Tentative Syllabus for

Database Management Systems

CGS2545, 18485, Online, Full Term
Fall 2015 (201610) Term

(3 credit hours)

Note: passages shown with a wheat colored background are directly quoted from other Valencia documents.

Instructor: Steve Andrews

Contact Info

Office: None

E-mail: via Blackboard (preferred), or sandrews@mail.valenciacollege.edu

Phone: 407.310.2119 (voice messages only)

Office Hours: None, but with a couple days' warning, I will meet you in the lab any time it's open.

Course:

Database Management Systems
Principless of database systems, architecture of database management systems, relational model conceptual design and requirement analysis, database design and normalization, query languages, multi-user and distributed database issues; practical use of a DBMS and building of a database application.
(Special Fee: $42.00).

CRN: 26243

Credit: 3

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Meeting places/times: online, on your own schedule, one or more times per week

Course Outcomes

Topics/Concepts/Skills/Issues

• databases in a business environment
• data modeling
• normalization concepts and logical data structures
• physical database design
• database query processing using SQL
• multi-user and administration issues such as security, backup and recovery, and concurrency

At the end of this class, successful students will be able to:

• Design a data model to reflect the data requirements given a specific business scenario:
  • Model the data requirements for sample business problems using an industry recognized model diagram.
  • Identify business rules and explain the importance of documenting these rules in a database design.
  • Identify and represent constraints in database design
• Construct logical data structures to implement normalization techniques:
  • Transform data models into a logical design that can be implemented in a relational database.
  • Describe foreign keys and referential integrity constraints.
  • Define the requirements for a table to be considered a relation.
  • Define the relationship between functional dependencies and problems that develop when the database is implemented.
  • Describe the role of Normalization.
  • Define the basic Normal forms through 3rd Normal Form.
  • Determine the Normal Form of a relation and execute the steps to put the relation into 3rd Normal Form.
• Implement a database design using a database management system:
  • Use current Database Management software to create a relational database.
  • Use Structured Query Language (SQL) to retrieve data from a database.

Educational Materials

No Text Required

Required Software:

• Microsoft Office (available through the Valencia Office 365 account)
• Microsoft SQL Server (available through the Valencia DreamSpark account or Internet free download.)
• Microsoft Visio (available through the Valencia DreamSpark account.)

Optional Software:

MySQL, "the world's most popular open source database" (available for free at https://www.mysql.com/)

Assessment Methods and Evaluation

This course is structured in three Learning Modules:

• Data Models - the first phase in design
• Data Structures - taking the models to logical and normalized structures
• Database Design - using the structured and normalized forms to create a functional database

Each Learning Module is identically structured in three parts:

• Information about intended student learning outcomes
• Materials to Help you Learn. This includes readings and instructional videos
• Items to Complete contains all of the assessments for the module
  • Three scenario-based exercises of increasing complexity (10 points each)
  • A single, larger project that encompasses all of the learning outcomes for the module (70 points)
  • A Self Check quiz that is not counted toward the course grade

Final Exam

The project in the final Learning Module will be considered a final exam for college purposes.

Calculation of final grade

9 exercises at 10 points each:	90 points
3 exercises at 70 points each:	210 points
total:	300 points

Grade Scale

points	percent	grade
0 - 179	0 - 59	F
180 - 209	60 - 69	D
210 - 239	70 - 79	C
240 - 269	80 - 89	B
270 - 300	90 - 100	A

Important Dates:

Full Term: 31 Aug - 20 Dec 2015 (Classes end 13 Dec; exams week begins 14 Dec.)

Drop/Refund/No Show Deadline: 11:59 p.m. 8 Sep

Withdrawal deadline for W grade: 11:59 PM, 13 Nov 2015

Classes Do Not Meet:

• 7 Sep - Labor Day
• 8 Oct - College Night (East)
• 25 - 29 Nov - Thanksgiving Break

Other:

• 13 - 19 Dec - Final Exams Week
• 22 Dec - Final Grades Available (Atlas)

See the college calendar for important dates and final exam schedule at
http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar

No Show Policy:

Any student who does not attend class by the No Show/Drop/Refund deadline...(11:59 PM, 8 Sep) will be withdrawn by the instructor as a no-show. This will count as an attempt in the class, and students will be liable for tuition. If your plans have changed and you will not be attending this class, please withdraw yourself through your Atlas account during the drop period for this part of term. This is college policy.

In order to certify that a student is actively attending an online course...faculty members [must require] students to particapte in at least one of the following "academically-related activites" during the no-show period. These activities must take place in [Blackboard]...

1. submit an online assignment
2. take an online assessment
3. participate in an online discussion about academic matters.
4. complete an online, interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction that is trackable.
5. initiate contact with the faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

No Show Procedure (Assignment):

To avoid being dropped from this class as a no show, you must either:

• turn in the no show assignment (a00) before the cutoff date, or
• ask me, in Blackboard, a question that pertains to database management.

The assignment is worth some extra credit, so you'll probably want to look it over.

Attendance:

Each student is expected to complete a bi-weekly blog detailing accomplishments of the past two weeks and intended accomplishments for the next two weeks. Students will also check in with the instructor on a bi-weekly basis via Bb mail to discuss course progress.

