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FPAS -> DMCS -> Computer Science -> Postgraduate Courses -> CS51T
 
 

CS51T: Database Management Systems

Lecturer: Ms. Keisha Harriot
  Office Location: Computer Science Section, Life Science-Computer Science Building
  Office Hours:  
  Email: keisha.harriott@uwimona.edu.jm
  Phone: (876) 977-4470 (External)
    2821 (Internal)

 
Course Outline:
 

It is an obvious fact that many organisations have to handle large amounts of data. Moreover, no matter how large the primary memory of the computer systems used in an organisation, there will be applications that require one to store more information than can be held in primary memory. Also, one may wish to permanently store information that was manipulated in a program. In both cases, information will have to be stored in files on secondary storage devices. The slowness of retrieving information from secondary storage is the prime motivating factor behind file organisation. There are many different ways of storing information in files and retrieving information from them. Fortunately, there are a number of so-called database management systems on the market, which enable one to deal with data at a higher level, without one having to worry about how they are physically stored on a disk. Database management systems, and in particular the problem on how to model one's data to make optimum use of database management systems, are the focus of this course.
     
Aims and Objectives:
  The overall aim of this course is to introduce students to data modelling and the theory of databases. Specifically, at the end of this course, students should be able to:
 
  • Describe the functionalities of a database management system
  • Describe different data models
  • Describe the advantages of the relational data model
  • Construct an entity-relation diagram
  • Construct a set of normalised relations from an entity-relation diagram
  • Explain why normalisation is important
  • Construct queries in relational algebra
  • Explain why query optimization is important
  • Implement a relational database and query it using SQL
  • Explain why atomicity and concurrency control is important
  • Describe the various regimes for distributed databases and to recommend a pattern of distribution for a distributed application.
  • Explain how object-relational databases differ from relational databases
Assessment:
  The course will be assessed by a combination of a final examination and two pieces of coursework. The final examination counts for 60% of the final mark, while the coursework counts for 40%. Students are required to pass both pieces of assessment.

The coursework will require students to construct an entity-relationship diagram for an application and turn this into a set of tables normalised up to at least third normal form. In addition they will have to formulate a list of SQL queries. Students are required to hand in an entity-relationship diagram, a set of normalised tables and a list of SQL queries. They are also required to hand in an electronic copy of the database they have created.
The coursework will be done in groups of maximally four members.

Lecture Times:
  Thursday 5:30 p.m. Physics Lecture Theatre B
  Saturday
 9:00 a.m. Physics Lecture Theatre B

Text:
  Prescribed    
  - Database Systems Concepts
 A. Silberschatz, H. Korth, S. Sudarshan
  Recommended    
  - An Introduction to Database Systems C. J. Date, Macmillan

Provisional List of Lectures:
  • Requirements on a DBMS
  • Data Independence
  • Data Modelling
    • Entity Relationship Diagrams
  • Data Models
  • Data Manipulation Languages
    • Relational Algebra
    • Relational Calculus
  • Structured Query Language (SQL)
  • Database Design Theory
  • Normalisation
  • Query Optimisation
  • Transaction Management
  • Distributed Databases
  • Object-Relational Databases
  • Other Topics

Lecture Notes:
  • Introduction (ppt, pdf)
  • Data Modelling: Which Data to Include in the Database (ppt, pdf)
  • Data Models: How to Structure Data (ppt, pdf)
  • Database Design Theory (ppt, pdf)
  • Query Languages: How to Build or Interrogate a Relational Database (ppt, pdf)
  • Transactional Management (ppt, pdf)
  • Distributed Databases (ppt, pdf)
  • Object-relational Databases (ppt, pdf)

Worksheets:

Tutorials:
  • E-R Diagram Tutorial (doc, pdf)

Assignments:

Past Papers (pdf):

Grades:
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