About CIS

Academic Programs

Certificates

Business Corner

Faculty & Research

Faculty

Research

News

Student Info

CIS Alumni

CIS Internship

Driving Directions

CSP 1-8; CIS 3210 or CIS 3260

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Developing and managing efficient and effective database applications requires understanding the fundamentals of database management systems, techniques for the design of databases, and principles of database administration.  This course emphasizes database concepts, development, use, and management in three main sections: database concepts, practice, and emerging trends.  Relational database systems are the main focus, but other types, including object-oriented databases, are studied.  Practical design of databases and developing database applications using modern software tools will be emphasized.

PRIMARY TEXT

Required: Connolly, Thomas and Carolyn Begg: Database Systems (4th Ed.). Addison-Wesley, 2005. (Textbook Web Site for students: See card supplied with the textbook.)

Recommended: Any good book on Microsoft Access 2003 such as: Roger Jennings: Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Access 2003, Que, 2004.

Other: For those seeking a stronger technical treatment of database systems: Elmasri, R. and S. B. Navathe: Fundamentals of Database Systems (4th Ed.), Addison Wesley, 2004.

READINGS

Suggestions for (optional) reading material will be posted on the course website as the course progresses. Suggestions from students are also appreciated (please email them to the instructor).

SOFTWARE

Required. The primary source of software that will be used in this course is the CIS department’s MSDNAA (Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance) program (ELMS). From this site you can download all of the MSDNAA software indicated above as well as numerous other “goodies” such as Visual Studio.NET, and MS-Project for use over the duration of the course.

The URL is:http://msdn.e-academy.com/gsu_cis/. You can go to the site as a “guest” to see what software is available. During the second week of the class, all the students registered for the course will receive emails on their GSU e-mail addresses (xx.student.gsu.edu) containing the password you can use for downloading the needed software. The id to be used is your complete GSU e-mail address. Questions pertaining to the GSU e-mail addresses should be directed to GSU IS&T (Tel. 404-651-4507, e-mail: help@gsu.edu) and questions regarding MSDNAA should be directed to Mohammed Issah (missah@cis.gsu.edu) or to Roderick Padilla (rpadilla@gsu.edu). If you do not have a fast internet connection then you should bring blank CDs to the GSU Computing Lab. and download the software in the lab.

In this regard, I would strongly suggest that you obtain and install this software as soon as you’re able; waiting until the 11th hour (i.e. just before you need to use it) may create unforeseen challenges for you (and your computer) that will be difficult to resolve in “real time.”

As Access 2003 will be the default “demonstration” DB for the course, you should be able to use a computer that has (or can successfully install) this version of Microsoft Access on it for your coursework. In order to provide a more “realistic,” full-fledged DB scenario (for both your knowledge as well as your resume) we will also work with SQL Server 2000. As such it is advisable that you install this software on your computer as well.

Recommended. There are a number of tools available for drawing/recording conceptual, logical and physical database models. The default for the course will be Visio 2003. It is available from the MSDNAA web site. It is possible to use others and you’re free to choose an alternative, include hand-drawing them. However, the computer-based tools designed for this purpose provide levels of checking, “automatic” schema import and/or generation capabilities, and other aids that won’t be available to you if you use, say, PowerPoint or MS-Draw (i.e. “dumb” drawing packages).

Learning the use of software. GSU provides a good e-training opportunity to learn the use of software and other skills. You first need to create an account at www.gsu.edu/etraining. Training on Access 2003, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, and Visio 2003 Professional is available. You need to click on check catalog and then search for the desired software title.

DETAILED COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successfully completing this course, the student will:

1.      Understand the fundamentals of relational, object-oriented, and distributed database systems including: data models, database architectures, and database manipulations

2.      Understand the theories and techniques in developing database applications and be able to demonstrate the ability to build databases using a DBMS like Microsoft Access

3.      Be familiar with managing database systems

4.      Understand new developments and trends in databases.

TEXT BOOK WEBSITE

The text book for the course (Connolly & Begg) has its own web site (http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_connolly_datasys_4 ) with such things as tutorials, chapter summaries and the like. Each text comes with a “scratch off” card that contains a registration code you can use to register at this site and gain access to the supplementary materials it provides. The use of this site is *not* a requirement of the course; simply an additional aid for you to increase comprehension of the course concepts.

