the client-server architecture and how a database management system can be used to create a small client-server application,
• the use of SQL to query, update, and manage relational datagbases.

Prerequisites: CS 345

Class Format:

Communication:

We will use Blackboard and the web as a means of communicating. Announcements for class will be made on the Blackboard announcements page or the course schedule page if Blackboard is unavailable. Any other announcement that you receive through other means (such as e-mail) is suspect unless confirmed by Blackboard or the course web page. If I send an e-mail to the class as a whole, I will also put the text into a Blackboard or web announcement.  If school is cancelled due to snow days, be sure to check the announcements for any due date changes or homework assignments.

Also, use my office hours if you are having difficulty, or just need clarification on an assignment or with something that you are working on.  Office hours belong to the students and is a good way for us to communicate individually.

Textbook and Required Material

Required: Jeffrey Ullman and Jennifer Widom, A First Course in Databases Systems (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008).

Optional: Ramon Mata-Toledo and Pauline Cushman, Fundamentals of SQL Programming - Shaum's Outline Series (New York: McGraw Hill, 2000).

For both of these books, if you want to share a copy with a colleague in class, that would be fine.  We will, however, be making extensive use of the required text for background reading and homework exercises.

Grading

We are going to grade on a contract grading system.  For each category of work, you will choose what percentage of your grade will be based on that category.  See Assignments tab for the contract form.  You must choose a percentage within the range (inclusive).

Class Policies and Student Success

See the link above for general instructor policies. Specific policies and items which will insure your success in this class are:

• Come to class, come to class, come to class - Students who attend class regularly will keep up with the workload better, will gain insights from talking with classmates or the instructor, and will do better in this class as a result.  We use a lot of active learning in class so attendance is mandatory.
• Workload -There will be ongoing assigments throughout the semester for the major project.  In addition, there will be reading and reading preparation before most classes.  Expect some kind of homework to prep for each class.
• Late assignments - All homework ius due at the beginning of class on the day that they are due. No late assignments will be accepted for credit, although I will review late assignments at your request. For project assignments, late assignments will have a per day penalty associated with them.
• Exams - We have two midterms and a final exam. It is expected that all students will take the exams at the normally scheduled time. If an emergency occurs which requires you to be away, let me know as soon as you know about the situation. I may request documentation in order to allow you to take a make-up exam.
• Honor Code - I report ALL incidents of academic dishonesty to the Honor Council. If the violation is severe, I will refer it to the Honor Council for formal resolution. Less severe violations may be handled informally. If you know of cheating in this class, it is your responsibility to let the instructor know as soon as possible. If you are involved in a situation where you are not sure if what you did was right, please see me. 
• Extra Credit - I generally do not have extra credit opportunities.

Student Success - You will be successful in this class if you:

• Attend class and each day and actively participate.
• Engage with the material...don't passively listen in class and expect to do well on the application assignments.
• Ask for help when you need it. Ask questions during lecture time.
• Get started early on assignments.
• Think about what you are doing...don't just do. In this course, the why is more important than the what.
• Experiment with the database management systems that we will be using.
• Don't put yourself into a position of providing unauthorized help to another student.  Labs are designed for free exploration and that includes working with others. The individual project must be your own work. If you have a question about what help may be provided, please see me.

If you need additional resources to help you with your learning, let me know. Additional reference books may be placed in the library upon request and I have some books that you may borrow for short periods if you need additional resources.

Students with Disabilities:If you are a student with a documented disability, who will be requesting accommodations in my class, please make sure you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, Wilson Hall, Room 107 (568-6705) and provide me with a copy of your Access Plan letter outlining your accommodations. I will be glad to meet with you privately during my office hours to discuss your special needs. The sooner you can do this, the better I can assist you in meeting your learning goals in this course.

Student Responsibility: Student are responsible for adding and dropping courses via e-campus. The last day to add a course for the Spring 2010 semester is Thursday, January 28, 2010 (signatures required after Tuesday January 19). The last day to drop a course for the Spring 2010 semester with a "W" grade is Friday March 18, 2010. I do not give "WP" or "WF" grades to students requesting a drop after the deadline except in extraordinary circumstances.

Religious observance and other planned absences: Students who are unable to attend class due to religious observance, athletic competition, academic competion or academic events may request deadline extensions BEFORE the expected absence. I will do my best to accommodate your special circumstances.

For clarification of these and other instructor policies please refer to the policies link.