Syllabus for Computer Science 419

Database Design

Spring 1997

Tim Wahls
office: E-258K Olmsted
phone: 948-6085
Email: wahls@psu.edu

Text

Database System Concepts, third edition. Silberschatz, Korth and Sudarshan. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1997.

Prerequisites

Comp 410. MA SC 370 is recommended, but not required.

Goals

The main goal of this course is to explore the relational database model, with special emphasis on the design and querying of relational databases. Secondary goals include exploration of the mathematical basis for databases and exploration of the relationship of database to the rest of computer science.

Evaluation

Grades will be based on midterm and final exams totaling 250 pts, and 10 - 12 homework assignments totaling approximately 200 pts.

Tentative Outline Reading Tentative Outline Reading
I. Introduction chap. 1 V. Integrity Constraints and Functional Dependencies 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
II. The Entity-Relationship Model 2.1 - 2.5, 2.8, 2.9.1, 2.9.3, 2.10 VI. Relational Database Design 7.1 - 7.4
III. The Relational Model 3.1 - 3.2 VII. File Structures chap. 10, 11 (selections)
IV. SQL chap. 4 VIII. Query Processing chap. 12 (selections)
Midterm Exam (100 points) Final Exam (150 points)