CMP 420-S81A /CMP 758-S81A
Database Systems

Course Information
Course Section Lecture Hours Location
CMP 420/CMP 758 - Database Systems Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 9:25 PM Online using Zoom
Contact Information
Instructor: Steven Fulakeza Email: steven.fulakeza(at)lehman.cuny.edu
Phone: NA Office Location: GI 232
Office Hours: Mon and Wed 1:40 pm to 3:40 pm
Instructor Availability: I reply to students' emails regularly but please note that I do not typically check email or Slack messages during late hours on weekdays, and I do not check these at all on the weekends in order to devote time to family, rest, and religious observances. Messages received during these times will receive attention once I am back online.


CMP 420 Course Description: 4 hours, 4 credits

Introduction to theory of database systems and database management: theory of relational, hierarchical, and network database organization, with emphasis on the first; views of data, data organization, data dependency and redundancy, normal forms, and query language.

CMP 758 Course Description: 4 hours, 4 credits

Introduction to use and design of database systems. Topics include levels of extraction and views of data; data models, entity relationship, hierarchical, network, and relational data organization; data dependencies, normal forms; design algorithms; distributed databases; query languages.

Prerequisite:

  • CMP 338 (Data Structures and Algorithms).

Course Objectives:

  1. Understand fundamental concepts of modern database systems.
  2. Describe database systems concepts and architecture.
  3. Perform conceptual data modeling by ER/EER.
  4. Understand the relational model.
  5. Work with Structured Query Language (SQL).
  6. Explain functional dependencies and normalization as a database design process.
  7. Understand File/index structures.
  8. Explain physical database design decisions, transaction processing concepts and theory, concurrency control techniques.
  9. Discuss database recovery techniques.

Textbook:

  • R. Elmasri and S. Navathe, Fundamentals of Database Systems, Pearson, Edition 7, 2016. ISBN:0-13-397077-9 (New book is at $175.00 )

References:

  • Lecture Notes, Blackboard, and Course Website
  • J. Murach, MySQL, Edition 2, Mike Murach & Associates, 2015
  • P. Dubois, MySQL, Edition 5, Addison-Wesley, 2013
  • R.F. van Der Lans, SQL for MySQL Developers, Addison Wesley, 2007
  • MySQL 8.0 manual

Grades Policy:

Your grades will be computed based in the following:

CMP 420:

Activity Percentages
Homework Assignments and Backboard Quizzes 20%
Project 20%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%

CMP 758:

Activity Percentages
Homework Assignments and Backboard Quizzes 20%
Project 20%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
Research Paper and Presentation (for graduate students only) 10%

Makeup exams might be given only when a student's absence is unavoidable. In such a case, the student must file a formal written request.

Homework Assignments

Several homework assignments will be given during lectures and some work will be posted on Blackboard and the course website. Students need to work on the homework to prepare for exams but may not need to submit the homework assignments to the instructor. Some selected homework problems will be assigned as formal assignments to be submitted for grading. Students must work on their own assignments unless stated otherwise. Students handing in similar work will both receive a 0 and face possible disciplinary actions. No late assignments will be accepted. Homework assignments must be submitted on Blackboard. No emailed work will be accepted.

Exam Schedule:

  • Midterm Exam date: 06/17/2021
  • Final Exam date: 07/01/2021

The exams will consist of two parts:

  • A multiple-choice part that will be completed on Blackboard
  • A written part

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy

Students are encouraged to study together. However, you must do your own work for all your homework assignments, projects and exams. You should never copy code or anywork from the internet or another student. You are responsible for knowing and following Lehman's academic integrity code (available from the Undergraduate Bulletin, Graduate Bulletin, or the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluations). All incidents of cheating will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Statement may be found in the student handbook. For more information, refer to http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/student-affairs/documents/Final-Student-Handbook-Lehman-College-9-19-18.pdf

Note: All incidents of cheating will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend lectures regularly and promptly. In the event of illness, or injury, students should notify me. Students who miss a class are responsible for learning materials presented in class and reading relevant textbook portions. If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Students receiving financial aid must be certified as attending classes regularly for continuing eligibility.

Accommodating Disabilities:

Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services. For more info, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, phone number, 718-960-8441.

Technology, Blackboard and Email:

We will be using a Blackboard site for much of the class activities. It can be accessed through the Lehman website at www.lehman.cuny.edu. You will also need to have access to your Blackboard account. You can contact the IT Center if you have any problems accessing your account.

I will be communication with you regularly throughout the semester using your email address that is available on Blackboard. Make sure you have access to your email. If you have, any questions about your Lehman email address or your password, or if you have any problems accessing the site please call the computer helpdesk at 718-960-1111.

Recording of Remote Classes:

Students who participate in this class with their camera on or use a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded solely for the purpose of creating a record for students enrolled in the class to refer to, including those enrolled students who are unable to attend live. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live.

The link for the recordings will be made available in Blackboard


Homework Assigments:

Assignment Release Date Due Date

Final Project:

Assignment Release Date Due Date
Final Project 06/22/2021 06/30/2021

Take Home Exam:

Research Survey Paper Assignment (for graduate students only):

  • Read papers in a specific research topic of database and write a survey-type research paper (around 12 pages). Each paper must have a detailed bibliography and each paper must consult at least 5 references.
  • The ACM Computing Survey defines a survey paper as paper that summarizes and organizes recent research results in a novel way that integrates and add understanding to work in the field. A survey article assumes a general knowledge of the area; it emphasizes the classification of the existing literature, developing a perspective on the area, and evaluating trends."
  • You can visit ACM Computing Survey to see examples on survey papers
  • Paper Proposal Due (June 17, 2021): 1-2 pages including extended abstract with at least 5 references.
  • The Research Paper due date: 07/01/2021 by 11:59 pm

List of Sources for Research Topics and Papers:

  • Database Performance Measurement and Tuning
  • Database mining, data warehousing and OLAP (On-line analytical processing), DSS (decision-support systems): refer to the chapters 28, 29
  • Knowledge Management (Knowledge representation, recursive query processing, rule processing and optimization), expert databases
  • Concurrency Control and/or recovery algorithms
  • Database Security - security models, security implementation: refer to the chapter 23
  • Search Engine design issues and strategies on the web (DBMS + Information retrieval technologies)
  • Specific topics under Distributed Databases (query processing, concurrency control, recovery, distribution design)
  • In memory (main memory) DBMS
  • Physical database issues: including physical DB system issues using solid state drives
  • Large scale document-oriented databases (such as MongoDB, Mysql8 document store)
  • Big Data Mining and Tools such as Hadoop

List of Sources for Research Topics and Papers:

Research Survey Paper Structure:

  1. Title, name, date, course number
  2. Abstract: This is a brief summary that describes your entire paper. Your abstract should contain 150 - 300 words. You have to write this last.
  3. Introduction: Your introduction should provide the background problem you are researching.
  4. Body of the paper and discussion
  5. Conclusion that summarizes the paper and describes future work for the research
  6. Acknowledgement (If necessary)
  7. References: ACM = Association of Computing Machinery

Classroom Policies

  • Take responsibility for your education and grades – Students have a common myth that because they pay tuition they deserve to receive a passing credit. Students earn grades in accordance with course grading policies.
  • Attend every class and get to class on time.
  • Submit all your work on time.
  • When having any academic difficulties, always seek assistance from your instructor.