Module 02525 (2013)
Syllabus page 2013/2014
06-02525
Databases 2
Level 3/H
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.)
Relevant Links
Outline
The module begins with a swift recap of the standard database canon: SQL and ER modelling, albeit from a more advanced perspective. This is followed by a discussion of relational algebra and functional dependencies, and their role in verifying and improving the ER model (towards Boyce-Codd normal form). In the second part of the module, the inner workings of a database management system are presented and it is discussed how they impact on query evaluation efficiency. In the final part, transactions and transaction processing will be discussed.
Aims
The aims of this module are to:
- Present the key concepts of relational database theory
- Present the background to physical database design and performance tuning
Learning Outcomes
| On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to: | Assessed by: | |
| 1 | Use SQL for querying a relational database | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 2 | Design a relational database using extended entity-relationship diagrams | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 3 | Translate extended entity-relationship diagrams into SQL CREATE statements | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 4 | Translate between SQL and relational algebra | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 5 | Analyse a relational database design using functional dependencies and perform transformations towards Boyce-Codd Normal Form | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 6 | Demonstrate an understanding of database implementation principles, and their impact on query evaluation efficiency | Examination |
| 7 | Structure a series of queries as transactions, and demonstrate an understanding of the impact this has on database behaviour and performance. | Examination |
Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites
Restrictions:
May not be taken by anyone who has taken or is taking 06-21980 (ICY: Databases) or 06-21923 (Fundamentals: Databases)
Prerequisites:
06-19321 Software System Components 2 (or some other introductory course in databases)
Co-requisites:
None
Teaching
Teaching Methods:
2 lectures and one exercise class per week during term time plus revision lecture. Weekly exercise sheets.
Contact Hours:
Assessment
- Sessional: 1.5 hr examination (80%), continuous assessment (20%).
- Supplementary (where allowed): By examination only.
- The continuous assessment consists of three class tests.
Recommended Books
| Title | Author(s) | Publisher, Date |
| Database Management Systems (3rd ed.) | R Ramakrishnan & J Gehrke | McGraw Hill, 2003 |
Detailed Syllabus
- Querying a relational database with SQL
- Modelling a real-world situation with (extended) entity-relationship diagrams
- ER modelling
- Extended ER diagrams
- Translating EER diagrams to tables
- Logical analysis of database designs
- Relational algebra
- Functional dependencies
- Normalisation
- RDBMS implementation technology
- File organisation and retrieval
- Indexes
- Algorithms for relational operators
- Query Execution
- Query Optimisation
- Transactions
Last updated: 7 February 2012
Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2013/xml/02525.xml
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus