MPCS 53001 Databases (Autumn 2016)

*Please note: This is the syllabus from the 2015/16 edition of this course. Information is subject to change.*

Course Description

In this course students will learn database design and development and will build a simple but complete web application powered by a relational database.

We start by gathering requirements and showing how to model a relational database using an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD). Concepts covered include entity sets and relationships, using keys as a unique identifier for each object in an entity set, one-one, many-one, and many-many relationships as well as translational rules from conceptual modeling (ERD) to relational table definitions. We will examine the relational model and functional dependencies along with their application to the methods for improving database design: normal forms and normalization.

After designing and modeling their database, students will learn the universal language of relational databases: SQL (Structured Query Language). We will first introduce relational algebra, the theoretical foundation of SQL and then examine in detail the two main aspects of SQL: data definition language (DDL) and data manipulation language (DML). Concepts covered include subqueries, aggregation, various types of joins, functions, triggers and stored procedures. Students will then learn about web connectivity, as they build a simple front-end for their application in order to interact with their database online. Finally, we will provide an overview of related topics such as data warehousing, big data, NoSQL and NewSQL databases.

Students will gain significant experience with writing and reading SQL queries and understanding the design and function of relational databases throughout the course in the detailed in-class discussions, online homework, midterm and the real-world individual project.

Course Contents

•    Requirements gathering

•    Entity-Relationship model and design

•    Database design

•    Relational model

•    Functional dependencies

•    Normal forms and normalization

•    Relational algebra

•    SQL: Schema definition, Simple queries

•    Subqueries, Aggregation, Modifications

•    Joins, Views, Indexing, Constraints  

•    Transactions, ACID properties

•    Authorization

•    Triggers

•    Functions/Stored procedures

•    Database connectivity

•    Basic web programming

•    Data warehousing overview

•    Big data/NoSQL overview

Coursework

•    Homework (weekly) (~15%)

•    Multi-part project (weekly)  (~50%)

•    Midterm (~30%)

•    Class participation (~5%)

Recommended Textbooks

A First Course in Database Systems (3rd ed.), by J. Ullman and J. Widom. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/013600637X

Core Programming (completed or concurrently enrolled)

This class is scheduled at a time that conflicts with these other classes:

• MPCS 55001-1 -- Algorithms
• MPCS 53112-1 -- Advanced Data Analytics