Introduction to Databases - edX MicroBachelors Syllabus

Fall 2020
Professors: ​Aspen Olmsted, Ph.D.

Course Description
This is a self-paced optional course that provides an undergraduate-level introduction to
the database programming and administration that will help to prepare students for
advanced undergraduate computer science, information technology or cybersecurity
course work.

Course Objectives
By the end of this program students should be able to:
● Apply queries in relational algebra to retrieve data.
● Apply queries in SQL to create, read, update and delete data in a database.
● Apply the concepts of entity integrity constraint and referential integrity constraint
(including definition of the concept of a foreign key).
● Describe the normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF, and 4NF) of a relation.
● Apply normalization to a relation to create a set of BCNF relations and denormalize a
relational schema.
● Describe functional dependency between two or more attributes that are a subset of a
relation.
● Understand multi-valued dependency and identify examples in relational schemas.
● Sketch conceptual data models (including ER) to describe a database structure.
● Apply SQL to create a relational database schema based on conceptual and relational
models.
● Apply stored procedures, functions, and triggers using a commercial relational DBMS.
● Describe concurrency control and how it is affected by isolation levels in the database.

Course Structure
This course is conducted entirely online, which means you do not have to be on
campus to complete any portion of it. You will participate in the course using edX
located at ​https://edx.org​.

Students will have access to

- Active Modules needed to be watched, answering knowledge self-check quizzes;
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 - Forum discussions, asynchronous;
- Resource links

*Consult with edx Online for further details about Active Learning Modules.

Learning Time Rubric

You may choose your own weekly breakdown, such as live webinar sessions.

Learning Time Asynchronous* / Time on Task Notes

Element Synchronous** for Students
(weekly)
Lecture (Active Asynchronous 2.5 hours Video format. Expect quizzes
Module) throughout the module.
Weekly Asynchronous 0.5 hours Students can interact with TA
Discussion and professor via the discussion
Board forums.
Labs Asynchronous 3.5 hours Students submit their assignment
by [the end of the module]
Reading & Asynchronous 2.0 hours The resources page has links to
Experimenting articles or tutorials the student
should read/compete after
interacting with the lecture.
Quizzes/Test Asynchronous 1 hour The quizzes are open-book and
can be completed unlimited
times. The end of unit exams are
proctored and closed book.

*Asynchronous learning is defined as any non-real time student learning, such as recorded lecture, podcast,
interactive module, articles, websites, etc. This also includes any student-to-student or faculty-to-student
communication that may happen with an asynchronous tool, such as discussion board, chatroom, e-mail, text,
etc.
**Synchronous learning is defined as any real-time student-to-student and/or faculty-to-student learning,
such as a live webinar session or other video/audio communication service​.

Course Communication

Announcements​ -​

Announcements will be posted on edX on a regular basis. You can locate all class
announcements under the ​Announcements ​tab of our class. Be sure to check the class

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announcements regularly as they will contain important information about class
assignments and other class matters.

Weekly Discussion Forums​ –

Discussion forums are an excellent way for you to engage with the course material and
with your peers. You are expected to read the discussion boards and engage in thoughtful
discussions. I will read all discussion posts and provide content clarification and feedback
when necessary.]

Netiquette​ –

When participating in an online class it is important to interact with your peers in an

appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your discussion
board posts and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you
disagree with their ideas.

Interaction Policy
You are required to be an active online learner in this course and expected to participate
in the Active Learning Modules, weekly discussion boards, virtual office hours, after
having completed the readings.

Course requirements

Participation is paramount to your success in this course. Be sure to log into edX multiple
times a week, read all announcements, complete all Active Learning Modules, and
participate in Discussion Forums.

Course evaluation will consist of by-module programming assignments, quizzes and final
exams. The quizzes, providing multiple attempts, without proctoring. The final exams
are closed books and utilize an online proctor.

Introduction to Database Queries Unit (1 credit - 6 Weeks).

Unit Grading:
● Quizzes 20%

3
 ● Final Exam 30%
● Labs 50%
Unit Outcomes:
● Use tools to issue queries to a database
● Develop queries in SQL to create data stored in a database.
● Develop queries in SQL to read data stored in a database.
● Develop queries in SQL to update data stored in a database.
● Develop queries in SQL to delete data stored in a database.

