logoCOP 5725

Syllabus

Course Description:

This class deals with basic and advanced topics of RDBMS.

Course Objectives/Outcomes:

  • Database System Concepts and Architecture
  • Entity-Relationship (ER) Model
  • The Relational Data Model and Relational Database Constraints
  • The Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus
  • Structure Query Language (SQL)
  • Stored Procedure
  • Functional Dependencies and Normalization for Relational Databases
  • Other advanced topics including NoSQL and Internals.

Prerequisites:

  • Graduate Standing
  • Students will benefit with having some understanding of Computer Science (or some programming). Students with some database skills will benefit.

Final Exam:

TBA. Always check my.fiu.edu

Electronic Equipment During Class:

I ask you to refrain from recording audio or video (or both) during class without prior permission from the instructor. In other words, no video or audio recording is permitted in the classroom.

Group Project:

Projects can be in groups or individual. The amount of members must reflect the final work.

Topic Presentation:

Topic presentation will be individual. Topics will be assigned (or students may select from a range of topics). In rare cases, I will accept topics outside of the list that I have with justification.

Status of Syllabus: Draft (it may change before the first day of class).

Time and Location: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 to 12:15 ECS 135 (Online students are welcome to come if there is space)

Required Textbooks

  • Fundamentals of Database Systems by Elmasri, R. and Navathe, S., Pearson, 7 Edition, 2015, ISBN-10: 0-13- 397077-9. [FDS]

Additional Textbooks

See here.

Tentative Outline/Topics

See schedule.

About Grading

Please note that FIU starting Fall 2016 does not longer have C-,D+,D-. That means that right after a letter grade C, you will earn a D, and then an F.

Grading:

  • Exams (2) : 30% Drop lowest exam.
  • Topic Presentation (individual): 20%
  • Final Project (individual or group): 40%
  • Final Project Presentation: 10%
  • Extra Credit: TBA
  • Book Exercises will be assigned but they will no be collected or graded. However, they are part of the class and they may appear in the exams.

    Online Students:

    Online student must present in class (two presentations) and take the exam in FIU. However, if you are not in Miami, you will need to let the instructor know the first week.

    Travel:

    As graduate students, sometimes there may be valid reason to travel to present work. If this can be justified, verified, and approved by the instructor, certain arrangement can be made. However, it is highly recommended not to travel. In particular, if you are planning to travel during finals week or any other time, please don't unless there is a extremely valid reason (and it is backed by your Ph.D./Master Advisor). Don't buy tickets until the grades are in display in my.fiu.edu. My general recommendation, don't travel.

    Grading Scale:

    • A: 93+
    • A-: 90
    • B+: 86
    • B: 82
    • B-: 78
    • C+: 74
    • C: 70
    • D: 60
    • F: 59 and below
  • Note: I may modified the scale if needed, but it will in your favor. For example, while A usually will stay in 93, I may lower A- to 89. This is done at the end and no information is provided during the process, since it happens after the final exam (except when time allows to inform all of you via Moodle). Of course, you can come to my office after the semester and find out.

    About assignments and projects

  • Information will be provided via Moodle and/or class. Some guidelines are provided here in the syllabus.
  • Late assignments received a 15% deduction. Late assignments are accepted after 24 hours from original due date.

    Course Policies

  • Attendance: Attendance is not graded but it may be taken. Missing classes may affect your grade if we have graded activities. However, lab grade
  • Academic Misconduct: For work submitted, it is expected that each student will submit their own original work. Any evidence of duplication, cheating or plagiarism will result at least a failing grade for the course.
  • Deadlines: see Moodle
  • To get assistance, always email me before you come to my office to make sure I'm not with another student or doing some other work. See my office hours.
  • Students are encouraged to ask questions and to discuss course topics with the instructor and with each other.
  • Plagiarizing is a major fault and it may cause an F and further disciplinary options. Do not do it. It is not worth it.
  • DO NOT send assignments by email. Use Moodle for all communications and assignment submissions. Sending via email will only cause confusion and you may end up without a grade. This is even true when Moodle closes and students will send emails with their assignment. Do not send me attachments via email, unless if I ask you for it.
  • Instructor reserves right to change course materials or dates as necessary.

