CSc 460 (Database Design) Syllabus Summary
Spring 2023
NOTE: This is only a summary of the class syllabus; see the long version for full details!
General Catalog Information:
| Description: | Functions of a database system. Data modeling and logical database design. Query languages and query optimization. Efficient data storage and access. Database access through standalone and web applications. |
| Lecture: | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m., G-S 906 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Passing grades in both CSc 335 and CSc 345 |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Final Exam: | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The final is required, is comprehensive, and will be given on this date at this time. Make your end-of-semester travel plans accordingly. |
Class Personnel:
| Name | Office | Email (@arizona.edu) | Phone | Office Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Lester I. McCann, Ph.D. | G-S 819 | mccann | 621-3498 | Look for them | |
| Grad TA | Tanner Finken | TBD | finkent | ----- | ... on Piazza | |
| Grad TA | Aayush Pinto | TBD | aayushpinto | ----- | ... and D2L! |
Please keep in mind that it is possible to meet us outside of office hours. Contact us to make an appointment.
General assistance with undergraduate CS classes is available from the CS Tutor Center. Check the tutor schedule for the availabilities of tutors who are able to help with this class.
Information Resources:
| D2L: | CSC 460 SP23 001 All class materials will be available from this D2L page, but most of it is hosted on the class web site (see next link). |
| Textbook: | Database Systems (Connolly/Begg), U.S. 6th ed., Addison-Wesley, 2015. is the required text. Do not buy an international edition or an eariler edition! The best deal I know of is the D2L ebook price. The book's corresponding web site is worth exploring; click the title to access it. Of particular note are the on-line appendices, some of which you may wish to reference. |
| Class Discussions: | We will be using Piazza for outside-of-class questions, discussions, and announcements. Click here to access the CSc 460 message board . |
| CS Helpdesk: | Need help with your lectura account, computers in the G-S 930 lab, etc.? Visit the Computer Science Lab Helpdesk for FAQs and the ability to submit a help ticket. |
Grades and Grading:
| Homeworks | = | 16 | % | total (4 @ 4% each) |
| Programs | = | 24 | % | total (4 @ 6% each) |
| Midterm Exams | = | 40 | % | total (2 @ 20% each) |
| Comprehensive Final Exam | = | 20 | % | |
| Total | = | 100 | % |
By department policy, the final exam is required.
Topic Schedule:
Week Date Class # Scheduled Topics Assigned Today Due Today
---- ----- ------- ---------------- -------------- ------------
1 01/10 -- --- --- ---
01/12 1 Syllabus, 1 Program #1 ---
2 01/17 2 1,2 --- ---
01/19 3 2 --- Program #1(A)
3 01/24 4 2,3 --- ---
01/26 5 3 Program #2 Program #1(B)
4 01/31 6 3 --- ---
02/02 7 3,4 --- ---
5 02/07 8 4 --- ---
02/09 9 4,5 Homework #1 Program #2
6 02/14 10 5 --- ---
02/16 11 6 --- Homework #1
7 02/21 12 7 Homework #2 ---
02/23 13 Midterm #1 --- ---
8 02/28 14 7 --- ---
03/02 15 8 Homework #3 Homework #2
[ ---------------------------- S P R I N G B R E A K ----------------------- ]
9 03/14 16 8 --- ---
03/16 17 8 Program #3 Homework #3
10 03/21 18 8 --- ---
03/23 19 9 --- ---
11 03/28 20 10 --- ---
03/30 21 11 Homework #4 Program #3
12 04/04 22 11,12 --- ---
04/06 23 12 --- Homework #4
13 04/11 24 12 Program #4 ---
04/13 25 Midterm #2 --- ---
14 04/18 26 13 --- ---
04/20 27 13,14 --- ---
15 04/25 28 14,15 --- ---
04/27 29 15 --- ---
16 05/02 30 16 --- Program #4
05/04 -- No Class; Reading Day --- ---
Finals 05/10 -- Final Exam (Wed 1:00p) --- ---
We will stick to the exam dates if at all possible. The rest of the dates are less firm, but we'll try to stick to them, too.
AGAIN: This is only a summary of the class syllabus; see the long version for full details!