Databases (G6031)
Databases
Module G6031
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 5
Pre-Requisite
Introduction to Programming
Module Outline
This module provides an introduction to the concepts of Database Software, Database Design, Management, and Programming.
This includes Conceptual Database Design - using the Entity-Relationship approach -, Logical Database Design, and Physical Database Design. The module focuses on the relational data model. Students will learn how to design and implement a relational database using SQL. They will also learn how to retrieve and manipulate data via SQL queries.
Students will learn how to normalize relational databases, what normal forms there are, and how this eliminates certain anomalies based on redundancy.
Security via permission rights and indexes for tuning database queries are addressed. Students will learn how to write stored procedures and triggers using procedural SQL and how use Java Database Connectivity libraries (JDBC) to access databases in Java programs.
The exercise classes and coursework are based on a series of examples that help understand the theoretical principles. Practical experience is acquired by implementing these examples in a database management system and a graphical query browser.
Library
Thomas Conolly & Carolyn Begg: Database Systems, Addison-Wesley, latest edition.
Ramez Elmasri & Shamkant B. Navathe: Fundamentals of Database Systems, Addison-Wesley, latest edition.
Thomas Conolly & Carolyn Begg: Database Solutions (2nd edition), Addison-Wesley, 2004.
C.J.Date: An Introduction to Database Systems, Addison-Wesley, latest edition.
JDBC API: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/sql/package-summary.html
MySQL online documentation: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/index.html
Module learning outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of established principles for data modelling, management and security in the context of relational databases.
Demonstrate the ability to apply underlying database concepts outside the context in which they were first studied. This includes the design of a database from a specification, and writing SQL code to set up, maintain and query a database.
Show an understanding of the limits of the Entity-Relationship Model and the Relational Model, and an appreciation of alternative database models.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Test | T1 Week 11 (2 hours) | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 22222222222 |
| Autumn Semester | Laboratory | 1 hour | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Prof Ian Wakeman
Assess convenor
/profiles/10651
Dr Alessio Santamaria
Assess convenor
/profiles/580064
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