CA571
Relational Database Systems

The module specification on the Computer Applications website.

I will hand out the notes in class so I have no current plans to put them up here for downloading. I will incorporate a practical element into the course and students will generate their own databases on a Microsoft SQL Server DBMS.

The Course is divided into in 7 Chapters...

• Chapter 1: Database Overview

• Chapter 2: Entity-Relationship Modelling

• Chapter 3: Relational Model of Data

• Chapter 4: Introduction to the SQL Programming Language

• Chapter 5: Database Design & Normalisation

• Chapter 6: Additional SQL Programming

• Chapter 7: Database Views & Security
  

There are a number of books which would make for very useful reading (most important are bold). All links are to the most recent editions on www.amazon.com. You should also find these in the library:

• A First Course in Database Systems (Ullman & Widom)

• Fundamentals of Database Systems (Elmasri & Navathe)

• An Introduction to Database Systems (Date)

• SAMS : Teach Yourself SQL in 10 minutes (Forta)

• SSADM Version 4 : A users guide (Eva) - this is not in print, in the library only...

- NEWS -

1. First Lecture : Wednesday 3rd October at 18:30 in room XG14. I will bring your notes for the first few weeks.

2. Project NEWS : given in class... all projects have been recieved!

- Voluntary Student Feedback -

The scale is 1..7 (1 = true, 7 = false)

• The lecturer is enthusiastic about teaching. (1)
• The lecturer makes good use of examples and illustrations. (1)
• The lecturer presents the material in an interesting way. (2)
• The presentation of lectures is good. (1)
• The lecturer is well organized. (1)
• I have a complete and well organised set of lecture notes on the course to date. (1)
• It is clear that the concepts covered in this course are inter-related. (1)
• The course attempts to cover too much material. (2)
• The pace of the course is satisfactory. (1)
• The lecturer is approachable. (1)
• The lecturer handles questions well. (1)
• The library’s range of textbooks and materials are adequate for this subject. (1)
• The assignments are relevant to the material taught. (1)
• The assignment load is appropriate to the course. (1)
• I have learned a lot from taking this course (1)