George Mason University

Department of Information and Software Engineering

INFS 614: Database Management

Prof. Ami Motro

This graduate course is an introductory course in the area of databases, with a focus on database models and languages. Topics to be covered include: data modeling with the Entity-Relationship model, the relational data model and its formal languages, SQL, and the theory of database design,
Note: the advanced database course INFS-760 : Advanced Database Management, is suggested for students who have completed INFS-614 and are interested in issues of databse systems implementation.

Prerequisites

INFS 501, INFS 515, INFS 590. Specifically, good background in discrete mathematics (e.g., set theory and mathematical logic), programming (good knowledge of either C, C++ or Java), data structures and algorithms, and computer architecture and operating systems.
Note: prerequisites are strictly enforced!

Requirements

Two exams and five homework assignments, including computer work (approximate weights are indicated in parenthesis):

1. Homework assignments (30%)
2. Midterm exam (30%)
3. Final exam (40%)

Textbook

1. Required: Database System Concepts (5th Edition)
   by Silberschatz, Korth and Sudrashan, McGraw-Hill, 2006.
2. Recommended: Oracle 9i Programming: A Primer
   R. Sunderraman, Addison-Wesley, 2003