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CSCI 3222 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

CSCI 3222 - Database Management Systems

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course gives a basic overview of relational database systems and relational database design.  Students will gain essential skills needed to create, maintain and query a database system using the ISO standard SQL language. Students will work individually on a series of projects encompassing all phases of database design and implementation.

Course Outcomes:

Learn the basics of relational database design and application
Learn how to create, manage and query a database system
Understand data models, normal forms and integrity rules
Learn to use a relational database application
Learn to use the ISO standard SQL database language
Enjoy learning something new! It will open lots of doors.

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

A prior course covering computer literacy topics (use of MS-Windows, use of an MS Office application such as Word, Excel or Front Page) to ensure the student can focus on learning database topics without being distracted by the need to learn the Microsoft interface paradigm.

Course Topics:

Database concepts and design, forms, tables, queries, modules, sorting and filtering data, database management (reliability and integrity).

Specific Course Requirements:

Students must have access to a broadband connection have administrative rights on a personal computer with at least 550MB of free hard drive disk space. You must be an administrator (or be able to run as administrator) to install software.

Optional Software: Web Browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Office

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None.

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

Both examinations will be administered at the testing center closest to the students, home or work. You should specify this location to the instructor within the first two weeks of this course. The exams will be two hours in duration and will be closed book and closed notes. This process is subject to change dependent on the prevailing procedures at the time of the examinations.

Grading Procedures:

Assignments will be graded on the basis of:

  • Correctness: A correct design accommodates all functionalities specified in the assignment,
  • Completeness: A complete design meets all of the requirements specified in the assignment, and is documented in a clear and concise manner
  • ease of use: A design is easy to use if all interfaces to the design obey a consistent design protocol and are as self-explanatory and inviting to a user as is possible
  • efficiency of design: An efficient design meets the conditions specified using a minimum of resources, and executes functionality in as short a time as possible
  • These criteria are selected as these are the criteria used to evaluate all commercial applications of DBMS, thus a student mastering these criteria in their design projects will be acquiring skill required in the workplace. High achievement in the course will constitute fulfilling all of these criteria on all work submitted.
  • Your grade will be based on the weighted average of points derived from each assignment. The total number of points depends on the number of assignments in a given semester

Your Grade will be Calculated using the following percentages:

Class Participation (10): 10%
Homework(4): 15%
Labs(10) 10%
Quizzes (10) 20%
Project (1) 10%
Mid-Term (1) 15%
Final (1) 20%

Grading Scale:

Grade Percent Quality Points
A 90-100 4.0
B 80-89 3.0
C 70-79 2.0
D 60-69 1.0
F 0-59 0.0

Assignments and Projects:

Assignment 1 due at end of Week 1
Assignment 2 due at end of Week 2, Quiz on Week 1
Assignment 3 due at end of Week 3, Quiz on Week 2, Homework 1 Due
Assignment 4 due at end of Week 4, Quiz on Week 3
Assignment 5 due at end of Week 5, Quiz on Week 4, Homework 2 Due
Assignment 6 due at end of Week 6, Quiz on Week 5
Assignment 7 due at end of Week 7, Quiz on Week 6 Mid-Term
Assignment 8 due at end of Week 8
Assignment 9 due at end of Week 9, Quiz on Week 8, Homework 3 Due
Assignment 10 due at end of Week 10, Quiz on Week 9
Assignment 11 due at end of Week 11, Quiz on Week 10, Homework 4 Due
Database Project Complete due at end of Week 12
Final Exam due before the end of Week 13

Class Participation:

Students must communicate with other students in the chat room, students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events.

Late Policy:

Each of the Assignments and Quizzes will be due at the end of the week in which they were assigned (All due elements as stated under the Assignments Tab for each week and explained in Week "n" Documents). Late penalties of 20 percent per day will be assessed. Work will not be accepted more than 2 days overdue.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021