IST365: Database Systems
Course Syllabus
Fall 2002, MWF 9:00 AM 9:50 AM, Prichard Hall 200
|
Instructor |
: Brian M. Morgan |
|
Office |
: Prichard
Hall 212 |
|
Phone Number |
: (304) 696-6469 |
|
Fax Number |
: (304) 696-6533 |
|
Office Hours |
: MWF: T, R:
T: |
|
E-Mail |
Textbooks:
The following textbook is required for the course:
Database Systems Design, Implementation and Management (5th ed.), by Rob and Coronel; Thomson Learning; ISBN: 0-619-06269-X, 2002.
Computer
Requirements:
Supplemental materials can be found contained within the WebCT environment (http://webct.marshall.edu/). I will be sending class announcements,
updates, etc. using your WebCT account (will cover during the first lecture for
those who have never used it). Access to
a WWW browser is required (Netscape 4.5 or higher or Internet Explorer 5.5 or
higher) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for download through the courses
WebCT site).
Course
Description:
Covers the logical and physical structures of data stored and retrieved
from a relational database. Exposure to distributed databases, database
administration and structured query language will also be done.
Credit:
The course is three (3) credit hours. It includes classroom
lectures, quizzes, exams, and homework assignments and projects. Students will
participate in projects that illustrate the implementation of concepts in
general applications.
Pre/co-requisites:
N/A
Desired Objectives/Outcomes:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
-
Identify problems for which database solutions are
suitable
-
Construct conceptual and logical data models based
upon a set of information requirements
-
Translate data model specifications for a relational
database
-
Discuss and show and understanding of the
fundamentals of SQL
-
Discuss the significance of database security and
integrity
-
Implement a database application using mySQL
Instruction method:
There will be 3 contact hours of classroom lecture per week. Projects covering
the major topics are part of the course.
Students may work on their assignments in University computing
facilities or from home with an Internet connection.
Evaluation method:
Evaluation of student's performance will be based on the quality of your
performance on projects, quizzes, and exams.
Grading Policy:
|
3 in-class Exams |
40% |
|
Final Exam |
20% |
|
Homework Assignments |
10% |
|
Semester Project |
25% |
|
Quizzes |
5% |
Assessment
of Projects:
The
grading of all homework and projects will take into account the following:
1.
Although the most important attribute of an
assignment is correctness, grading will take into consideration efficiency, documentation,
etc.
2.
Although interactions with other students are
encouraged, you must compose your own answers, unless otherwise noted.
Individuals
who utilize other peoples thoughts or ideas must provide appropriate
references to said resources. Failure to
provide such documentation will result in a failing grade for the assignment,
and may result in a failing grade for the course.
In
determining the overall grade for a project, you can expect the following
grades based on performance:
A
Excellent work that meets and/or exceeds all of the requirements for the
project, the project is well-documented and completed efficiently.
B Good
work that meets all of the requirements of the project, but may have errors in
documentation or contains errors in logic.
C
Average work that meets all of the requirements of the assignment, but is
missing one or more of the items in its entirety that is mentioned in terms of
an A grade.
D Below
average work which fails to meet one or more of the requirements of the
assignment.
F
Unacceptable work which fails to meet two or more requirements for the project.
Final letter grades
are determined based on the following grading scale, or on the basis of an
acceptable contract made between the individual student and the instructor on
the first day of class:
|
90-100% |
A |
|
80-89% |
B |
|
70-79% |
C |
|
60-69% |
D |
|
Below 60 |
F |
The instructor reserves the right to change these values depending on the overall class performance and/or extenuating circumstances.
Policy Statement:
Assignments and Project: The course includes a number of homework
assignments and a semester-based project. All assignments are due BY THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on their due
date and must be submitted through the WebCT Dropbox. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Exams:
There are FOUR exams: The first will come during Week 5, the second during
Week 7, the third during Week 12 and a comprehensive
Final exam (as scheduled). Exact dates and times of exams will be announced in
class. Anyone with an overall score of
95% or above heading into the final exam will be exempt from that exam.
