MIS 372 - Database Management

Washington State University

Fall 1998

 

Class: Tuesdays, 5:45pm to 8:30pm CL 224

Home Page: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/simpsons/mis372

Objectives:
The objective of this course is to gain a firm understanding of database design and management. The design and use of database systems are critical parts of today's information systems. Specific topics of the course will include database systems in organizations, database conceptual design and normalization theory, database administration and planning, client/server technologies and Structured Query Language (SQL). Microsoft Access will be taught and used for class assignments and the semester project.

Instructor:
Shaun Simpson, WSU Vancouver, (360) 260-5643
Office Hours: By appointment usually before or after class
E-mail: simpsons@vancouver.wsu.edu

Text(s):

(DS) Database Systems: Concepts, Management and Applications, Alden C. Lorents, and James N. Morgan, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.
(MA) Microsoft Access 97: Step by step, Microsoft Press, 1997 (Optional)

Computer Use:

This class will use Microsoft Access 97 extensively. Students should have a general knowledge about how computers wok and have the ability to use PC applications (word processing, presentation graphics, e-mail). See the Vancouver Information Technology form for an e-mail account at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/vis/vit/emailform.html.

Learning:

In this class, students will be expected to learn and use Microsoft Access 97, database software to complete several PC-based assignments and a comprehensive team project. In general, class time will include lectures and exercises to enhance the information from the text along with hands-on computer exercises.

You will need to read and keep up the assignments in order to do well. Quizzes will be given in class periodically and will be used to determine who is keeping up with the readings. Four or five quizzes will be given and students will be allowed to drop the lowest score. Assignments will also be given periodically and must be turned in by the following class period. Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade.

The semester project will be a comprehensive project that will show the extent of a student's learning throughout the course. A student may work alone or in a group to design and implement a database system using Microsoft Access. More information will be given on this assignment.

A midterm and a final will be given.

Grading:

Class Participation

5

Quizzes

10

Assignments

15

Midterm

20

Final

20

Term Project

30

Grade Scale:

93-100%

A

73-77%

C

90-92%

A-

70-72%

C-

88-89%

B+

68-69%

D+

83-87%

B

60-67%

D

80-82%

B-

0-59%

F

78-79%

C+

    

 

Course Outline: (Subject to change)

Week

Date

Lesson

Reading

1

25-Aug

Introduction to Database and Database Systems

DS Chapter 1, pp. 1 - 28

Intro to Access

MA Lesson 1, pp. 3 - 26

2

1-Sep

Information Systems Development Methodologies

DS Chapter 4, pp. 115 - 143

Databases, Tables, and Fields

MA Lesson 4, pp. 63 - 74

3

8-Sep

Data and its Representation in Database Systems

DS Chapter 2, pp. 31 - 52

External data and queries

MA Lesson 6, pp. 109 -115

MA Lesson 7, pp. 129 - 141

4

15-Sep

ER Modeling

DS Chapter 2, pp. 53 - 64

Data Retrieval with Forms

MA Lesson 10, pp. 183 - 188

5

22-Sep

Normalization

DS Chapter 3, pp.71 - 106

Creating Tables and Relationships

MA Lesson 4, pp. 79 - 85

MA Lesson 5, pp. 97-108

6

29-Sep

Conceptual Design of the Airline Database

DS Chapter 5, pp. 151 - 187

7

6-Oct

Midterm

Complex Queries and Forms

MA Lesson 8, pp. 145 - 153

MA Lesson 9, pp. 163 - 174

8

13-Oct

Mapping the Conceptual Design to the Relational Model

DS Chapter 7, pp.262 - 270

Macro Buttons and Form Controls

MA Lesson 10, pp. 197 - 199

MA Lesson 5, pp. 91 - 96

9

20-Oct

SQL, Building the Database

DS Chapter 7, pp. 270 - 290, 305

Building a Database with Access QBE/SQL

10

27-Oct

SQL/QBE

DS Chapter 6, pp. 197 - 227

11

3-Nov

Database Administration

DS Chapter 10, pp. 391 - 401

Report Customizations

MA Lesson 11, pp. 203 - 213

MA Lesson 12, pp. 217 - 227

12

10-Nov

Access and Update Control, Database Recovery

DS Chapter 10, pp. 401 - 424

13

17-Nov

Distributed Database Systems

DS Chapter 12, pp. 477 - 508

24-Nov

Thanksgiving

14

1-Dec

Physical Data Organization for Database Systems

DS Chapter 11, pp. 435 - 468

15

8-Dec

Final Project Presentations

15-Dec

Final Exam

 

In Case You Are Absent:

It is your responsibility to get the notes, handouts, and homework assignments should you miss class. Makeup quizzes will not be given. If you know you will be absent on the date of the midterm or final exams you must contact me prior to the exam date to make arrangements for taking the exam at another time.

Honor Code:

Students are expected to uphold the WSU standard of conduct relating to academic dishonesty (see WSU Student Handbook, WAC 504-25-015). Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student's submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that student's own work. Students shall be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

1. Represent the work of others as their own.

2. Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

3. Give unauthorized assistance to other students.

4. Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit.

5. Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

The penalty for violating the honor code is severe. The first offense will result in a grade of zero on the assignment/exam in question. A second offense will result in a failing grade for the course. All offenses will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.