DM564: Database Systems

Students taking the course are expected to:

• have knowledge of programming
• be able to program

• 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
• understanding for the internal structure of database systems
• application of knowledge about database systems framed by realistic projects
• 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 objective 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 the use of equivalent SQL-expressions, as well as through the use of the theory of normal forms
• access a database from an application program.
• exploit the understanding for the structure of database systems to optimize their application
• integrate database systems framed by realistic projects
• 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
• integration of databases in applications
• database systems

The course has a progression from a necessary focus on design and theory towards the languages that bridge theory and practice, ending with real-world applications. The teaching methods likewise progress from frontal lectures and exercises to project work..

• Intro phase: 30 hours of lectures 
• Skills training phase: 30 hours of tutorials. 

Activities during the study phase:

• Software development in teams
• Specification, evaluation, and use of application, which are based on databases