CS 450 – Database Concepts – Fall   2012

Instructor:  Prof. Harry Wechsler wechsler@gmu.edu

Course Description – This course covers basics to intermediate knowledge for the design, implementation, and use of relational database systems. The main topics include the relational data model, Entity-Relationship (ER) model for database design, Relational Algebra, SQL, database programming, functional dependencies and normalization, and indexing.

Motivation and Learning Objectives – Theory and Practice at the interface between Databases, Management Information Systems, Knowledge Representation, (Big) Data Analysis, and Security & Privacy, to develop reliable and robust applications geared for real-world information intensive applications including but not limited to administration, health and business enterprises, and homeland security.

Lecture Structure: Review, Background, New CS450 Topics, Discussion on Advanced / Complementary Topics

ABET Course Outcomes

• Knowledge of fundamental concepts of file and database management.
• Knowledge of database design principles, and ability to model real-world environments using the ER model.
• Knowledge of the formal principles of the relational database model and its query languages, and ability to design relational databases and express queries in the relational algebra and calculus.
• Knowledge of the Structured Query Language (SQL) and database programming principles, and ability to author SQL queries and implement Java database applications using the Oracle database system.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of the mathematical theory of database design, and ability to design databases that adhere to Boyce-Codd Normal Form.
• Experience in the complete database creative process: from database design, to database construction, to database programming.

Time, Day, and Venue: TR – Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30 am – 11:45 am, Robinson Hall B228.

Office Hours:  Tuesday, 9:30 – 10:15, and Thursday, 12:00 – 12:45

TA: TBA

http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/2012Fall.html

First day of classes: Tuesday, August 28

Columbus Day recess (no class): October 9

Thanksgiving recess (no class): November 22

Last day of classes: Thursday, December 6

http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/2012FallExam.html

FINAL Exam: Tuesday, December 18, 10:30 am – 1:15 pm

Grading

- Homework: 20%

- Project: 20%

- Mid-terms: October 2 (15%) and November 6 (15%)

- FINAL: 30%

Textbook: (1) Elmasri and Navathe, Fundamentals of Database Systems, 6th ed., Addison Wesley, 2011; and (2) Sunderraman, Oracle 10g Programming, A Primer, Addison-Wesley, 2008.

Tentative Schedule:

Week 1 - 2: Database Management Systems (DBMS), Database Architectures, and Relational Model ~ August 28 and September 4

Textbook /Slides: Chaps. 1 - 3

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 3 - 4: SQL ~ September 11 and September 18

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 4 - 5

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 5: Relational Algebra and Calculus + Mid-Term1 Review ~ September 25

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 6

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Mid-Term1: October 2

Week 6 - 7: Data Modeling Using the Entity-Relationship (ER)

and Enhanced-Entity Relationship (EER) Models ~ October 2 and October 9

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 7 - 8

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 8: Relational Mapping and Design Methodology ~ October 16

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 9 - 10

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 9 - 10: SQL Programming Techniques + Mid-Term2 Review ~ October 23

and October 30

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 13

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Mid-Term2: November 6

Week 11-12: Design Theory and Normalization ~ November 6 and November 13

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 15 - 16

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 13: Indexing ~ November 20

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 17 - 18

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 14: Security and Advanced Data Models ~ November 27

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 24 and 26

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Week 15: Data Warehousing and Data Mining + FINAL Review ~ December 4

Textbook / Slides: Chap. 28 - 29

Papers: TBD

Homework: TBD

Honor Code Statement

Please be familiar with the GMU Honor Code. Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation. All assignments for this class are individual unless otherwise specified. Information on the university honor code can be found at http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/. Additional departmental CS information: http://cs.gmu.edu/wiki/pmwiki.php/HonorCode/CSHonorCodePolicies