Unit Outline:
1. Week 1 - Database Overview - Introduction to database concepts that
the student will learn throughout the MicroBachelors
2. Week 2 - Database Tools - Introduction to tools that students will use
to interact with the relational database management system
3. Week 3 - Querying the database - Single Table - Introduction to how to
formulate and issue queries that retrieve data from one table in the
database
4. Week 4 - Querying the database - Multiple Tables - Introduction to
how to formulate and issue queries that retrieve data from multiple
tables in the database
5. Week 5 - Modifying the database - Introduction to how to formulate
and issue queries that mutate data in the database
6. Week 6 - Final Exam

Introduction to Database Queries Learning Time Rubric

Learning Time Asynchronous* / Time on Task Notes

Element Synchronous** for Students
(weekly)
Lecture (Active Asynchronous 2.0 hours Video format. Expect quizzes
Module) throughout the module.
Weekly Asynchronous 0.5 hours Students can interact with TA
Discussion and professor via the discussion
Board forums.
Assessment Asynchronous 5.6 hours Students submit their assignment
(homework) by [the end of the module]

Advanced Database Queries Unit (1 credit - 6 Weeks)

4
 Unit Grading:
● Quizzes 20%
● Final Exam 30%
● Labs 50%

Unit Outcomes:
● Develop queries in SQL to aggregate data stored in a database.
● Develop queries in SQL that utilize subqueries.
● Choose the proper datatype for storing a piece of information in a database
● Develop queries in SQL that utilize built-in functions.
● Design a database that is efficient for storing data and provides correct results in
queries
Unit Outline:
1. Week 1 - Aggregate queries - Introduction to how to formulate and
issue queries that aggregate data stored in the database
2. Week 2 - Subqueries - Introduction to how to formulate and issue
queries that utilize subqueries on data stored in the database
3. Week 3 - Data types - Introduction to how to work with data types to
store data in the database
4. Week 4 - Using Functions -Introduction to how to formulate and issue
queries that utilize built-in functions when querying the database
5. Week 5 - Designing a database - Introduction to how to design a
database for efficiency and correctness
6. Week 6 - Final Exam

Advanced Database Queries Rubric

Learning Time Asynchronous* / Time on Task Notes

Element Synchronous** for Students
(weekly)
Lecture (Active Asynchronous 2.0 hours Video format. Expect quizzes
Module) throughout the module.
Weekly Asynchronous 0.5 hours Students can interact with TA
Discussion and professor via the discussion
Board forums.

5
 Assessment Asynchronous 5.5 hours Students submit their assignment
(homework) by [the end of the module]

Advanced Database Administration Unit (1 credit - 6 Weeks)

Unit Grading:
● Labs 50%
● Quizzes 20%
● Final Exam 30%

Unit Outcomes:
● Develop queries in SQL to create databases, tables and indexes
● Develop queries in SQL that create views.
● Develop queries in SQL that create stored procedures
● Understand concurrent database processing through the use of transactions and
locking.
● Develop queries in SQL that create functions

Unit Outline:
1. Week 1 - Creating databases, tables and indexes - Introduction to how to
formulate and issue queries that create databases, tables and indexes
2. Week 2 - Creating views - Introduction to how to formulate and issue
queries that create views
3. Week 3 - Creating stored procedures -Introduction to how to formulate
and issue queries that create stored procedures
4. Week 4 - Transactions and locking - Introduction to how to a database
manages correctness with concurrent transactions
5. Week 5 - Creating Functions - Introduction to how to formulate and issue
queries that create functions
6. Week 6 - Final Exam

Advanced Database Administration Learning Time Rubric

6
Learning Time Asynchronous* / Time on Task Notes
Element Synchronous** for Students
(weekly)
Lecture (Active Asynchronous 2.0 hours Video format. Expect quizzes
Module) throughout the module.
Weekly Asynchronous 0.5 hours Students can interact with TA
Discussion and professor via the discussion
Board forums.
Assessment Asynchronous 5.5 hours Students submit their assignment
(homework) by [the end of the module]