Overview

Students are introduced to the foundational concepts underlying data storage and management, with emphasis on the relational data model. The unit deals with data modelling, covering the theory and practice of database design, implementation and use. Students will undertake abstract data modelling using the entity-relationship approach; understand how various forms of normalization are achieved and their impact on the design and efficiency of databases.

Students will practise database implementation and query access using the MySQL database management system (DBMS), and the standard query language (SQL).

The model and the execution of queries is presented with a grounding in relational algebra. Theoretical understanding is supported by tutorial work.

Getting started

The handbook entry and general unit policies are all available from the online unit outline.

You should make sure you read and understand this document, particularly the rules defining satisfactory progress. In addition, please be aware of the timing and significance of both the HECS census date and the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty.

Contact hours

With regards to formal contact hours, you will be required to attend two lectures and a one 2-hour laboratory per week (starting in week 3). Tutorial/workshops are held in alternate weeks, beginning in week 3.

A six-point unit is deemed to be equivalent to one quarter of a full-time workload, and so you will be expected to commit 10-12 hours per week to the unit, averaged over the entire semester. Careful attention to time management will be needed to ensure that you are not overloaded when deadlines approach.

Assessment

The assessment for CITS2232 consists of laboratory/tutorial work, a mid-semester test, a project and a 2hr formal examination.

Passing this unit requires achieving a 50% overall mark, with a minimum score of 40% in both the final examination and in the in-semester coursework (labs and midterm combined). There is no minimum requirement for the project.

1. If you do not achieve a minimum of 40% in the in-semester assessment, you are automatically excluded from sitting the exam and a final grade of WE is returned. You will be notified in writing prior to the exam period of your exclusion.
2. If you do not achieve a minimum of 40% in the exam and obtain a final result greater than 50% for the unit, you will receive the grade of FC. This indicates a fail for the unit because a component has not been passed.
3. In all other cases the final result is returned, with its appropriate grade.

As the semester proceeds, your continuous assessment results will be recorded and you can check these by using the csmarks system.

Please note that we are not permitted to release final exam marks to students until after the final marks are released by the University of Western Australia.

Textbook

There is no required textbook for this unit. There are a number of excellent books on database systems that you can read or purchase.

Some suggestions are;

• Database Management Systems by Ramakrishnan and Gehrke (McGraw-Hill)
• Database Systems - The Complete Book by Garcia-Molina, Ullman and Widom (Prentice-Hall)