BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
LAST REVIEW: NEXT REVIEW: 2014-15 STATUS: A
COURSE TITLE: DATABASE CONCEPTS
COMMON COURSE NUMBER: COP 3703
CREDIT HOURS: 3 CONTACT HOUR BREAKDOWN
(per 16 week term)
CLOCK HOURS: Lecture: 48 Lab:
(Voc. Course ONLY)
Clinic: Other:
PREREQUISITE(S): None
COREQUISITE(S): None
PRE/COREQUISITE(S): None
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course applies a relational model approach to logical and physical
data structure and data concepts and modeling. It also applies a model based on conceptual
database design and implementation using current software.
UNIT TITLES
1. Introduction to Database Systems and Models
2. Relational Database Foundation Concepts
3. Database Design: Conceptual Modeling, Logical Database Design and Physical Database
Design
4. Relational Operations
5. Relational Database Implementation and Query Language
6. Relational Database Administration, Accessibility and Security
7. Advanced topics/concepts in Database Management: Transaction Management; Concurrency
Control; Performance Tuning; Query Optimization; Recovery and Fault Tolerance; Web-based
Databases; Distributed Databases; Data Warehousing; and Data Mining
8. Relational Database Connectivity, Web Technologies and support of E-business
EVALUATION:
Students will be assessed through a variety of means. Evaluation may include, but is not limited to, the
following: exams, presentations, project portfolios, attendance, case studies, and research papers. However,
the emphasis shall be on project work and the creation of deliverables as per project specifications.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
UNITS
Unit 1 Introduction to Database Systems and Models
General Outcome:
1.0 The student shall discuss the need for a systematic approach to database
management and the pros and cons of various Database Systems/Models:
Hierarchical, Network, Relational and Object-Oriented
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
1.1 Review the three schema architecture for data management.
1.2 Argue the need, or lack thereof, for a systematic approach to data management.
1.3 Expose the underpinnings of each approach to database management systems.
1.4 Illustrate the various models.
1.5 Analyze reasons and advantages of data modeling.
1.6 Employ the Extended Entity Relationship Model [E-ERM].
1.7 Identify major strengths and shortfalls of the Relational Model.
1.8 Justify the Relational Approach from the user’s point of view.
1.9 Demystify levels of abstraction and the benefits of employing these.
1.10 Discuss the role of data and information in the business environment.
1.11 Propose database management futures.
1.12 Infer the benefits of structural independence and data independence.
1.13 Generate examples of data redundancy, analyzing the impact on databases in terms of data
consistency and data anomaly.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 2: Relational Database Foundation Concepts
General Outcome:
2.0 The student shall explain, discuss and rationalize Relational Foundation
Concepts, including foundation rules, set theory as applied to the Relational
Model, and data integrity
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
2.1 Explain the meaning and characteristics of Relation in this context.
2.2 Distill the major rules of the Relational Theory, specifying their importance.
2.3 Apply basic set theory notions to data management.
2.4 Construct Relations with various data types.
2.5 Evaluate the importance of domains.
2.6 Discuss data integrity: entity integrity; column integrity; domain integrity.
2.7 Distinguish between the logical and the physical view.
2.8 Evaluate the characteristics of primary keys.
2.9 Design examples to explain functional dependencies and the notion of determinants.
2.10 Correlate the role of foreign keys with parent-child relationships.
2.11 Illustrate mapping of relations: 1:1, 1:M, M:N and its relevance to database management.
2.12 Focus on issues of complexity surrounding M:N mappings in the Relational World.
2.13 Interpret business rules in the context of database constraints.
2.14 Clarify the subtleties of data redundancy and their role in determining database design.
2.15 Prioritize the use and applicability of other kinds of keys: superkeys, candidate keys,
artificial keys.
2.16 Conflate the relational rules into a comprehensible and inter-related whole that summarizes
the Relational Approach.
2.17 Integrate the notions of constraints and integrity, within the database context.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 3 Database Design: Conceptual Modeling, Logical Database Design, and Physical Database
Design
General Outcome:
3.0 The student shall design a simple database, using requirements given,
transitioning from the Conceptual Design to the Logical Database Design and
then to the Physical Design
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
3.1 Demonstrate abstraction of business rules from a set of requirements.
3.2 Identify entities and their attributes, and the relationships among entities.
3.3 Create a conceptual database diagram or schema.
3.4 Prepare Entity-Relationship Diagrams using Crows Feet notation/symbolism.
3.5 Derive base relations or tables for Logical Database Design.
3.6 Rationalize primary keys, foreign keys, candidate keys and surrogate keys.
3.7 Explain Referential Integrity and its implications for data consistency.
3.8 Diagnose various forms of data anomalies, using examples.
3.9 Classify tables as First Normal Form [1NF]; Second Normal Form [2NF]; Third
Normal Form [3NF]; or Boyce-Codd Normal Form [ BCNF ], as applicable.
