Computer Science 378: Information Systems

Spring 1999

Instructor

Craig Miller
256 South College, x-1400
Email: millercr
Office hours to be announced and placed on Web page

Meetings

9:30-10:45 TuTh
Room 4 (basement) South College

Text

Database Management Systems, by Raghu Ramakrishnan

Course Links

• Assignment 1
• Assignment 2
• Assignment 3
• Assignment 4
• Assignment 5
• MySQL Web Site
• Local File Access to MySQL Manual
• Local File Access to Java 1.1 Core API Specification

Overview

This course introduces concepts and technologies used for storing and retrieving information. Attention will be given to database implementation, database management, and the relational model. For systems implementation, students will learn about physical data storage, file organization, and tree-structured and hash-based indexing. Assigned projects will have students implement these concepts with the creation of a simple database application. For database management, students will learn about formal query languages and how to use SQL to create and access databases. For the relational model, students will learn how to apply it to design and create a database. In the second half of the semester, students will work in groups to design and create a useful database for the college or community.

This course will use C++ for the systems implementation, SQL (accessing MySQL) for database management, and possibly Java to create a user interface to a student designed database.

Grade Determination

Grades will be determined using the following weighted averages:

Policy On Collaboration

Unless explicitly told otherwise, all assignments in this course are individual assignments. Students may not work together in the design or implementation of code or written assignments. The only exceptions to this are:

1. Students are encouraged to discuss course concepts and examples that are not specific to any assignment.
2. Students may assist each other in locating and diagnosing bugs in programs.

All other assistance should come from the instructor. Any questions about the appropriateness of collaboration should be discussed with the instructor. Failure to acknowledge someone else's code or even design ideas in any work is plagiarism, which warrants a report to the College's judicial system and may lead to suspension or expulsion.

Tentative Schedule