INFSCI 1022
Database Management Systems

Syllabus: Work Requirements

"I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident. They came by work."
"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration."
--- Thomas Alva Edison (1847 - 1931)

Computer use:

You will be required to use computers for several of your homework assignments and for your term project. Homework will require the use of DBase IV and Paradox relational databases on personal computers and the RDB relational database on the VMS system. The term project will require programming in a high level structural programming language, such as C, on the system of your choice.

Homework Assignments:

Homework assignments are an excellent way of practicing the material covered in class. There will be nine homework assignments, distributed in class and due a week later before class starts. They will be done in groups (normally of two students) formed during the first class. Homework assignments have to be turned in on time, and all members of the group are responsible for meeting the deadline (marked on the course schedule). In the unlikely case that the entire group is unable to complete the homework in time (e.g., a sudden medical emergency involving the entire group), hand in the assignment as soon as you can along with a written note explaining why your assignment is late. If you have an acceptable excuse, the homework will be graded.

Term Project:

A major part of the training that you will receive as part of this course will result from performing a programming project. The project will give you an opportunity to get hands-on experience with DBMSs. You will be required to work in groups formed during the first class meeting. The description of the project will be handed in during the first class meeting. The (inflexible) due date is marked on the course schedule. You are advised to start working on the project as soon as possible, as it involves a considerable amount of work.

Exams:

The exams are the only well-controlled experiments conducted in the course of the semester that test your knowledge. There will be one midterm exam and one comprehensive final exam. The exams will be given on the days indicated on the course outline. Please, make a note of these days as no makeup will be given. All exams will be open book: you may bring your textbook, your notes, and whatever other printed material you may find useful. Exams will emphasize understanding and programming skills, not memorization. Understanding, as I understand it, includes the ability to synthesize newly learned knowledge and apply it whenever appropriate. Your score on the exams contributes much to your grade and you will need to do well on both of them to do well in this class. The exams will not be hard, provided that you are systematic and active in reading the textbook and doing the homework problems.

Time load:

Expect to spend at least three hours quality time outside of class for every in class meeting. I estimate that you will need about two hours to do the readings and about one hour to do the homework. The term project should demand not more than forty hours of your time.

Grading:

Your final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

• Homework : 20%
• Term project : 30%
• Midterm exam : 20%
• Final exam : 30%

In addition, in class participation (described earlier) can earn you up to 10% additional points. The grade will depend on the points that you have earned in the course of the semester. While I would like to allow myself some flexibility in grading, the following may give you an idea about my expectations:

Performance between	90%	and 	100%	A
	"	"	80%	and	90%	B
	"	"	70%	and	80%	C
	"	"	50%	and	70%	D
	"	"	0%	and	50%	F

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