Course Title: Database Concepts

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Database Concepts

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ISYS1055	City Campus	Postgraduate	140H Comp Sci & Info Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008
ISYS1057	City Campus	Undergraduate	140H Comp Sci & Info Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008
ISYS2077	RMIT Intl University Vietnam	Undergraduate	140H Comp Sci & Info Technology	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2007, Viet3 2007, Viet1 2008, Viet2 2008, Viet3 2008

Course Coordinator: Dr. Jenny Zhang

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2774

Course Coordinator Email:e48154@ems.rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

If this is your first semester/course in the School of Computer Science and IT, you should attend the Unix Survival Skills induction sessions (held during Weeks 0, 1 and 2 of each semester; see http://www.rmit.edu.au/csit).

Course Description

Databases and database technology are having a major impact on the growing use of computers. They play a critical role in almost all areas where computers are used.
This course is an introduction to the principles, use, and applications of database systems. It assumes no previous knowledge of databases or database technologies. Topics include: an introduction to relational database systems, relational database model, entity-relationship model, relational algebra, SQL, relational design, and advanced topics such as relational query evaluation, XML databases, and fundamentals of transactions and concurrency.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:
Enabling Knowledge: Fundamental database concepts including analysing, designing, defining, constructing and manipulating relational database systems.
Problem Solving: Ability to design and implement database solutions for various application areas and to build queries for users’ needs, based on analysis of data modeling problem specifications.
Critical Analysis: Ability to analyse data modeling problem specifications and derive alternative conceptual models that represent the problem in different perspectives leading to alternative database designs.

On completion of this course you should have gained a good understanding of fundamentals of database modeling and design, SQL query language, and implementation of a simple database application. Specifically, you should be able to:

• model data as relations
• define queries in relational algebra
• use SQL as a data definition language and as a data manipulation language and formulate queries for specific users’ information needs
• define views and formulate queries on views
• use functional dependency concepts in relational database design and derive well-designed database systems 
• use conceptual modeling mechanisms such as entity-relationship diagrams to design a database system
• apply the knowledge on query evaluation mechanisms to formulate efficient queries
• apply transaction processing and concurrency in multi-user database systems to obtain accurate results.

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

• key concepts will be explained in lectures, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
• tutorials and/or labs and/or group discussions (including online forums) focussed on projects and problem solving will provide practice in the application of theory and procedures, allow exploration of concepts with teaching staff and other students, and give feedback on your progress and understanding;
• assignments, as described in Overview of Assessment (below) and Assessment Tasks (part B course guide for this Teaching Period), requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
• private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and technical problems.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School. You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Learning Hub (also known as online@RMIT) and may be provided with copies of additional materials in class or via email. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

Use the RMIT Bookshop’s textbook list search page to find any recommended textbook(s).

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises practical work involving the development of simple database applications, online self-assessment tests, and a final exam.

See Assessment Tasks (part B course guide for this Teaching Period) for assessment details, including deadlines, weightings, and hurdle requirements. For standard assessment information relating to Computer Science and IT courses see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/csit/cgi