3.10 Resolve missing information issues by application of specific rules.
3.11 Execute normalization of tables to achieve acceptable Logical Database Design.
3.12 Analyze relationships and specify their cardinality, connectivity and modality.
3.13 Evaluate the Logical Database Design for potential performance considerations.
3.14 Map the Logical Database Design to a Physical Database Design to achieve performance
objectives.
3.15 Scrutinize database design challenges to balance tradeoffs and resolve conflicting goals.
3.16 Specify Data Dictionary entries and appropriateness, justifying these.
3.17 Justify the need for planned data redundancy.
3.18 Cultivate a rational approach to denormalization and database partitioning.
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COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 4 Relational Operations
General Outcome:
4.0 The student shall apply a range of Relational Operations, distinguishing
between Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
4.1 Apply operations to R-Tables: Projection, Restriction, Cartesian Product, Join, Union,
Intersection, Difference, and Divide.
4.2 Explain the notions of Commutativity, Associativity, Distributivity, Reflexivity and Closure,
within this context.
4.3 Analyze statements for truth values, including the notion of nulls.
4.4 Generate a workable set of guidelines for compound statement evaluation.
4.5 Identify predicates, according to Codd’s Theory.
4.6 Negotiate the intricacies of first order predicate logic, in problem-solving, for both simple as
well as compound statement evaluation.
4.7 Assess the importance of order of operations, using various scenarios.
4.8 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the Join operation.
4.9 Distinguish among inner and outer joins; left and right joins; symmetric joins; equi and
non-equi joins.
4.10 Compare and contrast the Union Operation with the Union All.
4.11 Compile a list of relational primitives and derived operations, demonstrating such
derivations.
4.12 Distinguish between Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus [tuple calculus, domain
calculus], internalizing the essential equivalence.
4.12 Survey concepts such as: reliability, repeatability, accuracy, precision, robustness, ambiguity,
validity, predictability, verifiability. extensibility, compactness and orthogonality.
4.13 Deduce the impact and implications of an unrestricted Cartesian Product.
4.14 Devise simple examples to demonstrate the various relational operations.
4.15 Synthesize the entire body of operations into a pseudo database query language.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 5 Relational Database Implementation and Query Language
General Outcome:
5.0 The student shall exercise a simple set of Structured Query Language [ SQL ]
statements to implement and query the database
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
5.1 Identify a basic set of SQL statements and functions, and essential SQL statement syntax.
5.2 Implement a Logical Database Design into a Physical Database using the SQL language.
5.3 Construct R-Tables in 3NF using the Data Definition Language of SQL.
5.4 Populate R-Tables with data, using the Insert statement.
5.5 Apply Referential Integrity constraints to the tables using the Alter Table statement.
5.6 Formulate a problem-solving approach to simple SQL queries, based on the semantics of
requests.
5.7 Analyze the impact of nulls on SQL query result sets, especially when using aggregate
functions.
5.8 Circumscribe a unit of work, discussing the importance of this notion.
5.9 Establish distinct transaction boundaries.
5.10 Utilize the following statements: Grant, Revoke, Commit and Rollback in context.
5.11 Update R-Tables, using the SQL Update statement.
5.12 Execute simple Relational Joins, Equi as well as Non-Equi.
5.13 Conceptualize SQL Query Processing by the RDBMS.
5.14 Review approaches aimed at optimizing SQL operations.
5.15 Analyze a Query Execution Plan for performance gains.
5.16 Exploit the mathematical foundations of the Relational Model to demonstrate predictability,
verifiability and reliability.
5.17 Demonstrate Commutativity, Associativity and Distributivity in the construction of queries,
using SQL.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 6 Relational Database Administration and Security
General Outcome:
6.0 The student shall investigate the multifaceted roles of the Database
Administrator [DBA], both technical as well as managerial, how technical tasks
are performed and the tools and strategies that support these, along with data
and database security, and the organizational information security framework
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
6.1 Explain the role of the DBA in supporting: managerial decision-making: interpretation and
presentation of data; distribution of data and information; preservation and monitoring of
data; control over data duplication; access; use; planning; education; and training.
6.2 Discuss the DBA’s responsibilities for coordinating, monitoring and allocating resources;
implementing policies; governance; change management; and standards and procedures.
