DM576: Database Systems

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher
EKA: N330061102, N330061112
Assessment: Second examiner: External, Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N330061101
ECTS value: 7.5

Date of Approval: 12-10-2022


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Approved - active

Entry requirements

The course cannot be followed if the student has passed DM505, DM564 or DS806, or if the student has DM505, DM564 or DS806 mandatory in their curriculum.

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:

  • have knowledge of programming
  • be able to program

Course introduction

The purpose of this course is to give the student theoretical skills and practical experience in the use, design, and implementation of relational databases and database systems. 

The course builds on the knowledge obtained in DM574 Introduction to Programming. Basic knowledge about modelling of software systems is also assumed. 

In relation to the competence profile 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
  • 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

Expected learning outcome

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

Content

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

Literature

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element b)

Timing

June

Tests

1-day take-home exam

EKA

N330061102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Duration

24 hours

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

4

Exam element a)

Timing

May/June

Tests

Project

EKA

N330061112

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

All aids allowed

ECTS value

3.5

Indicative number of lessons

60 hours per semester

Teaching Method

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

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Panagiotis Tampakis ptampakis@imada.sdu.dk Data Science

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Institut for Matematik og Datalogi (datalogi)

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.