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The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web at .
Please consult the web for updates that may occur during the year.

CSC8500 Advanced Relational Database Design and Technology

Semester 1, 2021 On-campus Toowoomba
Short Description: Adv Relational Database Design
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Sciences
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 020303 - Database Management
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or MCTN or GCSC or GDSI or MSCN or MADS.

Other requisites

Recommended Pre-requisite: MAT1101 and CSC2401 and CSC2407 and CSC2408.
Students who have enrolled in or completed CSC3400 Database Systems cannot enrol in this course.
Students will require access to e-mail and have internet access to UConnect for this course.

Rationale

A key component of information systems is its database management system. These are widely used in scientific, business, government, and industrial organisations. It is important for a computing professional to understand the basic concepts of database systems, to be proficient in database query languages, to know the design principles of database systems and acquire skills to efficiently manage and utilize the typically large relational databases. It is also important to be able to gather information from the user, select and implement an appropriate database system, and develop advanced methods to analyze the data and discover useful knowledge.

Synopsis

This course covers the fundamental issues of the relational model, relational languages, database design, query processing and some advanced data management and data mining techniques. It starts with a structured overview of database systems, their history and application. The relational model is then covered in detail. Relational languages such as the relational algebra and calculus are discussed before introducing the SQL language. Then we cover the Entity-Relationship model and discuss how ER diagrams are translated to the relational model. Topics on database design principles in this course include functional dependencies and normalisation. Students will gain a good understanding of database design theory and principles, be able to select, develop and troubleshoot database systems, and implement data-centric applications for performing advanced data management and/or data mining tasks.

Objectives

On completion of this course the student should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the relational model;
  2. Correctly construct relational algebra and relational calculus expressions;
  3. Reformulate an English language query statement in the relational algebra, relational calculus, and SQL formalisms;
  4. Create, modify, query, and update a relational database using SQL;
  5. Design an Entity-Relationship diagram on the basis of a description of database requirements;
  6. Translate an ER-diagram into a relational schema;
  7. Normalise relations using functional dependencies;
  8. Select and implement a database system;
  9. Develop efficient and effective advanced methods to analyze data and discover knowledge and patterns.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. The relational model 10.00
2. The relational algebra and calculas 10.00
3. The SQL language 10.00
4. The Entity Relationship model 15.00
5. Relational database design 15.00
6. Advanced data management/mining techniques 40.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2021&sem=01&subject1=CSC8500)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Connolly, T & Begg, C 2014, Database systems, a practical approach to design, implementation and management, 6th edn, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow.
A relational database management system (DBMS) such as: MySQL, latest version, free download ; PostgreSQL, latest version, free download. Students may choose any of these two or any other to practise their knowledge of SQL. Manuals for these systems are included in the downloads.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Date, CJ 2004, An introduction to database systems, 8th edn, Pearson/Addison-Wesley, Boston.
Elmasri, R & Navathe, SB 2015, Fundamentals of database systems, 7th edn, Pearson/Addison-Wesley, New York.
Jiawei Han, Micheline Kamber, Jian Pei 2011, Data mining: Concepts and techniques, 3rd edn.
(The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems.)
Ramakrishnan, R & Gehrke, J 2003, Database management systems, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Silberschatz, A, Korth, HF & Sudarshan, S 2019, Database systems concepts, 7th edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 40.00
Laboratory or Practical Classes 10.00
Lectures 39.00
Private Study 81.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Assignment 1 20 10 17 Mar 2021
Assignment 2 20 15 21 Apr 2021
Assignment 3 20 15 20 May 2021
Open Examination - Online 100 60 End S1 (see note 1)

Notes
  1. This will be an online exam. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via StudyDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them (including course Web pages) to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2021 are:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2021:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle).

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2021 are:
    An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S1 2021:
    Candidates are only allowed to access specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are:
    i. writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination);
    ii. calculators which cannot hold textual information (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination);

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Normally Deferred and Supplementary Examinations are held in the next Examination period. In S1 2021 selected courses will pilot an early Deferred and Supplementary Examination period held within 30 business days of results release. The list of courses involved can be found at .

  8. University Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (

  2. Assignments should be submitted electronically, through the course website.

  3. The referencing system to be used in this course is supported by the School. Information on this referencing system and advice on how to use it can be found in the course materials.

Other requirements

  1. Students will require access to e-mail and internet access to UConnect and the Course Web site, and are expected to check these resources frequently.

  2. Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in the course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect to achieve the same grades as those students who do possess them.

Date printed 18 June 2021