    Exam Policies

  • Make sure to complete the assigned work in order to do well in the exam.
  • No discussion is permitted during the exams.
  • Instructor is not compelled to give credit for something he cannot read or follow logically.
  • No make-ups. In the case of verifiable emergency, the instructor will make an assessment.
  • Please do not make travel plans. If you are not here when an exam is given, it is an automatic zero on that particular exam.

    If is not here, then what?

    Anything not mentioned in the syllabus is left to the discretion of the instructor. You can always ask.

    Extensions

    please note that when you ask for an extension, the professor cannot give you an extension only to you because it will be unfair, but to the entire class. this brings another problem. Then it is also unfair for the people that did submit on time. Therefore, when asking for an exception, remember what you just read.

    Student Conduct and Learning Environment

    Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and to honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning.
    Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook:     http://globaldatebooksonline.com/flipbooks/FIU/#2
    YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD A LOCAL COPY HERE: Student Handbook PDF - LOCAL COPY

    Can I change this document?

    From Faculty's handbook:

    Instructors retain the right to modify the course syllabus for any reason throughout the semester provided that:

  • Fair and adequate notice is given to enrolled students either by e-mail, in writing, or through online publishing.

  • Modifications to the syllabus are not arbitrary or capricious.

  • Students are not unfairly disadvantaged by mid-semester changes to grading standards, attendance standards, or performance measures.

    NOTE: In most cases, I will only change this document to accommodate the entire class. I will let you know if there are any changes.

    POLICIES:

  • Code of Academic Integrity:
        http://www.fiu.edu/~oabp/misconductweb/2codeofacainteg.htm
  • University Policies: academic misconduct, sexual harassment, religious holydays, and information on services for students with disabilities
        http://www.fiu.edu/provost/polman/sec2/sec2web2-44.htm

    • If you have any disability make sure you let me know with time to make any accommodation. Also, please make sure you check the FIU Disability Center web site at : http://drc.fiu.edu I will be more than happy to accommodate any part of this class, based on the recommendation of DRC.


    Incomplete Grade Policy:

    Only given in extreme cases and I reserve the right to deny an incomplete. In most cases, an I grade is given if you need to deploy (military service), serious and documented illness, or documented death of a family member. You cannot use an incomplete to get extra time to finish the class. You must have a passing grade at the moment you request the incomplete.

    Important Dates:

    • see FIU academic calendar.

    How to do well in this class (applies to all classes)

    The following items are what I found during my studies to help me. Maybe some will help you

    • Read the book/slides and any other material available to be presented at the class, BEFORE CLASS!  READ EARLY AND OFTEN!
    • Do your own work. Struggling to do homework is a good exercise that will prove to be a great asset in the future.
    • Always challenge yourself.
    • Remember that you are paying tuition. Therefore, try to get the most out of it!
    • Ask questions!
    • If you are having trouble in the class, you may want double the amount of time to study the course.
    • Always do additional exercises. Always read beyond the class!
    • There are great resources online. Use them. You are expected at this level to be able to be self-sufficient.
    • If you are in a graduate course (and it may applied to undergraduate level too), please know that you are expected to do excellent work. Anything less than a B is usually considered failing in graduate schools (of course, each program has their own rules).

    HOMEWORK:

    You will need to submit your homework via Moodle. When submitting homework to Moodle, you will need to upload ONE compress file (zip,rar) with the following format: LastName_FirstName_PantherID_HW#.zip (or .rar) Each homework will stay if you need to print out the homework or not before coming to class. The exception of this is when you are submitting a PDF.
    If you are working in groups, only one member submits.

    CLASS READING MATERIAL:

    Go to Moodle for lectures

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • I will try to accommodate legitimate, verifiable cases of illness and emergencies. I do accommodate religious holidays.

  • Link to undergraduate student misconduct.

  • Link to graduate student misconduct.