You are on page 1of 10

COMP 5138

Relational Database
Management Systems
Sem2, 2007
Lecture 0
Course Overview
2
L1 Overview & Introduction
General Organization
Lecture: Monday , 18:0020:00 p.m.
Carslaw Lecture Theatre 173

Labs: Mon, 20:0021:00 p.m (start in wk 2)
Madsen Building: LG31, LG32, LG33

Coordinator: A/Prof. Alan Fekete
Room 447, tel 9351 4287
fekete@it.usyd.edu.au
Lectures given by A/Prof Alan Fekete and Dr Simon Poon

Course Web page:
http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~comp5138/

3
L1 Overview & Introduction
Course Perspective
Understanding the foundations of database management
theoretical knowledge of database systems in general
Close understanding of the relational data model and
systems in particular
awareness of the main ideas and concerns of a range of
IT professionals who work with databases

Ability to effective use database management systems and
corresponding tools
Create robust conceptual data models
Create, query and update using SQL and APIs
Develop efficient database applications
Note: for a professional career, you will need to learn a
lot of product-specific details which we do not cover;
instead we focus on transferable ideas and skills

4
L1 Overview & Introduction
Outline of the Lectures
Introduction
Relational Design
ER Model and Conceptual Design
The Relational Data Model
Schema Refinement and Normalization
Queries and Applications
Introduction to SQL
Advanced SQL; Security
Database Application Development
Application System Architectures

5
L1 Overview & Introduction
Lectures (contd)
Database Management Systems Internals
Storage and Indexing
Transaction Management
Query Processing, Optimization, and Tuning



6
L1 Overview & Introduction
Course Material
Copies of the slides, tutorials, assignments will be
available for download on the lectures web site
but remember: slides are only an aide memoire
So attend the lectures:
Slides may change
Lectures give meaning to the bullet points
Lectures can clarify assignments

We will roughly follow the recommended textbook
only a selected subset of the chapters
the order also varies slightly
enriched with material from further sources
You should read the referenced material every week
Either purchase the book, or go to the library (Special
Reserve)
7
L1 Overview & Introduction
Text Books
Main text book used in this course:
R. Ramakrishnan and I. Gehrke: Database Management
Systems, 3
rd
edition, McGraw-Hill, 2003.


Suggested additional references:
M. Kifer, A. Bernstein, and P.M. Lewis, Database Systems: An
Application-Oriented Approach, 2nd Edition, Addison Wesley,
2005.
R. Elmasri and S.B. Navathe: Fundamentals of Database
Systems, 2nd Edition, Benjamin/Cummings, 1994.
A. Silberschatz, H.F. Korth, and S. Sudarshan: Database System
Concepts, 5
th
edition, McGraw-Hill, 2006.
J. Melton and A. Simon: Understanding the New SQL - A
Complete Guide, Morgan Kaufmann, 1992.

Of course, there are many more text books on databases
8
L1 Overview & Introduction
Software
One objective of the course is to give some hands-on
experience with existing database software
But remember: Learn the principles, not the software!

We will be using various software in the labs:
Commercial Relational DBMS (eg Oracle 10g)
Freeware SQL browser
Microsoft Visio
Java: JDBC

It is your responsibility to learn how to use it

Documentation available on-line
9
L1 Overview & Introduction
Assessment
Assessment tasks
Assignment 1 (due Tutorial of week 5) 10%
Assignment 2 (due Tutorial of week 7) 10%
Assignment 3 (due Tutorial of week 9) 10%
Assignment 4 (due Tutorial of week 12) 10%
Examination (2 hours) 60%

Assignments will be due at your tutorial for that week
and of course it has to be YOUR work!
(see your Postgraduate Enrolment Guide for the Schools policy relating to
academic honesty)

Departmental policy is that you must score at least 40% in combined
assignments, and at least 40% in written exam, as well as an overall
mark of at least 50%.
10
L1 Overview & Introduction
Applying for Special
Consideration
In case of Illness or Misadventure
you can apply for special consideration
the application has to be lodged with the faculty as soon as
possible
The first thing you do should be
Let your lecturer know (best by email and while still sick)
Submit your assignment
Send a friend and get him/her to submit your assignment at front-
desk
Go to a Professional Practitioner and get a certificate
Then lodge the application for special consideration
No special consideration for missing out a few days or being
on holiday etc.
time management is your responsibility!

You might also like