CS448: Introduction to Database Systems

Home | Syllabus | Schedule | Homework, Projects, & Handouts | Announcements

Course Overview

This course covers fundamental concepts of database and information systems. These concepts include database modeling and design, relational databases, querying and SQL, object-based databases, XML and web databases, data storage, transactions, database system architectures, data mining and warehousing techniques, client/server paradigm, middleware, ODBC, JDBC, CORBA, privacy, integrity, and security.

More specifically, the course covers the following topics:

Data modeling: physical, logical and conceptual data models, the entity-relationship model
The relational database model, Hierarchical model, Network Model
Relational database design, functional dependencies, and normalization, Multi-valued dependencies
SQL query language and Relational algebra
XML model
Transaction Processing
Concurrency control
Atomicity control
Recovery control
Database privacy, integrity, and security
Data mining, data warehousing, online analytical processing, and information retrieval
Cloud computing and Distributed database architectures
Performance issues

Textbooks

1. Fundamentals of Database Systems, 5th Edition (older editions may also work), Elmasri Navathe, Addison-Wesley, 2006.

2. Oracle 9i Programming: A Primer, Rajshekhar Sunderraman, 2004.

Workload

There will be a project assignment with multiple subtasks. The project is an important part of the course. You will learn to use and build components of a database system. There will be four or five homework assignments, a midterm, and a final. The final exam will be cumulative.

Grading

The final grade will be based upon the following:

Programming/Project Assignments	30%
Homework Assignments	15%
Midterm	25%
Final	25%
Class Contribution	5%

Grading assignment policy

a) Class contributions (e.g., class attendance and participation, discussions, outside reading/presentation of research papers) .... (5% of grade) You should attend all classes for highest class contribution credit.

b) The range of scores for a grade are approximately as follows:

( >97%: A+, 94-97: A, 89-93: A-)

( >87%: B+, 83-86: B, 80-82: B-)

( >77%: C+, 73-76: C, 70-72: C-)

( >67%: D+, 60-66 D)

c) If you do not do the projects or home works, you will get an F.

Late Submission Policy

Penalty for late homework is 10% for each class day after due date. Problems on grading of assignments/exams/projects must be resolved within one week after the graded work is returned/project score is posted. The grades will not be modified after the one week time period.

Absence from Class

You must attend all classes. Absence in five or more classes will lower your final grade.