COURSE WEBSITE

The website for the course will be: http://www3.cis.gsu.edu/vvaishnavi/8040Fa05/8040index.html This should be fully operational by the weekend following the first class session (possibly earlier). All materials related to the course will be placed there for download and/or browser viewing.

POLICIES

 Grading Policy

Withdrawing

 A 'W' grade will be assigned if a student withdraws before the middle of the semester (July 9th) while maintaining a passing grade.  A 'WF' will be assigned if a student withdraws before the middle of the semester while doing failing work OR after the middle of the semester.  Missing more than two consecutive classes without the instructor's permission will be considered a voluntary withdrawal.  The grade of 'W' or 'WF' will depend upon whether the student stopped actively attending prior to the mid-point of the semester.

Class participation

 All students are required to attend all classes.  If one or more class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to determine the specific material covered during their absence and make the necessary arrangements for making up what is missed.  Class discussion is strongly encouraged.  Two classes missed consecutively, without the permission of the instructor, will be considered a drop.

GENERAL CLASS POLICIES

• Prerequisites are strictly enforced. Students failing to complete a prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher will be administratively withdrawn from the course in which they are in violation with a loss of tuition fees. There are no exceptions.

• Students are expected to attend all classes and group meetings, except when precluded by emergencies, religious holidays or bona fide extenuating circumstances.

• Make-up exams will not be given.  However, if a student has a planned absence, he or she may take the exam earlier with the permission of the instructor.

• Students who, for non-academic reasons beyond their control, are unable to meet the full requirements of the course should notify the instructor. Incompletes may be given if a student has ONE AND ONLY ONE outstanding assignment.

• A “W” grade will be assigned if a student withdraws before mid-semester while maintaining a passing grade. Withdrawals after the mid-semester date will result in a grade of “WF”. Refer to GSU catalog or Registrar’s office for details.

• Spirited class participation is encouraged and informed discussion in class is expected. This requires completing readings and assignments before class.

• Unless specifically stated by the instructor, all exams and lab assignments are to be completed by the student alone.

• Within group collaboration is allowed on project work. Collaboration between project groups will be considered cheating unless specifically allowed by an instructor.

• Copy work from the Internet without a proper reference will be considered plagiarism and subject to disciplinary action as delineated in the Student Handbook.

• Any non-authorized collaboration will be considered cheating and the student(s) involved will have an Academic Dishonesty charge completed by the instructor and placed on file in the Dean’s office and the CIS Department. All instructors regardless of the type of assignment will apply this Academic Dishonesty policy equally to all students. See excerpt from the Student Handbook below:

ACADEMIC HONESTY

(Abstracted from GSU’s Student Handbook Student Code of Conduct “Policy on Academic Honesty and Procedures for Resolving Matters of Academic Honesty” - http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwcam/academichonesty.html)

 As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The University assumes as a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic work.

Students are expected to discuss with faculty the expectations regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. Here are some examples and definitions that clarify the standards by which academic honesty and academically honorable conduct are judged at GSU.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism includes any paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism frequently involves a failure to acknowledge in the text, notes, or footnotes the quotation of the paragraphs, sentences, or even a few phrases written or spoken by someone else. The submission of research or completed papers or projects by someone else is plagiarism, as is the unacknowledged use of research sources gathered by someone else when that use is specifically forbidden by the faculty member. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one’s reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one’s reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Any work, in whole or part, taken from the internet or other computer based resource without properly referencing the source (for example, the URL) is considered plagiarism. A complete reference is required in order that all parties may locate and view the original source. Finally, there may be forms of plagiarism that are unique to an individual discipline or course, examples of which should be provided in advance by the
faculty member. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility.

Cheating on Examinations. Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help include the use of notes, texts, or “crib sheets” during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member), or sharing information with another student during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member). Other examples include intentionally allowing another student to view one’s own examination and collaboration before or after an examination if such collaboration is specifically forbidden by the faculty member.

Unauthorized Collaboration. Submission for academic credit of a work product, or a part thereof, represented as its being one’s own effort, which has been developed in substantial collaboration with assistance from another person or source, or computer honesty. It is also a violation of academic honesty knowingly to provide such assistance. Collaborative work specifically authorized by a faculty member is allowed.

Tentative Schedule of Classes

                                 *** This Syllabus Provides a General Plan for the Course; Deviations May Be Necessary.

Apply Online:

Graduate

Undergraduate