Course Progress:

You can work ahead in this class. Falling behind will lead to steep penalties. In order to keep up, you will need to:

• Log in during week 1 and submit the "no show" assignment on time.
  If you do not submit this assignment, you will be dropped as a no-show, and you will immediately be required to pay for a class you cannot take. Financial aid will NOT pay for a no-show.
• In general, you must turn in one exercise or project each week, following the prescribed order and due dates. See Blackboard for specific due dates.

Withdrawal:

Per Valencia Policy 4-07 (Academic Progress, Course Attendance and Grades, and Withdrawals), a student who withdraws from class before the established deadline for a particular term will receive a grade of "W". A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline (13 Nov 2015) See Important Dates for the Withdrawal Deadline for the part of term of this course. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for violation of the class attendance policy will receive a grade of "W". This class has no such withdrawal policy. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of "F". For a complete policy and procedure overview on Valencia Policy 6Hx28:4-07 please "go to"
http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policy/.

See College calendar for important dates and final exam schedule at
http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar.

Note: Before choosing to withdraw from ANY course, [you] should speak first with your professor regarding your progress in the course AND with an Academic Advisor to discuss the impact of the W on your academic progress, future fees, and financial aid (and student visa, if any).

Please note also that the attendance policy for this class makes NO PROVISION for me to withdraw you after the withdrawal date. If you miss the withdrawal date for this class, you cannot withdraw, nor be withdrawn. You will have to take the grade you have earned.

Makeup/Late Assignment Policy:

• Assignments may be turned in UP TO one week late, for half credit.
  Assignments not turned in by this cutoff date will receive zero points.
• Extra Credit, if offered, can not be turned in late.

"Classroom" Conduct:

Valencia College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning and to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct as listed in 6Hx28: 8-03 and the Student Handbook. Even though Faculty manage the classroom environment, the primary responsibility for maintaining a respectful and civil learning environment rests with the students. Students who violate the Student Code of Conduct may be referred to the Dean of Student's Office for disciplinary action, which may result in a sanction up to and including expulsion.
http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policy

Since we do not meet in a classroom, I want to stress that your main requirements for conduct within this class are to respect your fellow students, your instructor, and yourself.

Academic Honesty:

Each student is required to follow Valencia policy regarding academic honesty. All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the student's individual thoughts, research, and self-expression unless the assignment specifically states "group project." Any act of academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with Valencia policy as set forth in the Student Handbook and Catalog.

College Policies:

A full description of all College policies can be found in

• the College Catalog at http://valenciacollege.edu/catalog/;
• Policy Manual at http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/; and
• the Student Handbook at http://valenciacollege.edu/pdf/studenthandbook.pdf or
  http://valenciacollege.edu/studentdev/CampusInformationServices.

Student Assistance Program:

Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also available.

Office of Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a Notification to Instructor (NTI) form from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities.

campus	bldg	room	phone	fax	tty
East	5	216	407-582-2229	407-582-8908	407-582-1222
West	SSB	102	407-582-1523	407-582-1326	407-582-1222
Osceola	1	140A	407-582-4167	407-582-4804	407-582-1222
Winter Park	1	212	407-582-6887	407-582-6841	407-582-1222

"Special" Rules (specific to my classes)

eMail

I prefer to keep all email internal to Blackboard, using the Blackboard "Messages" feature. When using this feature, there is no need to insert your name or the class id into the subject field. Please use the subject field to describe the purpose of the message.

Voice Mail

I almost never answer my phone, and I do NOT answer texts, but I do take voice mail at 407-310.2119.

Open Lab

The Academic Success Center (Building 4 second floor East Campus) now houses the Open Lab for Business, IT & Public Services Division. This area is located to your right after you enter the double doors.

This where I will meet with you if you request a conference.

Course Policies

See my Things You Ought to Know page, online.

Disclaimer Statement

This syllabus may be altered, at the instructor's discretion, during the course of the term. It is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.

Weekly Activities & Assignments

The following list is only to give a general idea of how things MIGHT progress. It is ALWAYS subject to change.
Do not use this list to plan your semester. Consult Blackboard for an up-to-date listing of due dates.

1. intros
   Read the "Welcome" and "Start Here" pages, review the course content, and complete and submit the "no show" assignment.
2. Data Models - Diagrams
   Exercise 1.1
3. Data Models - Business Rules
   Exercise 1.2
4. Data Models - Constraints
   Exercise 1.3
5. Data Models Project
   Project 1
   Work ahead.
6. Data Structures & Normalization
   Keys and referential integrity; Exercise 2.1
7. Data Structures & Normalization
   Dependencies; Exercise 2.2
8. Data Structures & Normalization
   Normal Forms; Exercise 2.3
9. Data Structures & Normalization
   Project 2
   Work ahead.
10. Database Design & Structured Query Language (SQL)
    Exercise 3.1
11. Database Design & SQL
    Exercise 3.2
12. Database Design & SQL
    Exercise 3.3
13.  Thanksgiving   BREAK
    Work on Project 3.
14. Database Design Project
    Project 3
15. Selected Subjects
16. Finals Week

The newest version of this syllabus can be found at
faculty.valenciacollege.edu/sandrews/cgs2545/2015fall/18485/