Database Systems

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Course
COMP 420
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
Catalog
School of Arts and Sciences
General Course Information

Course Lecturer Name(s):  Keston Bhola

Course Director Name:  N/A

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:  kbhola001@sgu.edu, ext. 3750

Course Director Contact Information:  N/A 

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours:  10:00 – 3:00 | Tue & Thu 

Course Director Office Hours:  N/A

Course Lecturer(s) Office Location:  Leeward Hall, 2nd Floor

Course Director Office Location:   N/A

Course Support:   Mary Celestine, mcelesti@sgu.edu, ext. 3726

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Curriculum Information

Course Description: 

The course covers the design, implementation and management of Database Systems. While SQL based systems have been the standard of databases in recent years, there is recently an exodus towards a classification of systems referred to as NoSQL systems. SQL performs well in structured contexts. As the world is now defined in unstructured contexts, with a plethora of data being generated every day, such NoSQL systems offer scalability and performance improvements over the standard SQL systems. Nevertheless, SQL based systems still form the bedrock of numerous modern systems and its importance and proven stability is important to the functioning of mission critical systems globally. Both systems will be covered with a focus on real world examples. This course builds on Entity Relationship modeling concepts taught in the prerequisite, Introduction to Relational Databases, and introduces NoSQL concepts using the popular MongoDB suite of applications.

Course Objectives: 

  1. Students will appreciate the importance of data as a tool to enable proper decision making.
  2. Students will be able to understand and relate to structured and unstructured data and the    applications of both.
  3. Students will gain an understanding of the practical aspects of database design and be able to use data modeling tools. They will develop real and useful design skills.
  4. Students will be introduced to unstructured data languages such as JSON and XML
  5. Students will be taught how to implement basic unstructured databases using MongoDB.
  1. Students will learn Structured Query Language (SQL) and use it to implement and manage databases.
  2. Students will understand how databases are affected by real-world transactions. They will understand the characteristics of database transactions and how they affect database integrity and consistency. They will examine solutions to the potential problems that concurrent transactions may introduce. 
  3. Students will be introduced to basic database performance tuning parameters for SQL based systems. They will build an understanding of the file structures that constitute a database, specifically indexes and be able to implement measures to improve database performance in enterprise databases. 
  4. Students will be introduced to the managerial and technical roles of a Database Administrator.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Differentiate between structured data models based on their level of abstraction.
  2. Create and defend a given entity relational diagram against a set of business requirements.
  3. Compose SQL statements for the purpose of creating, accessing, and modifying relational databases.
  4. Discuss issues affecting performance of relational databases.
  5. Argue and defend the need for alternative data management practices to manage the evergrowing sources and repositories of data.
  6. Design a NOSQL schema using MongoDB software suite of tools
  7. Compose basic CRUD statements using the MongoDB query language 8. Propose data management solutions for small for medium sized businesses.

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

  • CTPO-1 - Analyse a problem, identify, and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution
  • CTPO-2 - Design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs  

SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C  = 69.5 - 74.4%

D  = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

Text: Database Systems: Design, Implementation, & Management, 13th Edition, Cengage Learning

Supplementary Readings/Resources: Additional material from Professional Journals, Library

Resources, Web Sites, Annual Reports, Case Studies, Newsgroups, Magazines, and Personal Interviews, ACM Transactions on Database systems

Course Grading Requirement:

Course assessments are broken into these categories

  • Assignments: assessments involving theory, research, and analysis.
  • Labs: practical assessments primarily involving writing code solutions to specific questions. Little to no explanations are usually required. 
  • In class: Exercises that are primarily for self-assessment. Most may not be graded. If graded, the weight is significantly less that any full assessment item.
  • Exams: assessments under strict controlled conditions.
  • Quizzes: Short/in-class assessments (using TurningPoint/Sakai) that assess your understanding of concepts at the end of class sessions. Short/inclass quizzes may not be as rigorously controlled. May be graded but primarily contributes to you assessing your understanding of the material.

Grade Weight distribution is as follows:

  • Assignments: 50%
  • Practical Labs and In Class Exercises: 30%
  • Exams/Quizzes: 20%

Course Requirements:

Software required

XAMPP, Diagrams.net/Draw.io, Notepad++, MongoDB Compass, MongoDB Atlas [Enterprise Server], mongo shell

-TurningPoint

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.turningTech.Responseware&hl=en iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/turningpoint/id300028504

-ExamSoft

https://mycampus.sgu.edu/ https://ei.examsoft.com/GKWeb/login/sgu Course Schedule: 

Week

Topics

 

Week 1

Syllabus Discussion

Plagiarism exercise

 

The Relational Model: Data Modeling Recap

In class exercise

 

 

 

Week 2

The Relational Model: Data Modeling Recap

Assignment 1 given In class exercises x 2

 

 

 

Week 3

Advanced Entity Relationship Modelling (ERM)

In class exercises

 

Normalization

Assignment 1 due

 

 

 

Week 4

Relational Algebra

SQL Lab 1 given

 

Structured Query Language (SQL)

 

 

 

 

Week 5

Relational Algebra

SQL Lab 2 given

 

Structured Query Language (SQL)

 

 

 

 

Week 6

Transaction Management and Database Performance Tuning

Assignment 2 given

 

 

SQL Lab 1 & 2 due (latest)

 

 

 

Week 7

Midterm Review

Assignment 2 due

 

 

 

Week 8

MIDTERM WEEK

Midterm Exam

 

 

 

Week 9

XML and JSON Introduction

Assignment 3 given

 

 

In class exercises

 

 

 

Week 10

XML and JSON continued…

Assignment 3 due

 

 

In class exercises

 

 

 

Week 11

Databases and the Internet: JavaScript Basics

Assignment 4 given

 

 

Assignment 4 Due

 

 

 

Week 12

Unstructured Data and NoSQL

In class exercises

 

 

 

Week 13

MongoDB

-databases, collections, and documents

-using compass to connect to MongoDB

In class exercises

 

 

 

Week 14

MongoDB Software: Compass, Atlas, Enterprise Server

MongoDB Lab 3

 

 

 

Week 15

MongoDB Query Language: A deeper look

MongoDB Lab 4

 

 

 

Week 16

FINAL EXAM WEEK

MongoDB Online Quiz

School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections

Plagiarism Policy

Academic Integrity

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).

Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.

Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.

Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.

Attendance Requirement

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).

Examination Attendance

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).

For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.

Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Policy

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).

Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.