6.3 Execute security, privacy and integrity measures.
6.4 Explore other technical responsibilities of Data Administration: software selection and
Installation; designing databases and applications; DBMS operation; data definition and
manipulation; database maintenance; backup and recovery; troubleshooting and control.
6.5 Monitor database performance, using various tools/utilities.
6.6 Access metadata in monitoring database use and activities, recognizing the importance of the
System Catalog.
6.7 Recognize the use of CASE tools in database management.
6.8 Expound the role of the Data Administrator in Information Engineering [ IE ] and Information
Systems Architecture [ ISA ].
6.9 Rationalize the scope of, and need for, database security.
6.10 Discuss security, authorization, confidentiality, integrity and availability.
6.11 Chart out a security policy to provide overall security: standards; policies and procedures;
and audits and compliance, within the general information security framework.
6.12 Differentiate among: security vulnerability; security threat; and security breach.
6.13 Enumerate the DBMS features and measures that facilitate security, from installation
through maintenance.
6.14 Investigate authorization management: user access; views; access control and usage.
COP 3703
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
Unit 7: Advanced topics/concepts in Database Management: transaction management; concurrency
control; performance tuning; query optimization; fault tolerance; database backup and
recovery; distributed databases; client-server vs. Distributed Database Management Systems
[ DDBMS ]; Data Warehousing; and Data Mining
General Outcome:
7.0 The student shall investigate a wide array of database concepts of crucial
importance to management, performance and control
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
7.1 Explain transaction management and transaction control within the SQL context.
7.2 Summarize methods of redundant data storage, data recovery and fault tolerance.
7.3 Identify the various means of achieving concurrency control: optimistic as well as
pessimistic, and the tradeoffs inherent in these.
7.4 Demystify the role of concurrency control in maintaining data consistency and integrity.
7.5 Manage database performance by employing various tuning options and strategies, both
hardware as well as software related, including caching.
7.6 Investigate popular tools for analyzing and evaluating database and SQL performance.
7.8 Distinguish between database performance tuning and SQL query optimization, examining
the use of indexes to facilitate data access strategies.
7.9 Define the key factors that determine the appropriate choice of a DBMS.
7.10 Illustrate the architecture of distributed databases where both data and processing functions
are distributed among several computing sites.
7.11 Compare and contrast the pros and cons of Distributed Database Management Systems,
including Client-Server Technology vs. DDBMS.
7.12 Explain concepts related to DDBMS: distribution transparency; transaction transparency;
failure transparency; performance transparency; fragmentation transparency; heterogeneity
transparency; location transparency; and local mapping transparency.
7.13 Analyze the Two Phase Commit Protocol within the context of Distributed Concurrency
Control.
7.14 Evaluate design approaches such as: data fragmentation, data replication and data
allocation.
7.15 Summarize the approaches and importance of Data Warehousing and Data Mining.
BROWARD COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
COP 3703
Unit 8 Relational Database Connectivity, Web Technologies and support of E-business
General Outcome:
8.0 The student shall develop a firm grounding in various approaches to database
connectivity; the role of middleware in database integration on the Internet;
web application servers services; the Extensible Markup Language [ XML ], and
how these facilities support and enable E-Business initiatives.
Specific Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student shall be able to:
8.1 Investigate the various mechanisms enabling application programs to connect and
communicate with data sources: middleware.
8.2 Discuss the notion of a Data Repository.
8.3 Promote the backbone aspects of MS Universal Data Access [ UDA ] architecture: Open
Database Connectivity [ ODBC ]; ActiveX Data Objects [ ADO.NET ]; and Object-Linking and
Embedding for Databases [ OLE-DB ].
8.4 Explore examples of Native SQL Connectivity, their vendor-specific uniqueness and
optimization for such tasks.
8.5 Articulate the SQL Group Call Level Interface [ CLI ] viz. ODBC; Data Access Objects
[ DAO ]; and Remote Data Objects [ RDO ].
8.6 Explain the features of OLE-DB and ADO.NET.
8.7 Recognize the importance and advantages of Java Database Connectivity [ JDBC ] and its
ability to use ODBC drivers.
8.8 Discuss the merits of internet databases in terms of: server-side extensions or Web-to-
Database middleware; web server interfaces such as Common Gateway Interface [ CGI ];
and Application Programming Interface [ API ].
8.9 Rationalize the client-side in terms of web browsers.
8.11 Differentiate among the various client-side extensions such as: plug-ins; Java and JavaScript;
ActiveX; and VBScript.
8.12 Explore the features of web application servers, including enforcement of referential
integrity.
8.13 Survey the Extensible Markup Language [ XML ] and its role in facilitating E-Commerce.
8.14 Debate the pros and cons of E-Commerce in its current state.