CSS 475 – Database Systems – Spring 2012

University of Washington, Bothell - Computing & Software Systems

http://courses.washington.edu/css475/

 

Professor:                   Dr. Clark F. Olson                   Class:               MW 8:00-10:00pm UW1-030

                                    Office: UW1 – 347                   Office Hours:   MW 7:00-8:00pm

                                    Phone: (425) 352-5288                                     or by appointment

                                    E-mail: cfolson@u.washington.edu                     

 

Course content

This course covers techniques for database design and reporting, as well as database system concepts necessary for implementation and optimization. The first part of the course will cover concepts and techniques useful in database design, reporting, and implementation, including the relational model, relational algebra, Structured Query Language (SQL), and normalization. The second part of the course will cover object role modeling and the phases of database design methodology (conceptual, logical, and physical). Additional topics, such as transaction management, query processing, and current trends will be addressed as time permits.

 

Textbook

Thomas Connolly and Carolyn Begg, “Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management,” Addison-Wesley, Fifth Edition, 2010.

 

Grading

Homework                   10%     (Turning in all of these is important to your grade.)

Quizzes:                        15%     (Best 3 out of 4 quizzes – no make-up quizzes will be given.)

Group project:              25%

Midterm:                      25%

Final exam:                   25%

I use a linear grading scale such that 75% = 2.0, 85% = 3.0, 95% = 4.0.

 

Class policies

All assignments are to be turned in on-line before the beginning of class on the due date. I encourage students to work on the homework assignments in small groups, but each student must turn in individual solutions. Homework problems will not be graded, but completion will count towards your grade (10%). Late homework (up to the next class time) will receive a 40% penalty. Incomplete assignments and those copied from a solution key will also be discounted. Incorrect answers will not, in general, be graded down.

 

Make-up exams will not be given except under extraordinary circumstances. These should be discussed with the instructor in advance, except in the case of an emergency, which should be well documented. There will be no make-up quizzes.

 

The University of Washington is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability and would like academic accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services at 425.352.5307, 425.352.5303 TDD, 425.352.3581 FAX, or at dss@uwb.edu. You will need to provide documentation of your disability as part of the review process.

 

Message board

https://catalyst.uw.edu/gopost/board/cfolson/26913/

 

Turn-in site

https://catalyst.uw.edu/collectit/dropbox/cfolson/20673/

 

 

Tentative schedule (subject to change)

Date	Topic	Reading	Assignments
Mar 26 Mar 28	Introduction / Relational model Relational algebra and calculus	Chapter 1-4 (skim 3) Chapter 5	HW1 assigned
Apr  2 Apr  4	SQL: Data manipulation, part 1 SQL: Data manipulation, part 2	Chapter 6 Chapter 6	HW1 due, Q1
Apr  9 Apr 11	SQL: Data definition MS Access / Query-by-example	Chapter 7 Chapter 9	HW2 assigned
Apr 16	Entity-relationship modeling Normalization	Chapter 12,13 Chapter 14	HW2 due, Q2
Apr 18
Apr 23 Apr 25	Normalization Review	Chapter 15	HW3 assigned
Apr 30 May  2	Midterm Fact finding / Conceptual design	Chapter 11, ORM paper	Project assigned
May  7 May  9	Conceptual design methodology Conceptual design methodology	ORM paper ORM paper	Project proposal due
May 13	Last day to drop
May 14 May 16	Logical design methodology Physical design / Transactions	ORM paper Chapter 18, Chapter 22	HW3 due, Q3 HW4 assigned
May 21 May 23	Transaction management Query processing	Chapter 22 Chapter 23	Q4
May 28 May 30	Memorial day Project presentations		HW4, Project due
June  4	Final (in class)

 

Lecture slides

I lecture from PowerPoint slides with additional examples on the board. The original slides from every chapter in the book are available on Catalyst. My edited slides from the last time I taught this course are also available on Catalyst. 

 

Files on Catalyst (slides and other materials)

https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/cfolson/9899/

 

Assignments

There will be four assignments. There will also be a group project in which you and some fellow students will design and implement a database using MS Access, including conceptual, logical, and physical design stages and sample queries. 

 

I also recommend that you become familiar with some of the features of Access during the first half of the course. This will reinforce the concepts from class and help with your group project during the second half of the course. Here are a few ways that you can do this:

·        Connolly & Begg Access “practicals” (available on Catalyst). Note that the practicals were designed for Access 2000, but should still be usable. I have not tested them with Access 2010.

·        Access 2010 – The Missing Manual (available from many sources, including online)

·        Microsoft audio courses (2007): http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/ha102744471033.aspx

·        Microsoft PowerPoint training (2010): http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/download-office-2010-training-HA101901726.aspx?CTT=1

 

Class courtesy

Please turn off all cell phones and beepers prior to class. Talking and other noise during lecture should be kept to a minimum as a courtesy to other students that are trying to learn.