Module Content

Lectures introduce general concepts and theory, and practical use cases.  

The tutorial classes develop database analysis and design techniques such as entity relationship diagrams and normalisation, and critically evaluate their impact in real-world settings. 

In the practical classes, students follow guided workbooks or worksheets to gain practical skills in designing, developing databases, and querying data with SQL. Labs will use an interactive environment which closely models the way that students would work in employment and assesses their ability to design and debug statements rather than construct them on paper. 

Teaching Methods

• Introduction 

             File-based approach vs. DBMS approach 

             Three-level architecture, data independence, data models and data ethics 

             Client-server architecture  

             Overview of a commercial multi-user DBMS  

• Data Models 

Relational model concepts 

Integrity rules, data duplication vs. data redundancy 

Relational algebra 

Semi-structured data and XML 

• Database Management System 

Integrity constraints 

Transactions and concurrency control 

Security 

Recovery 

Storage structures 

Query processing 

• Database Application Development 

SQL  

Persistent stored modules such as T-SQL procedures and functions 

Constraints and triggers 

Views and indexes 

• Database Design 

             Apply a bottom-up or top-down technique or integrate both 

Normalisation 

     Update anomalies 

     Normalisation up to 3NF 

     Higher normal forms such as BCNF 

Entity Relationship modelling (ER) 

       Entities, attributes, relationships, enterprise rules and assumptions 

       Degree of association and participation condition 

                  M:M decomposition 

                  Extended ER such as subclasses and super classes 

                  ERD to relations 

Assessment Methods

This module is assessed through a Written exam (50%) and a Coursework (50%).