Spring 2014 CSCI 343 Syllabus

Official catalog course description

Study of theory and application of database management systems. Topics include database design, data normalization, transaction management and data access methods. Prerequisite: CSCI 202.

Meetings

The course instructor for CSCI 343 is J Dean Brock. The course lectures will be delivered on Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM in Robinson 217.

There will be labs held from 4:25 PM to 5:40 PM on Tuesday in Robinson 223. Because enrollment in the class exceeds the capacity of Robinson 223, the labs will occur biweekly with half the class attending each lab.

If UNC Asheville is following its Late Start Schedule, the class will meet from 11:40 AM to 12:40 PM and the lab will meet from 4:50 PM to 5:50 PM.

Class home page

All class handouts, including homework assignments, can be found through the following URL:

Course topics

Fairly specific, though sometimes tentative, information about the topics covered in the course can be found on the class topics and schedule pages.

Learning objectives

This course introduces the theory of databases, database design principles, and methodologies for implementing database system. Societal implications of modern database usage will also be discussed.

You should also learn how to accomplish the following specific tasks in this course.

  1. Design a database using the rational model
  2. Normalize database tables
  3. Document a database design with entity-relationship diagrams
  4. Use SQL to query and modify a database
  5. Program an application that uses a database

Textbook and readings

There are no required textbook for this course. Readings from sources available through the internet or Ramsey library will be assigned and listed on the course schedule.

Software

Software used in this course will be available in the department’s workstation laboratory. As the semester progresses, specific software for personal computers will be listed.

Grades

The following weights are used in computing the course grade.

Grade component Weight
Three in-class exams 40%
Homework 30%
Class project and presentation 20%
Lab participation 10%

Exams

There will be three exams given in the class. The first two will last the entire class period and the last exam will last about one half of the class period. The two longer exams will each count for 16% of the class grade and the shorter exam will count for 8% of the class grade.

All exams will be closed book and closed notes. A reference sheet will be provided which lists detailed information, such as the syntax of SQL, which would be burdensome (and unproductive) to memorize.

UNC Asheville’s Academic Policies and Procedures do provide excused absences for “travel on university-sanctioned business” and “up to two excused absences per semester for religious observances” when seven days notice is given. The seven day notice will allow students to avoid scheduled exams. For this reason, attendance at all exams is mandatory.

Homework and assignments

Students will complete frequent assignments to be turned in at class or submitted via the UNCA moodle system.

Students are required to cite any sources, including the work of other students, used in completing their assignments. If this is not done, no credit will be given for the homework. Use of other sources can result in adjustments to the homework grade.

All homework has a specific due time. Any late homework must be submitted to the late assignment bin as discussed in the policy on late assignments.

Project and presentation

In the last few weeks of class, students will complete a class project demonstrating the application of a database through a programming interface. These projects will be presented in the last scheduled class meeting, by graduating seniors, and during the final exam period, by other students.

Labs

Because the number of students enrolled in CSCI 343 exceeds the capacity of available computer labs, the class will be divided into two groups. The groups will meet on alternating weeks.

In general, the lab grade is passed on participation. Students attending lab and working diligently should do well on the lab component. Students sending TXT message may not. Each student is expected to type every keystroke required to complete a lab assignment.

The lowest lab grade will dropped in computing the lab grade average.

Scale

The following numerical scale will be used in assigning grades based on Score, the score computed using the weights described above.

Score ≥ 93A
Score ≥ 90 & Score < 93A-
Score ≥ 87 & Score < 90B+
Score ≥ 83 & Score < 87B
Score ≥ 80 & Score < 83B-
Score ≥ 77 & Score < 80C+
Score ≥ 73 & Score < 77C
Score ≥ 70 & Score < 73C-
Score ≥ 67 & Score < 70D+
Score ≥ 60 & Score < 67D
Score < 60F

There will no “rounding-up” in computing the final grade. A score of 69.95 is less than 70 and results in a grade of D+.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed to making courses, programs and activities accessible to persons with documented disabilities. Students requiring reasonable accommodations must register with the Disability Services Office by providing supporting documentation. All information provided will remain confidential. For more information please contact the Disability Services Office at (828)232-5050 or disabilityservices@unca.edu or visit them in the OneStop Student Services Center.

Preventing Sexual Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and student-to-student sexual harassment. UNC Asheville’s policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please talk to any University Responsible Employee who will report the incident; contact Jill Moffit, UNC Asheville’s Title IX Administrator, at (828)232-5658; or report anonymously at http://publicsafety.unca.edu/police/anonymous-crime-tip-submission . For more information regarding Title IX and resources concerning sexual harassment and its prevention please visit: http://publicsafety.unca.edu/title-ix .

Email Communication

Academic administrators at UNCA have told instructors that information protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act should only be sent to official university email addresses. Information related to recorded grades is clearly protected, as is any discussion that would allow a reader to draw conclusions about your performance or attendance in class.

For more information

The best way to get in touch with me is to send email to brock@unca.edu. If you need to see me, send me email to arrange an appointment.

I get lots of email, so please include CSCI 343 in the subject line.

Required cartoons

we like databases
mauve the most RAM
drop table