4 hours

An understanding of the role of analysts, designers, and developers; an understanding of the steps in the software development life cycle

To introduce the concept of systems analysis

After this course the student should be able to:
1. outline the role of systems analysis in application development
2. identify the techniques used by the systems analyst
3. define processes and entity types

3 hours

Completion of the courses Software Engineering: Personal Software Process I, and Software Engineering: Personal Software Process II

To describe the theory and use of data flow diagrams in the context of a software development project

After this course the student should be able to:
1. explain the theory of data flow diagrams
2. explain the symbols used in data flow diagrams
3. explain the use of data flow diagrams in a software development project
4. construct a context-level data flow diagram
5. construct a leveled data flow diagram

5 hours

An understanding of relational database theory and of the role of analysts, designers, and database administrators

To describe the technique of entity relationship diagramming

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe the typical stages in database modeling and design
2. perform entity relationship analysis
3. identify primary and foreign keys

3 hours

An understanding of the principles of software engineering and software design; an understanding of the role of analysts, designers, and programmers; and an understanding of the importance of the concepts of completeness and correctness in software development, in particular in analysis and design

To give students a complete understanding of the construction and validation of a data dictionary

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe the construction and use of a data dictionary
2. explain the role of a data dictionary in the software engineering process
3. understand the role of validation in the construction and use of data dictionaries
4. explain the different data dictionary entries for different entities

3 hours

An understanding of the principles of software engineering and design; an understanding of the role of analysts, designers, and programmers; and an understanding of the importance of the concepts of completeness and correctness in software development, in particular in analysis and design

To provide an understanding of the entity life history as a software engineering tool and of its place in the software development life cycle

After this course the student should be able to:
1. explain an entity life history
2. describe the impact of an entity life history in the software development life cycle
3. show how to use a process entity matrix in a software development life cycle

12 hours

Some familiarity with databases

To give the student a sound appreciation of the relational model and the principles on which it is based

After this course the student should be able to:
1. contrast relational databases with those based on the hierarchical and network models, pointing out the advantages of the relational model
2. evaluate a DBMS in terms of its relationality (as defined by Codd's rules) and its functionality
3. use the criteria of uniqueness and minimality to identify suitable candidate keys in relational tables and use these to select a primary key
4. state the referential and entity-integrity rules, identify when they are breached, and relate integrity rules to requirements of the real world
5. identify traditional set and special relational operators and demonstrate their usefulness

6 hours

A basic understanding of computers would be an advantage

To introduce students to the database approach and enable them to make an informed decision about purchasing a database management system

After this course the student should be able to:
1. evaluate the advantages of a the computer database's file-based system of information storage
2. outline the four components of a DBMS, describe its three-level architecture, list its functions, and explain its relationship to the operating system and application programs
3. distinguish three major information systems supported by a DBMS and list the services offered by a database

4 hours

Completion of the courses Relational Principles and Database Fundamentals

To describe the typical database design processes and explain ERDs as a technique for data modeling

After this course the student should be able to:
1. explain the stages of database design
2. understand database design in the context of a typical software development life cycle
3. identify user data requirements
4. construct a data model using entity relationship diagrams

4 hours

The courses Relational Principles and Database Fundamentals

To describe the process of relational database design using appropriate modeling tools and techniques

After this course the student should be able to:
1. use primary and foreign keys
2. explain the different types of data integrity
3. normalize entities to the appropriate level
4. understand the issues of physical database design and database optimization

3 hours

Ability to use SQL, or the course SQL Programming

To enable the student to manage a relational database

After this course the student should be able to:
1. classify users into the privilege levels specified by SQL, create users with access to the database and GRANT and REVOKE privileges
2. describe the functions of data dictionaries, views, audit trails, and transaction logs as security mechanisms
3. distinguish between referential and entity integrity, and state whether particular operations contravene integrity rules
4. identify and create primary keys, identify foreign keys, and create an index for a table
5. recognize a trigger and describe its operation
6. identify three concurrency problems that may arise in relational systems and suggest locking solutions that avoid deadlocking
7. distinguish between media and system failures, explain the consequences of transaction failure, and outline the key elements in transaction recovery
8. explain the storage structures used at the internal level and relate space allocation to database performance
9. discuss data clustering and indexing
10. relate storage methods to access

4 hours

A working knowledge of database and Internet concepts is assumed; the courses Relational Principles, Database Fundamentals, Database Design, and Database Management, while not essential, would be beneficial

To introduce the technologies used to build and deploy web databases

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe the technologies used to build and deploy databases
2. recognize and interpret simple SQL statements
3. outline the technologies involved in creating web database applications
4. identify the security risks of connecting databases to the Web and identify the security measures that can be taken to overcome them
5. describe how to incorporate legacy databases with the Internet

4 hours

A knowledge of both RDBMS and OODBMS

To introduce the concept of object-relational DBMSs

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe object-relational databases, and how they differ from relational and object-oriented DBMSs
2. explain how an ORDBMS can be used to solve problems associated with complex data
3. explain the use of base datatype extensions and user-defined functions and operators
4. discuss the role of complex objects and how to manipulate composite datatypes
5. explain the concept of data inheritance in an ORDBMS

4 hours

A knowledge of both RDBMS and OODBMS

To discuss the mechanisms and implementation of an ORDBMS

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe relational and user-defined optimizers, predicate clauses and expensive functions, indexing, sets, and inheritance hierarchies
2. describe object-relational parsing
3. explain how to modify an executor and a query

3 hours

A general knowledge of IT and databases

To introduce the fundamentals of data warehousing

After this course the student should be able to:
1. explain what data warehousing is and where it fits into a company's information processing setup
2. describe the history of information systems
3. discuss examples of situations where data warehousing has been used effectively
4. explain some of the terms used in data warehousing
5. describe a typical data warehouse setup and the types of systems that data warehouses exist on

4 hours

A general knowledge of IT and databases

To discuss how a data warehouse is built, used, and managed

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe how to plan the structure and content of a data warehouse
2. explain how to populate the warehouse with data
3. describe how to allocate user access, update the warehouse, and mine data

4 hours

The course Relational Principles, though not a strict prerequisite, would be beneficial; programming experience is not absolutely necessary

To demonstrate the use of SQL in data retrieval

After this course the student should be able to:
1. categorize SQL into three component languages and indicate the functions of each
2. use the SELECT command to retrieve data
3. use the built-in functions available in SQL to refine database queries

4 hours

The courses SQL Programming: Database Queries and Relational Principles; programming experience is not absolutely necessary

To demonstrate the use of SQL in defining database structures and controlling data security

After this course the student should be able to:
1. describe and use the data manipulation commands INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE
2. describe how to embed SQL in a C routine using the EXEC SQL command
3. use data definition commands to create, manipulate, and remove base tables, indexes, and views