Module 13584 (2004)
Syllabus page 2004/2005
06-13584
Fundamentals of Databases
Level 4/M C
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus
The Module Description is a strict subset of this Syllabus Page. (The University module description has not yet been checked against the School's.)
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Outline
The fundamentals of Database Systems will be covered: relational theory, relational algebra, query languages, data design. The necessary mathematical background will be developed alongside its application in databases. Students will be introduced to an existing database system.
Aims
The aims of this module are to:
- introduce the fundamentals of database theory
- introduce the core of the SQL query language
- enable students to design a database
Learning Outcomes
| On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to: | Assessed by: | |
| 1 | use SQL to express database queries | Problem assignments, miniproject, examination |
| 2 | apply concepts from relational theory to describe databases, queries, and consistency conditions | Problem assignments, examination |
| 3 | analyse a real-world scenario and perform a conceptual database design for it | Examination, problem assignments, miniproject |
| 4 | take a conceptual data design model and translate it into the relational model | Problem assignments, miniproject, examination |
| 5 | use an existing database system | Problem assignments, miniproject |
Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites
Restrictions:
None
Prerequisites:
None
Co-requisites:
None
Teaching
Teaching Methods:
11 two-hour lectures, 11 one-hour practical session, two one-hour revision lectures
Contact Hours:
Assessment
- Supplementary (where allowed): As the sessional assessment
- The continuous assessment consists of weekly problem assignments (10%) and a miniproject (in groups of four and assessed by written report) (10%).
Recommended Books
| Title | Author(s) | Publisher, Date |
| Database Systems : a practical approach to design, implementation and management (3rd ed.) | Th. M. Connolly | Addison Wesley, 2002 |
| Database Management Systems (2nd edition) | R. Ramakrishnan & J. Gehrke | McGraw Hill, 2000 |
Detailed Syllabus
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Tables and SQL
- Using the existing relational database implementation
- Simple select queries
- Nested queries
- Aggregate functions
- The group-by operator
- Conceptual database design
- Entities and relationships
- Generalisation hierarchies
- Keys and weak entities
- ER diagrams
- Logical database design and relational theory
- Translating ER diagrams into tables
- Relational algebra
- Functional dependencies
- Normalisation
- The physical layer
- File formats
- Indexes
- Evaluation of relational operators
- De-normalisation
Last updated: 31 October 2004
Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2004/xml/13584.xml
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus