UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Number: CS315 College (or sponsoring unit): CAS.

Course Title: Introduction to Database Management Systems Credit Hours: 3.

Catalog description: The course covers the following concepts: Definition of file components; access methods and file operations; algorithms for efficient implementation of data structures; characteristics of bulk storage media for mainframe and microcomputer or minicomputer; introduction to database management systems. Prerequisite: CS200 or consent of instructor.

Course Content: Learning database management systems involves learning the basic database models, and their various subtopics:

Hierarchical model

Record structure

Pointers

Binary trees and binary search trees

One to many functional relationships

Many to one functional relationships

Network model

Many to many functional relationships

Queries

Relational model

The logical view of a database

First normal form

Second normal form

Third normal form and higher order forms

Backus-Naur form

Tables

Connection of tables via primary keys

Secondary keys

Master-child relationships

Submitting queries via SQL

Object-oriented relational model

They should also be able to program various customized database interfaces based on the relational model using a modern integrated development environment.

Rationale for the course: The ACM recommends extended study of databases due to their extreme importance in information retrieval.

Skills and background required or expected: Database students should have attained the basic computer skills from CS200.

Teaching methodologies and anticipated class size: The course will consist primarily of lectures and in-class discussion. 15 to 20 students are expected.

Additional course descriptors: none.

Learning objectives for students: Upon course completion, students will know the basic database models & the theoretic forms of information representation; they will be able to design databases in an efficient form, write queries in SQL or a similar 4^th generation language, and write corresponding database oriented applications.

Methods of evaluation: Methods of evaluation may be based on:

Weekly homework assignments

A midterm and final examination

Attendance and participation in in-class discussions.

Required and recommended texts and/or study guides: First Course in Database Systems, Ullman & Widom, Prentice-Hall, 1997.

Subsequent courses: None.