Course Number and Title: CS338, Computer Applications in Business: Databases

University of Waterloo

Term and Year of Offering: Fall 2015

Location: QNC 2502

Time: Tue/Thu 2:30-3:50pm

Instructor

David Toman
Office: DC 3344
User id: david
Office hours: Thu 10:30-12:00 am or by appointment

Teaching Assistants

Glasbergen, Bradley James
Office: DC2118
User id: bjglasbe
Office hours: Friday 1-2pm

Korkmaz, Zeynep
Office: DC3304
User id: zkorkmaz
Office hours: Thursday 1-2pm

Tan, Luchen
Office: DC 3548F
User id: l8tan
Office hours: Wednesday 10:30-11:30am

Course Description:

A user-oriented approach to the management of large collections of data. Methods used for the storage, selection and presentation of data. Common database management systems.

Course Objectives:

The main objective of this course is to introduce students to fundamentals and use of database technology by studying databases from the viewpoint of a database user. It teaches the use of a database management system (DBMS) by treating it as a black box, focusing only on its functionality and its interfaces.

Course Overview:

Why do we use databases? How do we use a Database Management System? How do we design a database?

Optional text:

Fundamentals of Database Systems, (5th, 6th, or 7th ed.) by R. Elmasri and S. Navathe, Pearson, 2015.

Evaluation:

Note, there will not be marked assignments for this course. Instead, there will be two midterm exams. The weights of the marks towards the final grade are given as follows. If a student misses a midterm exam due to acceptable reasons (see university guidelines), the percentage of that midterm exam will be added to the final exam. Students who miss the final exam will need to take the exam in a future term consistent with university policy. Otherwise, there will be no makeup exams.

Late policy:

n/a

Rules for Group Work:

n/a

Indication of how late submission of assignments and missed assignments will be treated

n/a

Indication of where students are to submit assignments and pick up marked assignments

n/a

Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. [Check www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/ for more information.]

Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm. When in doubt please be certain to contact the department's administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity [check www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/] to avoid committing an academic offence, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about 'rules' for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course instructor, academic advisor, or the undergraduate Associate Dean. For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71, Student Discipline, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/guidelines/penaltyguidelines.htm.

Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 (Student Petitions and Grievances) (other than a petition) or Policy 71 (Student Discipline) may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 (Student Appeals) www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm.

Note for Students with Disabilities: The Office for persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term.