Hunter College

Computer Science Department

Course Syllabus
CSCI 435: Database Systems – Summer 2024

Instructor Room Meeting time E-Mail

Mahdi Makki ZOOM MoTuWeTh [email protected]
6:00PM - 7:53PM
Office Hours: By appointment

Course Description

This course covers the fundamental study material required to understand how databases work. The
course also delves into explaining how to write SQL queries and covers the various issues that
need to be addressed in designing database systems, implementing them, and using them. Material
covered includes enterprise data modeling using Entity Relationship Diagrams, deriving a
relational model implementation from Entity Relationship Diagrams, Relational Algebra, SQL as
a Data Definition Language and as a Data Manipulation Language, maintaining integrity of a
database system, normalization, and physical design, as part of the course, students will use MySQL
software and will work on practical exercises and project.

Prerequisite

All students should have completed CSCI 335 with grade of C or better. If you do not satisfy this
requirement, please see me immediately.

Course Objectives

After completing the course, the students should be able to participate in the design and
development of a database. Students are expected to:
• Understand the business requirements and build the conceptual model of a database using
ERD.
• Build the relational model of the database by mapping the conceptual model into the set
of relations.
• Build the physical model of the database using MySQL.
• Maintain the database (insert, update, delete, and retrieve data).
• Understand the relational algebra and relational calculus.
• Understand different database architectures: centralized, homogenous distributed, and
heterogeneous distributed.
Textbooks
• Fundamentals of Database Systems, by Elmasri, Ramez; Navathe, Shamkant, seventh
edition, with ISBN-9780133970777
• Database System Concepts, by Silberschatz , Korth ,and Sudarshan , the sixth edition ,
with ISBN-13 9780073523323

Software

All programming in this course requires SQL. Use the open-source MySQL Version 8.0 which
compiles with SQL:1999 standards. You can install it on your own computer, available as a free
download called MySQL Community Server as 8.0.38 at
https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/installer/8.0.html or
https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/ (macOS).
Excellent documentation on MySQL is available at https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/
WorkBench: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/
You can also use Oracle SQL Plus, or Microsoft SQL Server if you have it installed on your
machine.

Grading and homework

Course grades are based on the table below.

Project 30%
Quizzes 24%
Participation 6%
Final exam 40%

Project steps are due at the time specified in the table description; It must be submitted on
blackboard; no emailed submissions will be accepted. All the project steps should be your
individual work. A penalty of late project steps submission will be applied as follows:
• 0 to 24 hours late: 25% penalty
• 24 to 48 hours late: 50% penalty
• More than 48 hours late: no credit will be given.

You get 3 unexcused absences, after that the participation grade will decrease by 1.5% after each absence.
Note: I reserve the right to modify the syllabus/curve the grades as I see fit*

Term project

Term project will give you hands-on experience in the design and implementation of a database.
As we cover material in class, you will apply it to your project. You will also be expected to explain
your program and highlight its features.

The project is due and graded in four steps:

Step 1: identify appropriate entities, relationships, attributes, domains, and keys as well as all
specializations and generalizations.
 Step 2: produce the associated ER diagram.
Step 3: map the ER diagram, and show how you normalized them, if necessary, list integrity
constraints.
Step 4: define the database in MySQL and insert at least 10 tuples into every table (You will need to
submit a short screencast that shows the working of the database*)

Course outline

Unless specified, the referenced chapters are from the textbook Fundamentals of Database
Systems, by Elmasri and Navathe.

Tentative Schedule
Date Topic Source
7/18 Introduction to databases Chapter 1
7/22 DBMS concepts, Data models Chapter 2
7/23 The ER model | QUIZ Chapter 3
7/24 The EER model Chapter 4
7/25 The relational data model | QUIZ Chapter 5
7/29 Relational database design | Project Steps 1,2 Due Chapter 9
7/30 Normalization Chapter 14
7/31 Relational Algebra Chapter 8
8/1 Relational Calculus | QUIZ Chapter 8
8/5 SQL Chapter 6
8/6 SQL Chapter 6-7
8/7 SQL | Project Step 3 Due Chapter 6-7
8/8 Transactions | QUIZ Chapter 20
8/12 - Final Review -
8/13 FINAL EXAM | Project Step 4 Due Ch 1-20

Academic dishonesty policy:

Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Academic sanctions in this
class will range from an F on the assignment/exam to an F in this course. A report of suspected
academic dishonesty will be sent to the Office of the Dean of Students. Additional information
and definitions can be found at
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/studentservices/advising/policies-
sub/proceduresforreporting-academic-integrity-violations