CSC 455 - Database
Management (3)
Co-requisite: CSC 332
Fall 2009 Syllabus
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Required
materials:
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Fundamentals
of Database Systems, 5/E, Elmasri/Navathe,
Addison-Wesley, Copyright: 2007
AND
Gradiance
Account (Class token: D17CE801)
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Purchasing
info:
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Fundamentals
of Database Systems, 5/E with (free) Gradiance Access code:
ISBN-10: 0321445104
OR
The Gradiance package may be purchased separately
through the publisher:
·
The text alone ISBN: 0-321-36957-2
·
Gradiance account: http://www.aw-bc.com/gradiance/ (Be sure you get the code for the correct
book.)
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Course
Catalog Description
Introduction
to relational database management systems. E-R models, relational algebra, SQL,
database design, normalization, transaction processing concepts. Substantial
software project required.
Course Learning Outcomes
1.
Students understand advantages and disadvantages to using database management
systems. [IL1]
2.
Students comprehend major objectives of database design: reduced redundancy,
referential integrity, and normalization. [IL3]
3.
Students comprehend major objectives of data management: atomicity,
consistency, isolation, and durability. [IL3]
4.
Students gain experience modeling data. [IL2]
5.
Students gain experience using multiple database products and interfaces. [IL2]
6.
Students gain experience implementing a fully functional database system. [IL4]
[CAP1]
7. Students gain experience
working with a group on a substantial software development project. [IL4][CAP1]
Instructional
Method
This
course will take a problem-based instructional approach, called TEXNH (pronounced
“technie”), whereby students will learn
database concepts through a semester-long multimedia database project. The
entire course consists of 6 integrated phases in which new theories or
techniques will be learned along with the project development.
Grading
Grades
will be determined as given below:
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Labs
and homework:
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15%
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Project:
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35%
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Test
1:
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15%
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Test
2:
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15%
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Final
Exam:
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20%
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Total
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100%
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Grades
will be assigned using the following scale:
93 - 100 A
90 - 92 A-
87 - 89 B+
83 - 86 B
80 - 82 B-
77 - 79 C+
73 - 76 C
70 - 72 C-
67 - 69 D+
63 - 66 D
60 - 62 D-
0 - 59 F
Attendance
and class participation may be used in the determination of your final grade, and will be noted
at each class meeting. The instructor may lower your final grade by a
half-letter mark for more than five undocumented absences. Incomplete grades are given rarely and only
in very specific situations. First, the
student must be passing. Next, the
student must be able to complete the work of the course entirely on his or her
own. Finally, the student must be
prevented from completing the course by verified, unforeseen circumstances
beyond the control of the student. These
conditions must be documented and verified before an incomplete grade may be
given.
Homework
and lab assignments, both in and out of class, will count 15% of your final grade. Regular homework to be done individually,
outside of class, will be assigned throughout the semester. Late homework will receive 90% credit if it is
handed in by the beginning of the next class, or 80% credit up to 2 weeks after
the due date. In addition, on most class
days, there will be an in-class assignment or lab intended to be completed
during class. If a student misses a class during which an in-class assignment
is given, the assignment may be submitted without penalty within one week.
Otherwise, it may be submitted within two weeks for 80% credit. All assignments are posted on the online
calendar.
Project. A substantial project is
required for this course and will count 35% of the final grade. Further information about the project is at http://people.uncw.edu/mferner/CSC455/projectintrofa09.mht
Tests: There will be two in-class
tests during the semester which will count 15% each and a cumulative final exam
which will count 20%. The dates of the
mid-semester tests will be given in class. The final exam will be on Thursday,
December 10 from 11:30 – 2:30. The final exam date is determined by the University calendar and cannot
be changed. Please make every effort to
attend class on the test dates. Make-up
tests can only be given in extreme situations beyond the student's control and
with verifiable documentation.
Handicapped
students:
If
you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you
should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of
class or as soon as possible. If you
have not already done so, you must register the Office of Disability Services
in Westside Hall (ext. 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation
Letter. You should then meet with your
instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations
of the Accommodation Letter.
All
work submitted must be your own. The UNCW Honor Code applies to all work, and
it is assumed that all students have committed to the Honor Pledge both of
which are described at http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/odos/documents/HonorCode09.10.pdf. The University’s policy on the responsible
use of electronic resources also applies to all work for this course. See http://uncw.edu/smec/SVSM/Resp_Use_of_Elec_Resources.pdf.
Tips
for success:
Seek
help when you need it and as soon as you need it. Feel free to contact me via e-mail or in
office hours. Because I teach other courses
online, I am not on campus as much as other faculty. Please don’t let that deter you from asking
for help. I can probably help you most quickly via e-mail, which I check
several times a day. I am happy to
schedule times to meet with you if office hours don’t work for you. You may also ask other students for help as
long as you remain within the boundaries of the UNCW Academic Honor Code, which
applies to all work for this course. Please refer to the
Student Handbook for details (http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/doso/code/code.pdf).