Course Description:

This hands-on course introduces students to the world of relational databases by taking students on a step-by-step journey through the process of database design and implementation. In this course you will learn about data organization strategies, entities and attributes, tables and relationships, primary and foreign keys, normalization, integrity constraints, and hardware characteristics and constraints as well as database implementation using a relational database. Theory is immediately put into practice as you apply each new concept and technique to your own database project. Offered in an interactive hands-on computer classroom. (3 credits)

For the implementation in Spring 2012 we will be using mySQL, an open source database, available for PCs, MACs, and Linux operating systems. With the growing diversity of computing environments, and the availability of low, or no-cost, open source software, this toolkit will have the greatest impact. We will also implement a computer aided software engineering tool, mySQL workbench.

Objectives:

By the end of the course students will be able to:

• analyze a problem
• develop business rules 
• design a database
• implement business rules
• diagram a database
  
• build a database
• query a database
• enter and extract information from a database
• interconnect the database and the web

Topics:

• Database Technologies
• Database Modeling 
• Entity/Relationship
• Relational Model
• Database Development
• SQL
• Schemas
• Database Implementation 
• Normalization
• Queries
• Joins  
• Development Life Cycle
• Integration with other systems

Texts, Software, and Tools

	A Guide to MySQL Phillip Pratt and Mary Last Copyright (2006) Cambridge, MA: Course Technology ISBN 1-4188-3635-4
Free	MySQLWorkbench     http://www.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/
Free	MySQL          http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/
Free	WAMPS, MAMPS, LAMPS (latter part of semester)

Personal Computer
There is an expectation that you will have a laptop onto which you can load the software to complete the assignments. If you do not have a laptop, please tell the instructor. There  may be classes where you will be required to bring your computer.

Course Communications

Course Requirements:

Readings and Labs
Read the chapters and complete the lab assignments. Assignments are due when assigned as class activities depend upon them. All assignments must be completed to pass the course. Assignments a week late or more will get a zero. You are responsible for keeping your completed lab sheets. Some of the lab assignments may require on-line quizzes.

Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend class; if you miss a class you should email me at wmckenzie@rwu.edu. If you miss class, you will need to get the material from another student, the text, or web resources. If you miss more than four classes (equivalent of 2 weeks) your maximum grade will decrease by 1/2 letter grade for each additional absence. Participation in chat/IM sessions, or exchanging e-mail during class is equivalent to an absence. We will discuss and come to an agreement regarding cell phone usage in class.

Academic Integrity
You are encouraged to work with others in your class because an alternate explanation can be helpful. However, assignments you submit and projects you present are your own work alone unless specified otherwise. You will be required to complete at least one project as a team. You are expected to credit intellectual property sources for all media used in your projects. Intellectual theft results in a zero for the assignment.

Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities (learning, medical, physical, etc.) who wish to receive academic accommodations or auxiliary aids are required to submit the appropriate documentation to verify their eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).  The Learning Specialist with the Center for Academic Development coordinates the arrangement of reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations.  Details regarding the accommodations may be found on page 19 of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Course Calendar
The attached calendar is your guide to the course. It is my best estimate of the course at the date of publication. I reserve the right to make changes depending upon the pace of the class and external events. The calendar will be updated on-line. You are responsible for schedule changes.

Course Grading

Component	Weight
Attendance/Participation	100
Cases/Labs/Log	100
Performance Assessments & Final	400
Project 1	100
Project 2	100
Project 3	200
Total	1000