ISC 329 Fall 2012

Database Applications

Instructor: Isabelle Bichindaritz, Ph.D.
Class:   M/W/F Snygg 106 / Snygg 322 11:30 A.M. – 12:25 P.M.
E-mail: ibichind@oswego.edu
Office: Snygg 118
Office hours:   M/W 10:30 A.M. – 11:20 A.M.
                      M/W 3 P.M. – 4 P.M.
                      always by e-mail
                      by appointment
Class Web-site: ANGEL and at http://www.cs.oswego.edu/~bichinda/isc329/

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

The course stresses database applications development through fourth-generation programming techniques. Content of the course stresses basic knowledge of normalization of data, data modeling, database methods, database design, and the use of databases in business. Students will learn the rudiments of construction of database schemata.

OBJECTIVES

ISC 329 is a Database Applications course. Some of the objectives for this course include:

• Understand fundamental database concepts and the different database systems.
• Understand methodologies to conceptualize and design database systems.
• Identify the key issues in developing database systems and applications.
• Develop applications involving database systems with fourth-generation programming tools in MS Access.
• Develop Web database applications with MySQL and PHP.

TOPICS

• Fundamental concepts of files and databases
• The different database models – hierarchical, relational, network
• Relational databases
• Conceptual data models – Entity-Relationship model, UML model
• Normalization
• Database system development methodology
• SQL language commands and queries, query optimization
• Development of database applications using fourth-generation programming techniques
• Development of Web-based database systems
• Database security
• Ethical concerns
• Transaction management and concurrency control
• Distributed database management systems

Detailed tentative schedule for each class, assignments, project, and schedules can be found at the class home page at http://www.cs.oswego.edu/~bichinda/isc329/.

PREREQUISITES

CSC 120 or 212 or ISC 150, or instructor permission.

TEXTBOOK

Database Systems, A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management, Thomas M. Connolly and Carolyn E. Begg, Fifth Edition, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0321523067.

CLASS WORK AND EVALUATION

There will be generally bi-weekly deliverables due, two midterms, and a final project report and presentation. Assignments are due by midnight on the due date, and will be submitted electronically. The deliverables will be either individual lab assignments, or group project deliverables. Some of the assignments and the project will involve light programming. Students are encouraged to work on the project in teams. Homework, lab assignments, and project deliverables are posted on the class Web site. Incomplete assignments will be accepted. No late assignment will be accepted.

PROJECT WORK

The project can be developed either individually or in teams of no more than 4 students. The teams will be formed during the first week of class. Although grades for the different components of the project will be granted at the team-level, a peer evaluation will be performed in the middle and at the end of the project, and may alter, either positively, or negatively, a student’s final project grade.

BONUS

I encourage, and reward, individual efforts to build a community of active learners. Efforts to participate in class will be awarded bonus points in the class, up to 5%. These efforts, that I will monitor, are, among others:

§ Active and constructive participation in the online discussion forum found on the class Web-site.

§ Class presence and participation.

§ Proposing solutions for exercises in class.

§ Submitting answers to online intermediate course evaluations.

COURSE CHANGES

The schedule and procedures for this course are subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and it is the student's responsibility to learn and adjust to changes.

GRADING

Labs/assignments:      25%     (individual)

Project:                     30% (team)

Participation:               5%

First midterm:            20%

Second midterm:       20%

CODE OF CONDUCT

The assignments, and of course the quizzes, and exams need to be done individually. Copying of another student's work or code, even if changes are subsequently made, is inappropriate, and such work or code will not be accepted. The University has very clear guidelines for academic misconduct, and they will be enforced in this class.

IMPORTANT

If you have a disabling condition which may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the disability support Services (DSS) located at 155 Campus Center, phone (315) 312-3358, dss@oswego.edu.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE