Course Description
Course introduces general database concepts as well as database system technology. This course covers the fundamental concepts necessary for designing, using, and implementing database systems and database applications. The course stresses the fundamentals of database modeling and design, the languages and models provided by the database management systems, and database system implementation techniques. The goal is to provide an in-depth and up-to-date presentation of the most important aspects of database systems and applications, and related technologies.
Student Contact
Assignments will be handed out in class, and may or may not be posted so attend class to keep up on coursework. Homework assignments will be given, and students are expected to complete them as part of the learning process. Answers to homework assignments will be covered in class. Emails will be checked once in the morning, so waiting until the last minute to ask questions is generally a bad idea. I am purposely reducing my email load and emphasizing face to face contact rather than electronic contact, so ask questions on assignments in class. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with class by their physical and mental presence during class time.
Grading Policys
Final course grades will be determined based on the following approximate percentages:
Project: 30%
Interactives: 10%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
Makeup Exams
No makeup exams or quizzes will be given. If the student is unable to take an exam due to extreme circumstances, the student may, at the instructor's discretion, take the exam early. In addition, on-time completion of assignments will be critical to the student’s success in the class; therefore, late assignments will be assessed a 25% penalty for 1 class late, 50% for 2 classes late, after which they will not be accepted. Assignments are due at the class start time on the given due date.
Attendance
Students are expected to come to class on time, prepared to participate, and to read the assigned material before class. Cell phone and laptop misuse (other than note taking), or other disruptive behavior will not
be permitted. Class notes should be obtained from another student if a class is missed. Some important material covered in the lectures will not be contained in the text, and selected material from the text will be augmented and emphasized in the lectures.
Late Drops, Incompletes:
A drop after the normal deadline date is allowed by the college very rarely and will be approved only if there is documented evidence that the student was prevented from attending a significant number of classes by circumstances clearly beyond his/her control (e.g., illness). If the instructor approves the drop, the Computer Science Department Chairman and the EAS Dean have final authority in carrying out the EAS college policy and granting approval. A grade of ‘Incomplete’ is rare and allowed only when the student has already completed the majority of the course work completed but has insurmountable problems with completing a small part of it due to circumstances clearly beyond their control. An ‘Incomplete’ is not justified in the case of a student who has simply chosen not to do the work on time.
Logistics
In the event of a class cancellation on an exam or assignment due date, students should assume that the exam will be taken, or the assignment will be submitted the following regular class time.
Responsibilities
Lost data or failed computers are not valid excuses for late assignments. The lab computers are provided as a resource and are always an alternative to your own personal computer usage. Always back up all program materials to a portable storage device to prevent loss. Save data frequently, and under different names so you have multiple copies. Don’t risk los ing hours of work when (not ‘if’) a hard drive fails, or the computer crashes. Ask yourself: How much work am I willing to lose and have to redo, and how much time will I have to do it all again?