Make-up Exams and Late Penalty: Make‑up exams
will not be given except under unusual circumstances and
satisfactory written justification. Any
student who misses an exam due to an unexcused absence will receive a grade of
zero for that exam with no opportunity for make-up or substitution. University excused absences or those
occurring with a good reason (and that reason must be given prior to missing
the exam call and leave a message if you have to) will be excused. Make up exams must be taken within one week
of the original scheduled date. The decision whether to give a make up exam rests with the
instructor.
Attendance Statement:
As with last semester, I am NOT making class attendance mandatory. However, I will keep a record of who is
attending and who is not, easily done with quizzes. If you miss class, it is your responsibility
to catch up on material missed, and will not be the responsibility of the
instructor to catch you up on material missed during my office hours.
Withdrawal Policy:
The University withdrawal policy is followed in this course.
The last day to drop an individual course for the Fall
of 2002 is
University Holidays:
The class is officially dismissed on the following dates:
Labor Day
Fall Break:
Thanksgiving
Topics and Methodology:
The following outline delineates the tentative class schedule with topics to be
addressed during the course. Please
note this is a tentative schedule and it may change upon class progress:
|
August 26 |
Overview of Course and Syllabus, Introduction
to WebCT Overview of how to access mySQL |
|
August 28 |
Chapter 1 |
|
August 30 |
Chapter 2 |
|
September 4 |
Chapter 2 Introduction of Semester Project Assign Homework #1 - Chapter 2 Problems #s 8,
9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25 |
|
September 6 |
Chapter 2/3 |
|
September 9 |
Chapter 3 |
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September 11 |
Chapter 3 Homework #1 Due Assign Homework #2 Chapter 3 Problems #s 1,
2, 3, 4, and 6 |
|
September 13 |
Chapter 3 |
|
September 16 |
Chapter 4 |
|
September 18 |
Chapter 4 Homework #2 Due Assign Homework #3 Chapter 4 Problems #s 1,
11, 12, 13 |
|
September 20 |
Chapter 4 |
|
September 23 |
Review for Exam 1 |
|
September 25 |
Exam 1 |
|
September 27 |
Chapter 5 |
|
September 30 |
Chapter 5 Homework #3 Due |
|
October 2 |
Chapter 5 |
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October 4 |
Chapter 5 |
|
October 7 |
Chapter 5 |
|
October 9 |
Exam 2 |
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October 14 |
Chapter 6 |
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October 16 |
Chapter 6 Project Deliverable #1 Due |
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October 18 |
Chapter 7 |
|
October 21 |
Chapter 7 |
|
October 23 |
Chapter 8 |
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October 25 |
Chapter 8 |
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October 28 |
Chapter 9 |
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October 30 |
Chapter 9 |
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November 1 |
Chapter 10 |
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November 4 |
Chapter 10 Project Deliverable #2 Due |
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November 6 |
Chapter 10 |
|
November 8 |
Review for Exam 3 |
|
November 11 |
Exam 3 |
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November 13 |
Chapter 11 |
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November 15 |
Chapter 11 |
|
November 18 |
Chapter 12 |
|
November 20 |
Chapter 12 |
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November 22 |
Chapter 13 |
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November 25 |
Chapter 13 |
|
December 2 |
Chapter 14 |
|
December 4 |
Time to work on projects Project Deliverable #3 (implemented database)
DUE |
|
December 6 |
Dead Week - Review for the Final |
|
December 13 |
Final Exam |
For each topic
discussed in the textbook, specific experience of other students and the
instructor will be discussed to enhance the characteristics involved. Hands-on projects for the course will be
based on creating databases for either real-world or fictitious needs. Additional material may also be covered in
the class.
Every student is
responsible for all materials presented in class, including lectures, notes,
and handouts. In case you are not
present for a class, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor and
receive information about the material presented in that class. Class attendance is very important.
Effort Required:
As a 300-level course, a considerable amount of work and research effort is
required of the student. For every one
hour in class, the student is expected to put in an effort of at least 3 hours
outside the class for studying and completing assignments and projects. Upon background and preparedness, some
students may have to put in additional effort.
Communication:
The Bulletin Board facility of WebCT and private E-mail will be used to make
any general announcements, last minute changes, etc. It is mandatory that you monitor your WebCT
course messages at least once a day.