CS 4604: Introduction to Database Management Systems

Fall 2009

CS 4604 is intended to be a first course in database systems for advanced undergraduates in computer science. It offers students an introduction to the design and programming of database systems. In particular, we will cover the ER (entity-relationship) approache to data modelling, the relational model of database management systems (DBMSs) and the use of query languages such as SQL. We will also cover relational algebra and the use of SQL in a programming environment. We will briefly touch upon query processing and mention the role of transaction management. We will also devote a class or two to current topics of research such as XML databases and data mining. Topics outside the scope of this course are how to implement a DBMS, active database elements, and object oriented DBMSs.

Instructor

T. M. Murali

Please include "CS 4604" in the subject line of all email messages that you send me.

Teaching Assistant

Class Meeting Times and Contact Info:

CS4604_91850@listserv.vt.edu

Course Description and Syllabus

Homework Assignments

Homework 1 (Assigned on September 2, 2009; due at start of class on September 9, 2009).
Homework 2 (Assigned on September 16, 2009; due at start of class on September 28, 2009).
Homework 3 (Assigned on October 5, 2009; due at start of class on October 12, 2009).
Homework 4 (Assigned on November 2, 2009; due at start of class on November 9, 2009).
Homework 5 (Assigned on November 16, 2009; due at start of class on November 30, 2009).

Course Project

Project overview
Assignment 1 (Assigned on August 26 2009; due at the start of class on September 2, 2009)
Assignment 2 (Assigned on September 9, 2009; due at the start of class on September 16, 2009)
Assignment 3 (Assigned on September 28, 2009; due at the start of class on October 5, 2009)
Assignment 4 (Assigned on October 21, 2009; due at the start of class on October 28, 2009)
Assignment 5 (Assigned on November 9, 2009; due at the start of class on November 18, 2009)
Assignment 6 (Assigned on November 16, 2009; due on November 30, 2009)

Help with PostgreSQL

Practice Problems

SQL queries (Handout 1, August 31, 2009)
E/R diagram scenarios (Handout 2, September 23, 2009)
Questions on E/R diagrams (courtesy Naren Ramakrishnan), October 5, 2009
Normalisation (Handout 3, October 21, 2009)

Previous Exams

Instructors in previous years covered topics in different orders, so do not be alarmed by questions in midterms that you are unable to answer now, specifically those on functional and multi-valued dependencies and on BCNF, 3NF, and 4NF.

Midterm Exams

Final Exams

Schedule

This schedule is subject to continuous change throughout the semester.
FCDB = "A First Course in Database Systems," third edition, the textbook for the class.

Date	Topic	Reading	Homework/ Assignment
Mon, Aug 24, 2009	Introduction and Course Logistics	FCDB, Chapter 1
Wed, Aug 26, 2009	The Relational Model	FCDB, Chapter 2.1-2.2	Project assignment 1
Mon, Aug 31, 2009	SQL and Relational Algebra Handout 1	FCDB, Chapters 2.4, 6.1, 6.2
Wed, Sep 2, 2009	Subqueries in SQL	FCDB, Chapters 2.4, 6.2, 6.3.1-6.3.5	Project assignment 1 due Homework 1
Mon, Sep 7, 2009	Subqueries continued (no lecture notes) Solve problems in Handout 1
Wed, Sep 9, 2009	Data Definition, Modification, and Constraints	FCDB, Chapter 2.3, 6.5, 2.5, 7.1-7.3	Homework 1 due Project assignment 2
Mon, Sep 14, 2009	Class cancelled due to CSRC Career Fair
Wed, Sep 16, 2009	Bags vs. Sets, Extended Operators	FCDB, Chapter 5.1, 5.2, 6.3.6-6.3.8, 6.4	Project assignment 2 due Homework 2
Mon, Sep 21, 2009	Views	FCDB, Chapter 8.1, 8.2.1-8.2.2, 8.5
Wed, Sep 23, 2009	Entity-Relationship (E/R) Models Handout 2	FCDB, Chapter 4.1
Mon, Sep 28, 2009	E/R Models Continued	FCDB, Chapter 4.1	Homework 2 due Project assignment 3
Wed, Sep 30, 2009	E/R Model Designs	FCDB, Chapter 4.2-4.4
Mon, Oct 5, 2009	The Relational Model, Converting E/R Models to Relational Designs Questions on E/R diagrams	FCDB, Chapter 4.5-4.6	Project assignment 3 due Homework 3
Wed, Oct 7, 2009	Discussion of questions on E/R diagrams
Mon, Oct 12, 2009	Midterm review		Homework 3 due
Wed, Oct 14, 2009	Midterm examination
Mon, Oct 19, 2009	Functional Dependencies	FCDB, Chapter 3.1-3.2
Wed, Oct 21, 2009	Manipulating Functional Dependencies, same lecture as the last class	Handout 3	Project assignment 4
Mon, Oct 26, 2009	Discussion of solutions to midterm exam
Wed, Oct 28, 2009	BCNF and Normalisation	FCDB, Chapter 3.3	Project assignment 4 due
Mon, Nov 2, 2009	BCNF and Normalisation, same lecture as the last class	FCDB, Chapter 3.4	Homework 4
Wed, Nov 4, 2009	3NF	FCDB, Chapter 3.5
Mon, Nov 9, 2009	Multivalued Dependencies and 4NF	FCDB, Chapter 3.6-3.7	Homework 4 due Project assignment 5
Wed, Nov 11, 2009	Class cancelled
Mon, Nov 16, 2009	Practice problems from Handout 3		Project assignment 6 Homework 5
Wed, Nov 18, 2009	PHP		Project assignment 5 due
Mon, Nov 23, 2009	Thanksgiving week, no classes		Project assignment 7
Wed, Nov 25, 2009	Thanksgiving week, no classes
Mon, Nov 30, 2009	PHP		Project assignment 6 due Homework 5 due
Wed, Dec 2, 2009	Self study
Mon, Dec 7, 2009	Review for final examination
Wed, Dec 9, 2009	Class cancelled
Fri, Dec 11, 2009	Final examination, 1:05pm-3:05pm
Mon, Dec 14, 2009	5pm, Project assignment 7 due

Last modified: Wed Nov 18 09:34:37 EST 2009