DM505: Database Design and Programming

• Have basic proficiency in programming in general.

The content of DM550 – Introduction to
Programming must be known. Basic knowledge about modelling of software
systems is also assumed.

The course provides the basis for the course ‘principles of database systems’

In relation to the learning outcomes of the degree the course has explicit focus on:

• giving the competence to plan and design a relational database
• knowledge of structured querying and manipulating relational databases
• application of a relational database system to model real world data
• developing skills in the programming of database applications
• giving the competences to handle complex and development-oriented situations in study and work contexts
• skills to identify own learning needs and to structure own learning in different learning environments

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• design a suitable conceptual model for a database, on the basis of a problem description
• transform a conceptual model for a database into a suitable relational model
• write SQL queries for a relational database
• optimize
  a relational database through choice of indexes, use of equivalent
  SQL-expressions, and use of the theory of normal forms
• access a  database from an application program.
• describe work done on the above subjects in clear and precise language, and in a structured fashion
• justify design conditions
• describe, formulate and communicate issues and results to specialists and non-specialists, or project partners and end users

The following main topics are contained in the course:

• Relational databases
• database design (conceptual data modelling, normal forms)
• relational algebra
• SQL
• database access from application programs
• database systems