COMP210: Database Design I (F'04)
Course Outline

Instructor: Dave Rogers

Course Description

Database design is one of the fastest growing fields in computer science. Databases are the foundation of any information system. All organizations, large and small, must rely on data management in all aspects of business operations. In this course we shall concern ourselves with the techniques required to implement good database design both in theory and in practise. The concepts introduced during the course will be materialized in a term-long project.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, you will:

• understand the role and nature of relational database management systems (RDBMS), in today's IT environment;
• translate business requirements into conceptual entity-relationship data models;
• convert conceptual data models into relational database schemas using the SQL Data Definition Language (DDL);
• query and manipulate databases using the SQL Data Manipulation Language (DML); and
• become familiar with two popular Open Source database systems: MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Delivery Methods/Format

Lecture

Weekly lectures present a general overview of the course material.

Lab

Lab sessions will be used for demonstration and instruction of concepts introduced theoretically in class. No material will have to be completed and submitted in a given amount of lab time.

Prerequisites

The only prerequisite is BUS175: Microsoft Access or its equivalent. Experience with relational database management systems (RDBMS) is an asset, but not required. Admission to the course may also be granted at the instructor's discretion.

Requirements

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is mandatory. A student may be dismissed from the course if more than 10% of the scheduled contact hours are missed. Dismissal from a course may result in loss of full-time status and loss of sponsorship funding.

Dishonesty and Plagiarism

The assignments are individual assignments and group submissions are not permitted. All submissions should be original work prepared for that specific assignment. To copy another person's work or present it as your own will result in penalties. Note that plagiarism is defined not only as submitting someone else's work as yours, but also includes submitting the same assignment for more than one course without the explicit permission of the instructor. The penalties for plagiarism include receiving a mark of 0 for the assignment, a mark of F for the course and expulsion from the College.

Evaluation

Quizzes

Eight quizzes will be held on specific dates throughout the term, covering the material taught in the lecture and lab. The one quiz with the lowest mark will be discarded from the term evaluation. Quizzes may not be rescheduled, except in exceptional circumstances and only where prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.

Term Project

The students will be required to model a real life situation, create and populate a database using one of the available database products, and write SQL statements to query and manipulate the data. The project will be marked as a series of deliverables submitted on specified dates throughout the term. Late deliverables will be penalized 20% per working day, unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.

Final Examination

The Final Exam will cover all aspects of the course.

Evaluation

Letter grading will follow the College's standard, which can be found in the Letter Grading section of Academic Regulations in the College Calendar.

Required Textbooks/Materials

"SQL: Visual QuickStart Guide" (Chris Fehily, Peachpit Press). This book is available in the bookstore. Additional books will be placed on loan in the College library. See the course website's Resources section for the list of titles.