CS432/433: Introduction to Database Systems (Fall 2007)

CS432 provides an introduction to relational database systems. The topics covered include the relational model, SQL, transactions, database design, and concepts and algorithms for building database management systems. Students are encouraged to concurrently enroll in CS433 (Practicum in Database Systems).

CS432 meets from 2:30pm to 3:20pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Kimball Hall B11. The first lecture takes place on Aug. 24.

Course Schedule and Lecture Notes

Course Staff and Office Hours

• Instructor: Christoph Koch, Mondays 1:30-2:15 & Fridays 3:30-4:30pm, 4105A Upson Hall. http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~koch/
• TAs – Email cs432ta-l@cs.cornell.edu
• Parvati Iyer.
• Aaron Lenfestey - office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-4:00pm, 4154 Upson Hall.
• Ethan Feldman.

Textbook

• "Database Management Systems" by Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke. Third edition, 2002.

This is a required textbook. The contents of this book do not constitute the syllabus for the course - the classroom lectures define the course content, and the textbook is a reference.

Prerequisites

CS432 will assume knowledge of material covered in CS212 (Computers and Programming) and CS312 (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs). CS414 (Systems Programming and Operating Systems) will help with some of the advanced topics taught later in the semester. While CS414 is not a prerequisite, we encourage you to take CS414 along with this course.

Grading

The grades for CS432 will be determined based on assignments (50%) and two exams (50%).

Assignments

• Assignment 1: Disks, Files, Entity-Relationship Model, Relational Algebra, Relational Calculus (10%, written assignment)
• Assignment 2: SQL, indexing and sorting (10%, SQL queries and written assignment)
• Assignment 3: Relational Operators, Query Optimization (10%, written assignment)
• Assignment 4: Concurrency control, Recovery (10%, written assignment)
• Assignment 5: Schema design and normal forms (10%, written assignment)

Exams

1. Mid-term exam. Oct. 18 7:30pm Upson Hall B17 (20%)
2. Final exam. Cumulative with emphasis on the last half of the course. Dec. 6, 2007 7:00pm in 101 Philips Hall (30%)

Useful information

• Academic Integrity Form
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Course Management System

Last Update: Aug. 29, 2007.